We would like to introduce our new student manager- Riley Dunwoody! Riley will transition full time into her new role as a student manager in March when Brianna Huff, our current senior student manager, moves onto clinics. Here are some questions we asked Riley to get to know her better!
Where are you from? Where did you get your undergraduate degree? Specific degree and graduation year? I am from Wilmington, North Carolina. I just graduated with my BS in Zoology from North Carolina State University in May of 2023. Tell us about your veterinary career journey so far. With my veterinary career so far, I was very lucky to be offered a job as a vet assistant at the vet office where we took our family cat. I worked there from the age of 16 up until my first year of undergrad. From there I took a step back from working in veterinary clinics and did a summer internship at a local reptile rescue. The following year, I did a summer internship with a production turkey farm. While neither of these were specifically veterinary medicine related, I still gained valuable experience working with animals. Then the summer before my last year of undergrad, I returned to veterinary medicine and completed a summer internship at a small animal and exotics veterinary clinic.
What field of veterinary medicine are you interested in? I am currently very interested in zoo, wildlife, and exotic veterinary medicine, but haven’t quite decided where I want to go specifically with that. What made you want to join the Wildlife Medical Clinic (WMC)? I wanted to join the WMC because I thought it would be a great hands on opportunity to get to use veterinary techniques and I thought it would be a great way to learn about new species that I haven’t been able to work with previously.
Why did you want to become a manager at the WMC? I wanted to become a manager at the WMC because I felt like it would be an amazing opportunity to learn and continue to develop important leadership and communication skills. I was also really interested in all the opportunities to learn more about the clinic and the various wildlife patients we receive. What has been a favorite memory/patient of yours in the WMC? I think so far one of my favorite patients has been the Rock Dove that came in covered in red lithium oil. I wasn’t assigned to the case, but other students on my team were and I helped them with the bathing procedures. I found it interesting to problem solve how to get the oil off, while managing other aspects of the bird’s care. It also led me to research more on oil spills in general. It was interesting to be able to connect how they have an effect both inland and in coastal areas. It was surprising how their treatment and rehabilitation processes differ but also how some are similar and can be used among many different species.
With the weather getting colder, many wildlife are seeking warm places to spend the winter days. Dr. Stephany Lewis and Dr. Erica Bender join CiLiving to share with the community what pest control items are dangerous to wildlife and what alternatives can be used to keep critters out of your home.
Owls are one of the most unique raptors but are also a frequent species that we see at the Wildlife Medical Clinic. From the majestic Great Horned Owl to the small but mighty Eastern Screech Owl, these birds come in all different sizes. However, they also come with some adaptations that set them apart from a hawk or an eagle.
Owls can rotate their heads LESS than you think!
It is a common misconception that owls can rotate their heads 360 degrees because when people see videos of them, it very much looks that way. Instead, owls can rotate their heads a whopping 270 degrees which is still far more than the typical human, who can only rotate their head 160-180 degrees. For owls to turn their heads that much, they must cut off some blood supply. To allow this, owls have evolved a vascular reservoir system. The owl will pool blood in reservoirs near the base of the head and jaw while in rotation to still supply blood to the brain and eyes. This way they can still function and see (almost) all the way around their head!
Owls’ eyes are not circular like humans!
The main reason why owls evolved to be able to rotate their head so much is because their eyes do not move. An owl’s eyes are tube or cylinder shaped, and they do not move in their sockets as normal human and mammal eyes do. These tube-shaped eyes are set in the socket of the owl’s skull. One of the proposed reasons for this is because of owls’ phenomenal night vision. Owls have big eyes to be able to see at night but at the same time, have small skulls. Because of the anatomical limitations, the eyes of the owl evolved to change shape to allow their large eyes to fit in their head!
Owls are silent fliers!
Usually the bigger the bird, the louder its flight, but that is not the case for owls! Owls are known for their silent, smooth flight, which allows them to sneak up on prey during the night. Owls have relatively large wings for their body size, which allow them to fly relatively slowly with minimal wing flapping. The architecture of their wings is also unique to them. Owls have a special type of pattern on their wing feathers that break up the air that usually creates the flapping sound. Not only that, but owls’ feathers are more velvety than other birds and that helps dampen the sound. Hunting easier is not the only benefit. Silent flight may also cause owls to hear and track prey better. They don’t have to deal with the echoes of themselves flapping while they hunt, which allows them to be more accurate at tracking and targeting food.
Owls are amazing creatures, and it is pertinent that we keep these species safe and work towards conservation efforts to protect them. As stated previously, owls are one of the more frequently seen species at the Wildlife Medical Clinic and we commonly receive them after being hit by a car or after they are found tangled in a soccer net. To help minimize the number of dangers that owls face, you can help! In addition to rolling up sporting nets when not in use, people can set up an owl box in their backyard. This will help to attract owls and give them a safe place to live and raise their young. You can also contribute to owl safety by not using any rodenticide. Most owls’ main diet consists of rodents. If rodents end up ingesting rodenticide and then an owl eats that rodent, it can cause detrimental effects to the owl over time. Chronic ingestion of rodents containing rodenticide causes poisoning and this leads to the owl’s blood not clotting properly. Please do your part to help these amazing, unique, and beneficial creatures!
