Natural Resources Job Board

Global Wildlife Resources (GWR) is offering a 3-day wildlife chemical capture course at Pittsburg Zoo's International Conservation Center near Fairhope, PA Oct. 14-16, 2025. This class is for state/federal/tribal wildlife professionals, zoo & sanctuary caretakers, college students, and animal control officers.

 

This class is the most current, extensive, and creative chemical immobilization course in North America and includes hand-on labs WITH LIVE ANIMALS. Participants will chemically immobilize domestic goats which simulate deer and other ungulates.

 

This unique field-based training emphasizes professional and humane animal handling and covers practical techniques to maximize confidence, field success, and human & animal safety. The course focuses on the needs of professionals to understand the skills and equipment associated with wildlife capture, physical restraint, and chemical immobilization as well as for captive and urban settings. Dr. Mark's instruction and support is available long after the course is complete.

 

Five-step Preparation for Field Operations * Legal Responsibilities * Drug Delivery Systems *  Immobilizing Drugs (including BAM) * Patient Monitoring* Ear-tagging and Radio-collaring * Sampling * Veterinary Emergencies* Euthanasia * Human Safety * Physical Restraint *

 

- Chemical Immobilization - participants immobilize live domestic goats which simulate deer

- TPR Lab - a practice lab with live animals to prepare for the chemical immobilization lab

- Drug Delivery Systems - opportunity to practice the most effective projectors (dart guns)

- Needle & Syringe Skills - building professional habits for practical field use and human safety

- Blood Collection Practice Station - practice proper techniques for successful blood collection

 

The dynamic course instructor is Dr. Mark Johnson of Global Wildlife Resources of Freeland, Washington. Dr. Johnson has taught and assisted with a wide range of wildlife handling field operations for over 30 years. He enthusiastically teaches wildlife professionals and students internationally for universities, national parks, state and federal agencies, native nations, zoological parks, and private organizations. Dr. Mark is training many state wildlife agencies through his live course and his online course, The Foundations of Wildlife Chemical Capture. He is a primary instructor for USDA Wildlife Services. Every course is updated and improved as GWR gathers new tools, techniques, and addresses the changing issues and challenges relating to wildlife capture and handling.

 

Each course is often a profound career experience for course participants. See our Facebook page and LinkedIn site for reviews.

 

The course is limited so register early! It includes hands-on labs each day (including a drugging lab with domestic goats), course notebook, and a Certificate of Training. The 3-day course fee is $785/ $650 for full-time college students. Places are reserved once payment is received.

 

TO REGISTER and for more information, Go Here To the ICC PA Course Page.

 

CAN'T ATTEND?  Take Dr. Mark's extensive self-paced online course, The Foundations of Wildlife Chemical Capture. Student rate is available. 

 

Anyone of college age or older. No prerequisites or previous knowledge are necessary. GWR classes are a mix of new and seasoned wildlife students and professionals. Anyone can register.

 

QUESTIONS? Contact or email Dr. Mark at mjohnson@wildliferesources.com