Program Overview

Introduction to the Wildlife Clinic Summer Program

The Wildlife Clinic Summer Program at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine offers exciting and rewarding opportunities for current and prospective veterinary students. This program provides hands-on experience in wildlife care and introduces students to the daily functions of the clinic.

Summer Positions Working in the Clinic

• Full-time Work Study positions
• Full-time volunteer positions

These positions require a commitment of at least 40 hours/week from the end of May through mid-August. Students have the opportunity to engage in case work, assist the doctors and rotational students with treatments and treatment plans, restrain animals during procedures, and offer help with exams and rechecks. Students are also asked to perform general maintenance, inventory, food preparation, and clerical tasks.

Responsibilities

Typical responsibilities include monitoring, feeding, and administering medications to all of the injured wildlife in our nursery (bunnies, opossums, baby owls, baby raptors, baby songbirds, or baby squirrels). Students also report any case work during rounds about their injured patients and are able to help with their treatment plans.

Summer Research Opportunities

The summer research opportunities can be paid or unpaid depending on the research project or grant and will vary depending on the doctor the student is working for. Students and scientists have made great strides in wildlife medicine through various important projects:

• Creation of a Biobank of serum specimens for investigation into emerging infectious disease patterns in the region.
• Study on the extent to which birds of prey are exposed to anticoagulant rodenticides prompted by clinical cases treated at Tufts Wildlife Clinic.
• Work with loons, eagles, and other species that has led to broad educational initiatives, scientific publications, and environmental legislation.
• Wildlife CSI to investigate wildlife-related crimes, changes in wildlife health and mortality patterns in the region, and emerging infectious diseases and parasites causing their illness.
• Studies on the efficacy of medications for pain relief in injured birds of prey.

Summer Selective

Summer selectives at the Wildlife Clinic engage students in the daily functions of the clinic and introduce them to hands-on wildlife care. Students have opportunities to learn clinical laboratory techniques and assist with special projects such as data analysis, bird banding, and continuing education conference on avians and exotics. Schedule and activities are determined by the student and the director of the clinic, Dr. Maureen Murray.