WRSOS President

  Jan Shadick
Jan Shadick was born in California to a mother and father who quickly introduced her to a love of wildlife. Jan often had strange critters in cages in her bedroom or in the bathroom. From living with the exotic slow lorries (native to Burma/India), to Wonderful, the Raven, and everything in between, Jan grew up to appreciate the importance of wildlife in maintaining the balance of nature.

Jan's sister has taken on the support of wildlife directly and is trained as a Wildlife Veterinarian although she currently focuses on her daughter and family and is a part-time Vet in Saskatoon. Her sister's skills are quite helpful to Jan when it is midnight and she has discovered a problem with one of her wild babies.

Jan moved to Connecticut after finishing University in California. She focused on supporting people and became a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. While in Connecticut, her love of wildlife resurfaced, and Jan discovered wildlife rehabilitation as a new passion. Jan took the state-sponsored class and exam to become a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in Connecticut. She had to mentor under an experienced rehabilitator for 40 hours to learn the intricacies of caring for several different species. She learned about the importance of diet to the proper development of all young birds and mammals. She learned the value of proper caging to allow for exercise in order to strengthen the muscles in preparation for release. Jan also learned about numerous diseases (zoonoses) and the value of proper hygiene!

Jan moved to Saskatchewan in 2001 to be nearer to her sister and family. 		   

She discovered the lack of structured wildlife rehabilitation, but was lucky enough to have a debate about the viability of captive-raised wild songbirds with the Wildlife Vet at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM). Within 3 days, she got a call to come and pick up an orphaned Robin! It has been a very happy partnership ever since.

Since that most fortunate debate and subsequent partnership, Jan approached the government to allow for the licensing of wildlife rehabilitators in Saskatchewan. In the winter of 2005, Jan became the first licensed rehabilitator for migratory songbirds in Saskatchewan, through the Canadian Wildlife Service. She also holds her rehabilitation license for small mammals through Saskatchewan Environment. Jan also met a wonderful man, Stan, who shares her love of wildlife and has learned to share his space with many different wild critters. He was less than thrilled about the skunk in his office, however!

She became President of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Saskatchewan in August 2006, and is excited to be able to support the on-going growth of wildlife rehabilitation in Saskatchewan.