Why did you choose to pursue this particular experience?

My previous experience at a raptor rehabilitation center in Maryland had first piqued my interest in working with wildlife. While working there, I remember learning about the lack of veterinarians in the field and inability of being able to get funding for such ecologically important animals. At that point, I had decided that I wanted to help and be able to provide injured wild animals with the medical care they needed. With that in mind, I decided to apply for a student technician position at the Swanson Wildlife Hospital. Being able to learn about and help treat such a wide diversity of animals seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime!

What was your typical day like?

A typical day starts with preparing diets, transforming the hospital into a Michelin star restaurant for animals. We follow a basic diet that meets the needs of the species, but tailor them specifically to each animal, depending on their condition and preferences. After all diets have been prepared, we then work on morning treatments, where we examine each patient, provide them with their dedicated medications, and clean their enclosures. Following treatments, rounding occurs, allowing everyone to give feedback on the status, progress, and future treatments of each patient. More intense procedures, surgeries, and radiographs follow rounding. These steps take up the bulk of the morning and afternoon. In the evening, diets are prepared again, and evening treatments are carried out.

What species did you enjoy working with the most?

It’s really difficult to choose a favorite, since the hospital has everything ranging from beavers to nestling birds. However, I really enjoyed working with the raptors and the turtles. While I have restrained raptors before, I enjoyed learning how to safely pick them up with a towel while avoiding their talons and beak. In addition, treating the raptors gave me more insight on their anatomy. During gavages or pilling, I was able to see their lack of an epiglottis and learn to avoid their glottis, while looking for their esophagus.

Having had no previous experience with turtles, I enjoyed seeing many species that I had not heard of before, including wood, map, and Blanding’s turtles. When providing them with treatments, I also had the opportunity to learn about their unique renal portal system, which directs blood from the back half of their body through their kidneys. In order to prevent their liver from filtering out medications, injections were given in the front half of their body. I also loved working with snapping turtles, as the cups we placed over their heads, preventing them from biting us, looked rather hilarious.

How did this experience help you as a veterinary student?

Dealing with a large diversity of animals has provided me with a better understanding of their anatomy. In addition, I have become more confident in safely handling potentially dangerous animals, creating less stressful environments for them, and drawing up medication. However, most of all, I have become more confident in communicating with the public as a result of answering the hospital phones.

What are your goals in veterinary medicine?

My current goal in veterinary medicine is to gain more experience in the wildlife field. Currently, more than ever, wild animals are being affected by human civilization. Unfortunately, there is a lack of veterinarians within this specialty, but I am hoping to become one more veterinarian who can help contribute to aiding injured wildlife.

Savannah Neuner

Hi! I’m Savannah! I am from Oakton, Virginia and graduated from William & Mary in 2024, with a degree in biology. I’m in the class of 2028 at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and hope to work with wildlife once I graduate. I am a member of SAVMA, the treasurer for WVLDI, and a student technician in the Wildlife department. Outside of school, I practice and compete in Kung Fu, play board games at tabletop club, and love to hike!