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The following course is now available - book early to avoid disappointment.

Course date: 18 - 20 September 2012
Venue:Fera, Sand Hutton, York, UK
Delegate rate: 3 days - £590, 2.5 days - £450

Home office training course in wild mammals & birds

The Fera/York University wild mammals and wild birds training course provides a stimulating combination of discussion, lectures, practical sessions, videos and workshops.

This course was awarded the Wild Animal Welfare Award 2010 by Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW).

The next course will run from Tuesday 18 - Thursday 20 September 2012, and will be held at Fera's Sand Hutton site.

This three day course, accredited by the Universities Training Group (UTG), is the first in the UK to focus on research in wild mammals and birds in the field and in captivity.

Developed by Fera and run in conjunction with the University of York, the training course is designed to equip attendees with the knowledge to fulfil the statutory requirements of the Home Office with respect to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act (A(SP)A). The act requires that a licence needs to be gained if carrying out any procedure that may cause harm or distress to an animal. An accredited training course must be successfully completed before the licence can be granted.

Course outline

This course focuses on promoting best practice in wildlife studies, by providing training in humane and efficient methods of capture, handling, marking and release.

Sessions include:

  • Capture
    • Practical advice is given on how to set capture devices, where to catch and when to catch. Training is consolidated by presenting the delegates with a number of scenarios in which they have to determine the most appropriate capture methods for mammals and birds by implementing best practice techniques.
  • Handling
    • Best practice with respect to handling is taught using movies of researchers in the field handling (and despatching) a range of species. This is complemented with lectures and practical scenarios. Other hands-on practical sessions are included, such as the setting of traps and fitting of radio collars (using models).
  • Anaesthesia/analgesia
    • This session covers the basics of safe and effective anaesthesia and analgesia in wild species including when it should be used and what type of anaesthesia is appropriate. In addition detailed information is given on novel, practical techniques that have been successfully used to provide anaesthesia in the field in difficult terrains and conditions.
  • Marking
    • All forms of commonly used marking techniques are taught on the course and particular attention is paid to potential adverse effects. This session concentrates on determining the least invasive but effective marking technique for the target species and conditions.
  • 3Rs (Replacement Reduction and Refinement)
    • This session concentrates on implementing the 3Rs in wildlife studies. It covers the fundamental premise behind the 3Rs concept and also includes many practical examples of replacement, reduction and refinement in the field.
  • Ethics/welfare
    • This is carried out using practical scenarios and discussion sessions. It covers ethical issues of treatment of the target animal but also issues surrounding other animals that may be inadvertently affected by the research (e.g. non-target captures, conspecifics, dependent young).

Other topics covered during the course:

  • Working with wild animals in captivity: housing, husbandry, regulations, environmental enrichment, captive handling
  • Licences and legislation: Wildlife and Countryside Act, Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act , Animal Welfare Act, Natural England licences
  • Health and safety: diseases in wildlife including zoonoses
  • Supply of animals - obtaining animals from the wild, closed seasons
  • Transporting wildlife
  • Recognition of pain and distress
  • Conduct of minor (non-surgical) procedures (e.g. blood sampling, injecting) both in the field and in captivity
  • Release of animals back to the wild

The tutors comprise wildlife practitioners, ethicists and an experienced wildlife veterinary surgeon. With a potential wide array of species, the course is tailored to the requirements of the audience wherever possible, and representative species are chosen to demonstrate techniques.

Who should attend

The course is designed to be of use to all wildlife practitioners both as an introduction for people new to the subject but can also can serve as a useful refresher course for experience practitioners. Previous delegates have included; wildlife researchers (both from within and outside the UK), animal welfare charities, veterinary surgeons, conservationists. The course also fulfils Home Office training requirements for individuals to gain a personal licence with respect to the A(SP)A.

Feedback from previous delegates includes:

"A wildlife course of this calibre has been long overdue. It was well organised, interesting and extremely beneficial. As a practising wildlife professional I often find myself referring back to topics covered within the course. I would highly recommend it to anyone conducting wildlife research or management."

"It is good to see that the welfare of wild animals used in research is now being addressed through this course so that students are aware of how, for example, they can prevent any unnecessary suffering by applying the principles of the 3Rs in their projects."

The course has recently been assessed by external auditors and re-accredited until 2014:

"...auditors were very impressed with the Wildlife Course and the team that delivered it - it meets a very real national need and is organised and delivered by an enthusiastic and professional team of staff"

This three day course is the only specific wild mammal and bird course in the UK to be accredited by the Universities Training Group for modules 1-3. These modules are required to fulfil the statutory requirements of the Home Office with respect to the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act (A(SP)A). The act requires that a licence needs to be gained if carrying out any procedure that may cause harm or distress to an animal. An accredited training course must be successfully completed before the licence can be granted.

How to attend

If you require further information about any aspect of the course please email:

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