The National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association is committed to advancing the field of wildlife rehabilitation and its role in conserving natural ecosystems. It aims for worldwide recognition and respect for wildlife rehabilitation professionals.
The National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association (NWRA) Grants Program is dedicated to funding research in wildlife rehabilitation, focusing on wildlife medicine and wildlife education. It aims to support wildlife rehabilitation organizations in conducting both independent and collaborative research projects. A significant emphasis is placed on post-release studies, which are crucial for assessing the survival, dispersal, reproductive success, and behavior of rehabilitated wildlife. These studies serve to fill the existing gap in quantitative data regarding the outcomes for rehabilitated wildlife following their release, thereby improving rehabilitation techniques, fostering professional growth, and contributing to scientific knowledge. Goals of the NWRA Research Committee include establishing research guidelines, supporting wildlife rehabilitators in conducting research, advocating for rehabilitated wildlife involved in research, enhancing the knowledge of post-release survival, fostering collaboration across various entities involved in wildlife health research, disseminating information on permit compliance and safe handling, and ensuring animal welfare in research design and execution.