Wildlife Response

Strategies
Proactive wildlife response strategies are the key to mounting a wildlife response that minimizes wildlife impacts and thus reduces overall costs for the responsible party.  Immediate appraisal and monitoring of the spill in relation to wildlife resources allows for timely, efficient and effective activities.  

Generally, the best response strategy is to prevent wildlife from being impacted by the product via an effective monitoring, reconnaissance and hazing program.  If wildlife impacts are unavoidable, proactive search and collection to quickly retrieve contaminated animals is imperative to reduce costs.  The sooner an animal is brought into care for treatment, the healthier it is, and the faster it will progress through the wildlife care centre and return to the wild, thus reducing overall care costs for each animal.  

Pre-spill planning also facilitates cost reduction during wildlife impact incidents, providing a foundation for clear lines of communication, distinct roles and responsibilities, knowledge of resource availability and requirements for support.

It has been clearly demonstrated that an efficient coordination of resources during a spill response saves money.  This is true for oiled wildlife response and can be achieved with the integration of wildlife response into the Incident Command System.  These planning items, combined with ongoing training and drilling will create a level of efficiency that will minimize costs.

Having a well planned, transparent and professionally executed wildlife response will ensure humane treatment (including triage) for impacted wildlife resources, a safe and controlled working environment for response personnel, and proactive reputation management for the responsible party.


Human Resources
During an oil spill impacting or potentially impacting wildlife resources, Focus Wildlife is contracted by the Responsible Party or responsible agency to provide wildlife response management and services.  These services are multi-fold (see Focus Wildlife Response Organizational Chart below), can be adapted to regional Wildlife Branch Structures and include the following:

Wildlife Response Manager
Focus Wildlife’s Response Manager works within the Incident Command System to provide technical expertise and situational information on all aspects of the wildlife response effort.  This includes participation in the Environmental Unit of the Planning Section to assist in the development of the Wildlife Response component of the Incident-Specific Wildlife Management Plan.  The Response Manager also assists in the development of the wildlife components of the incident’s Health and Safety Plan and Waste Management Plan.

Focus Wildlife’s Managers (Response Manager, Facility/Field Manager, Animal Care Manager) work together as a planning team to develop the Wildlife Response component of the daily Incident Action Plan.

Field/Facility Manager
The Field/Facility Manager works closely with the Response Manager to ensure appropriate temporary wildlife facility development and field operations mobilization.  The Facility/Field Manager has access to Contractor Services (construction, plumbing, electrical, ventilation) to support timely and adequate infrastructure development.

Animal Care Manager
The Animal Care Manager works closely with the Response Manager to oversee all aspects of animal care operations.   The Animal Care Manager works directly with Veterinary Services (Spill Response Veterinarian, Animal Health Technician, Laboratory Technician) to ensure best achievable care for the wildlife.

Administrative Manager
The Administrative Manager works closely with all Managers and personnel to ensure full compensation for wildlife operations.  To do so the Administrative Manager ensures that the wildlife response is centrally coordinated, professionally executed, cost-efficient and effective, well documented and integrated into overall response activities.  Close liaison with insurers and authorities from the outset of the incident, via the RP is essential, as is ongoing coordination with the Finance/Administration and Logistics Sections of the ICS.  
 
Management Officers
Focus Wildlife’s Managers have the support of Focus Wildlife’s Finance, Logistics and Information Officers who work closely with appropriate RP and agency representatives to ensure the unique needs of the wildlife response effort are met in a timely and administratively appropriate manner for cost-recovery.  These Officers work directly under the supervision of the Administrative Manager and assist in areas including volunteer coordination, media management, supply, equipment and personnel procurement, documentation and record-keeping.

Primary Response Team
Focus Wildlife draws from a cadre of experts on its Response Team who provide an unmatched level of expertise in the field of oiled wildlife response, planning and emergency resource development. Our team members have been involved in many dozens of oil spills and planning projects worldwide over the past 20 years.   Our team consists of highly experienced spill managers and responders, biologists, veterinarians, rehabilitators, researchers, planning specialists and administrators.

Technical Specialists
In addition to its Primary Response Team, Focus Wildlife has a pool of Technical Specialists – wildlife professionals with specific training, education and experience that can be activated at any time, based on the specifics and needs of each project or response.  
Regional Workforce
To supplement its own pool of professional responders, Focus Wildlife works under MOUs with local wildlife organizations to provide trained workforce personnel that can participate, under supervision, in labour-intensive animals care, cleaning, facility set-up and maintenance operations.

First Nations Communities
Focus Wildlife works closely with First Nations communities on projects and responses, recognizing Aboriginal communities as integral stakeholders and sound resources for wildlife issues.  Whenever possible, Focus Wildlife will encourage First Nations participation in oiled wildlife initiatives and response efforts.

Health and Safety
Health and safety is of utmost importance to Focus Wildlife Canada.  Worker safety is our top priority.  Intensive and specific wildlife health and safety trainings are required for all personnel participating in the effort.  A health and safety plan is developed for all incidents, and safety briefings including tailgate meetings are conducted daily by the Response Team Safety Officer.  Additionally, Focus Wildlife Canada hires supplemental personnel as workforce, rather than as volunteers to ensure liability coverage of all people working on the wildlife response effort.


Wildlife Supplies and Equipment:
Focus Wildlife Canada owns an extensive inventory of oiled wildlife response equipment and supplies.  These items are utilized and maintained on a regular basis in order to provide an efficient resource pool to clients.

Focus Wildlife’s supplies and equipment currently include the following (stored in 2 40ft shipping containers, including chassis):

• Assessment, hazing and search & collection equipment
• Veterinary medical supplies and equipment
• Wildlife housing and pens
• Husbandry supplies and equipment
• Laboratory equipment
• Pools, hoses, drainage  
• Wash/rinse/drying equipment
• Tools, cleaning supplies
• Administrative supplies
• First Aid equipment
• Heaters, lighting
• Vessels
• PPE

Wildlife Permitting
As a component of its response service provision, Focus Wildlife will ensure that all required permits are in place to cover the regulatory requirements of the Client pertaining to wildlife handling, transport and care.  While under contract with Focus Wildlife, the Client will be operating within Focus Wildlife’s permitting structure.