Alabama Wildlife Conservation and Rehabilitation Societies applaud Good Samaritan bill

Montgomery, AL – The Alabama Wildlife Conservation and Rehabilitation Society (AWCRS), North Alabama Wildlife Rehabilitators, and Alabama NEEDS Wildlife Rehabbers announced a wildlife rehabilitation bill has been introduced in the Alabama State House.

It was introduced by State Rep. 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, supporters say. 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. https://www.change.org/p/alabama-governor-kaye-ivey-and-commissioner-christopher-blankenship-urgent-request-to-help-save-alabama-wildlifeutm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=custom_url&recruited_by_id=bcfc9400-1261-11ec-8c22-639d942ccf50.

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.