Experiences

Submitted by Emily Hunt, Ross University

In September, I attended the International Wildlife Congress, which is a wildlife

conference that took place in Lillehammer, Norway. The conference was a collaboration

of the 37 th International Union of Wildlife Biologists, the 18 th Nordic Congress of Wildlife

Research, the 16 th Perdix symposium, an EuroMammals. It was hosted by the University

of Inland Norway.

There were many keynote and plenary speakers that I had the pleasure of attending,

but one that stood out was Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka. She is a wildlife veterinarian

from Uganda where she now runs an organization known as Conservation Through

Public Health. Her presentation focused on her work of educating the public on

conservation efforts and ways community members can contribute.

There were also many shorter small group presentations and posters throughout my

time at the conference. Attending these mini lectures has given me great insight into

putting together a scientific presentation, which is very useful for the completion of my

master’s project this semester. There was also a PhD student from the Netherlands who

presented her work studying feral cat populations. Her project is set up very similar to

mine, as we are both using camera traps and GPS collars to estimate population

numbers of feral cats.

Overall, attending this conference was a great experience for me, especially with it

being my first academic conference. I learned a lot of valuable skills that I will take into

my own work. I also made some connections that I hope could even become future

colleagues.

In September, I attended the International Wildlife Congress, which is a wildlifeconference that took place in Lillehammer, Norway. The conference was a collaborationof the 37 th International Union of Wildlife Biologists, the 18 th Nordic Congress of WildlifeResearch, the 16 th Perdix symposium, an EuroMammals. It was hosted by the Universityof Inland Norway.There were many keynote and plenary speakers that I had the pleasure of attending,but one that stood out was Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka. She is a wildlife veterinarianfrom Uganda where she now runs an organization known as Conservation ThroughPublic Health. Her presentation focused on her work of educating the public onconservation efforts and ways community members can contribute.There were also many shorter small group presentations and posters throughout mytime at the conference. Attending these mini lectures has given me great insight intoputting together a scientific presentation, which is very useful for the completion of mymaster’s project this semester. There was also a PhD student from the Netherlands whopresented her work studying feral cat populations. Her project is set up very similar tomine, as we are both using camera traps and GPS collars to estimate populationnumbers of feral cats.Overall, attending this conference was a great experience for me, especially with itbeing my first academic conference. I learned a lot of valuable skills that I will take intomy own work. I also made some connections that I hope could even become futurecolleagues.

Cutest Pet

Submitted by Hannah King, North Carolina State University

Creative Corner

Submitted by Sydney Long, Iowa State University

Experiences

Submitted by Heather Sayles, Michigan State University

This past summer, I had the privilege of working with wildlife in South Africa with Live4Now Wild Vets. My time abroad an incredibly formative and eye-opening experience that deepened both my clinical skills and my appreciation for conservation medicine. Having the opportunity to work directly with species so different from those I typically encounter in small animal or domestic animal practice was both challenging and rewarding.

One of the most striking aspects of the experience was seeing firsthand the intersection between veterinary medicine, wildlife conservation, and ecosystem health. Every procedure—whether setting a live trap for a nuisance crocodile, herding zebra for transport, or performing mite washes on snakes — was not just about the individual animal, but about protecting biodiversity and maintaining balance within a fragile ecosystem. This perspective emphasized the global importance of veterinary medicine beyond traditional practice.

Clinically, I gained invaluable hands-on skills in areas such as chemical immobilization, field anesthesia, and remote darting techniques, as well as practical problem-solving in resource-limited and unpredictable field conditions. I also strengthened my ability to adapt quickly, remain calm under pressure, and collaborate effectively within a diverse, interdisciplinary team that included veterinarians, wildlife rangers, and conservationists.

On a personal level, the externship was deeply inspiring. Witnessing the dedication of the professionals working tirelessly to protect endangered species and combat threats such as poaching and habitat loss reinforced my own commitment to using veterinary medicine as a tool for conservation and animal welfare. It also broadened my cultural perspective, as working alongside South African colleagues and community members provided a richer understanding of the social and economic dimensions of wildlife health.

Overall, this externship expanded not only my technical knowledge and clinical competency but also my vision of what it means to be a veterinarian. I left South Africa with a renewed passion for wildlife medicine and conservation, and with a stronger sense of responsibility to contribute to One Health initiatives that connect animal, human, and environmental health on a global scale.

Photography

"Uroliths" Submitted by Jessica Wood, Michigan State University