MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Wildlife Conservation and Rehabilitation Society (AWCRS), North
Alabama Wildlife Rehabilitators, and Alabama NEEDS Wildlife Rehabbers are excited to announce
that a much-needed wildlife rehabilitation bill has been introduced in the Alabama State House by State
Representative Ben Harrison, R-District 2 Limestone/Lauderdale. HB448, known as the Alabama Good
Samaritan Wildlife Rehabilitation Act, has the potential to significantly improve how injured or
orphaned wildlife is cared for across the state. HB448 allows individuals to “in good faith provide care
or treatment to sustain life or reduce disability to any injured, orphaned, or debilitated wild bird or
animal that is not federally protected or otherwise endangered so that the organism may be returned to
the wild.” The bill also specifically states it does not supersede current laws restricting individuals from
practicing veterinarian medicine, or exempt any individual from the crime of animal cruelty.
Since 2013, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) has
implemented policies that severely restrict the rehabilitation of certain species and making rabies vector
species illegal altogether. The banning of the rabies vector species, even goes beyond Federal
government suggestions. Deborah King, spokes person for Alabama NEEDS Wildlife Rehabbers says:
“Alabama is one of the worst states for Wildlife Rehabilitation,” “Our state has gone from 100 Wildlife
rehabbers in 2013 to only 5 today. The Alabama Fish and Game Department has totally outlawed any
resident to assist injured or orphaned raccoons, foxes, skunks, coyotes and bats.” “When Alabamians
call the Department of Fish and Game for help, they are told to let nature take its course. Sadly, the
majority of time, the injury is caused by humans, not nature,” King continued. “Compassionate
Alabamians who try to save wildlife of any species are [labeled] as criminals and the animal will be
confiscated by the state and immediately killed.”
Additionally and repeatedly, the Alabama Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division (WFF) has
publicly stated that it is preferable to allow injured wildlife to die rather than rehabilitate them. Ray
Metzler, Assistant Chief of Wildlife for WFF, stated, “Basically, there is no biological reason to
rehabilitate these animals… it’s survival of the fittest. It really is.”~
https://www.tuscaloosanews.com/story/news/2013/09/06/state-bans-rehab-of-orphaned-wildlife/
29910391007/ Terry Morse, former director of Big Bend Wildlife Sanctuary recalls meetings with the
WFF “We (wildlife rehabilitators) were told by the Director of WFF, Chuck Sykes, that he didn’t need
us or want us. He called rehabilitators “an unnecessary evil”.”
The issue has even garnered national attention, with figures like Donald Trump Jr. and J.D. Vance
calling attention to the absurdity of punishing individuals who wish to rehabilitate wildlife. As Trump
Jr. stated, “Our government will let in 16,000 rapists, they will let in 13,000 murderers… but if someone
has a pet squirrel without a permit they will go in there and kill the squirrel.” ~ The Hill”
As advocates for wildlife rehabilitation reform, each of these groups supports and encourages the state
legislature to pass HB448. Public support is clear, with over 12,000 signatures on a petition urging
action to protect Alabama wildlife and reform current laws. Sign petition
A state wide poll conducted in February 2025 found that 66% of Alabamians support legislation that
allows individual citizens to care for orphaned or injured animals. While 20% said they don’t care one
way or the other and only a mere 14% said they oppose the idea.
Furthermore, Alabama residents have expressed their support for wildlife rehabilitation reform through
numerous social media platforms, with organizations such as the Alabama Wildlife Conservation and
Rehabilitation Society boasting over 4.7K likes and 6K followers on Facebook, Alabama NEEDS
Wildlife Rehabbers with 696 likes and 1.3k followers, and North Alabama Wildlife Rehabilitators with
3K likes and 3.1K followers.
Currently House Bill 448 has received its first reading and has been approved by the House
Subcommittee on Agriculture and Forestry by a 9 to 3 voice vote. HB448 will now proceed to the full
State House for consideration. If you believe individuals should have the legal right to care for injured
or orphaned wildlife, now is the time to speak up. Contact your state representatives and let them
know where you stand on HB448.
Media Release/Deborah King/Alabama Wildlife Conservation and Rehabilitation Society (AWCRS)
