By James F. Gesualdi

To keep ahead, each one of us, no matter what our task, must search for new and better methods—for even that which we now do well must be done better tomorrow.
—James F. Bell

This marks the eighth anniversary of the Getting Better All the Time column. To date, there have been 72—about 9 a year. Each column has provided an opportunity for exploration, growth, and advancement. As the author, I have utilized these columns to think, write, act, and live better—personally and professionally. Progress has been made on this side of the column, and also, joyfully, out there in the zoological world.

Close and ongoing examination of the new Animal Welfare Act (AWA) bird regulations continues to yield lessons for further advances. Although largely performance-based, in order to account for application to a large number of diverse avian species, the bird regulations contain many details and elements that could improve the standards for other groups of species—especially all of those who come under Subpart F: other warm-blooded animals (other than dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, guinea pigs, nonhuman primates, and marine mammals).

Here are examples of key provisions in the bird regulations that should be employed to clarify and update standards for other warm-blooded animals—as well as other species covered under the AWA.

The Academy’s Safe Capture program offers in-person, virtual, and e-learning training for the chemical immobilization and anesthesia of domestic and wildlife species. Learn more about Safe Capture Training.

Thank you to everyone from Cornell/New York State Department of Environmental Conservation who joined us for our March livestream training event!

Registration is now open for the following Academy Safe Capture livestream event:

May 16–18: This is a three-day online event, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Pacific Time) May 16 and 17, and 7 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. (Pacific Time) May 18.

Registration is now open for the following Academy Safe Capture in-person events:

Nebraska (Lincoln): May 6–7: This event is being hosted by the University of Nebraska, Lincoln School of Natural Resources, and is open to all participants.

Virginia (Fredericksburg): June 13–14: This event is being hosted by Rappahannock Regional Criminal Justice Academy, and is open to all participants.

Louisiana (Alexandria): August 24–25: This event is being hosted by WOL, and is open to all participants.

Tennessee (Nashville): September 23–24: This event is being hosted by the Nashville Zoo, and is open to all participants.

Wisconsin (Stevens Point): October 14–15: This event is being hosted by the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point College of Natural Resources, and is open to all participants.

CE credits approved by the following organizations:

For more information, or to register for these events, please visit
our Safe Capture website.

Have a question about your learning account? Our learning partner, CypherWorx, has a very robust support hub, where you can search for help! Visit the CypherWorx Support Hub.

If you need more specific help, you can also submit a help ticket through the support hub, or call 888-685-4440 to speak with a CypherWorx customer support representative.

For more information about the Academy, please send us an email at SDZWAAcademySales@sdzwa.org.

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