When we look back on 2023, it was an eventful year at the Wildlife Medical Clinic, with many joyful moments and happy tears. As we move into 2024, we are grateful to have you joining us and are excited to share more stories in the upcoming year.
We want to take this opportunity to spotlight one of our previous clinic directors, Dr. Julia Whittington. She has recently retired from the College of Veterinary Medicine, where her most recent position was Director of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital and Assistant Dean for Clinical Services. However, Dr. Whittington established many milestones and made significant contributions as the Wildlife Medical Clinic Director from 2001 to 2017. To help us get more insights into Dr. Whittington’s influence on students and the clinic, we reached out to Dr. Nicki Rosenhagen, one of her former students and previous student manager of the Wildlife Medical Clinic.
Dr. Rosenhagen received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or DVM, in 2015 from the University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine. She is currently the wildlife veterinarian at PAWS Wildlife Center, which is in Lynwood, Washington. While at the University of Illinois, she worked closely with Dr. Whittington first as a clinic co-manager during her time in vet school and then as an intern after completing her DVM. During our talk, she shared some heartwarming and uplifting stories that showcase Dr. Whittington’s lasting impact on her students.
One of the heartfelt memories that Dr. Rosenhagen shared is a surgery case of a Barred owl with a humeral fracture (broken wing). Under Dr. Whittington’s guidance, she practiced surgical and suturing techniques, a rare opportunity for students to experience. Dr. Whittington was a veterinarian, but she was also a great teacher that loved to involve students in these complicated cases. She guided her students through every step, pushing them to become independent and gain clinical confidence. For Dr. Rosenhagen, Dr. Whittington was also the person who helped pave her career path and was very interested in setting her up for success. “She is an amazing mentor: a present, great teacher, and interested in making students learn,” said Dr. Rosenhagen. Inspired by the mentorship from Dr. Whittington, she is now a great mentor herself.
Dr. Whittington’s inspiration goes beyond the clinical setting; she also has had a huge impact on the growth of the College of Veterinary Medicine, especially the Wildlife Medical Clinic. Without her efforts, the clinic wouldn’t be what it is today. Her efforts in advocating wildlife medicine and her outstanding leadership have put our Wildlife Medical Clinic on the map. The community began to recognize the services and responded well in helping to provide support to our local wildlife. Dr. Rosenhagen shared that “… she (Dr. Whittington) sped up the process of making the clinic what it is today.”
Through Dr. Rosenhagen, we see Dr. Whittington’s work ethic, burning passion, and compassion. She set the example of “when you set your mind to do something, you show up.” She made a lasting impact on the students she worked with, and those students will continue to influence other students with the lessons they learned from Dr. Whittington.
While we are sad to see Dr. Whittington leave, we also want to congratulate her on her retirement and give one last THANKS for everything she did for the Wildlife Medical Clinic and for the College of Veterinary Medicine!
Every predecessor Wildlife Medical Director has shaped the clinic into something greater than before, ultimately leaving a new blueprint behind. Students’ hearts ache as they say their farewells to the incredible Dr. Samantha Sander, DVM, CWR, DACZM as she transitions out of the director position. She has mentored countless veterinary students and has left such an impeccable legacy behind. When you ask veterinary students who they inspire to be like, many will shout out Dr. Sam Sander’s name. It is clear as to why. She is a role model, a fabulous leader, and an inspiration to many. We look forward to supporting Dr. Sam Sander’s prosperity in the Zoo Med service and seeing how she continues to improve our college. While we are sad to lose Dr. Sander’s leadership, we are confident she has left the clinic in very capable hands.
We are, however, very excited to introduce Dr. Stephany Lewis, DVM, CWR, DABVP (Avian) who will be our successor Wildlife Medical Director. As soon as Dr. Lewis walked into the clinic doors, she captivated us all with her kind-hearted, generosity, and contagious energy. It is super exciting to be surrounded by such a monumental figure in the field of wildlife medicine. Dr. Lewis has gone out of her way to improve the welfare and well-being of our patients as she is equipped with so much knowledge and always brainstorming ways to improve the students’ experiences in the clinic. If you ask students their favorite quality about Dr. Lewis, they will say it’s her talent to teach and mentor students. We look forward to seeing the supportive environment that she will cultivate at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine.
I recently had the chance to sit down with Dr. Lewis to discuss her career, personal life, and why she chose the University of Illinois.
HH: Tell us about your background and interests.
SL: “I started riding horses at age 9 and wanted to be an equine veterinarian starting in middle school. During undergrad, I applied for a wildlife rehabilitation internship just for something different to add to my vet school applications, even though I was 100% convinced that I wanted to be a large animal veterinarian. I ended up staying on at that wildlife center as part-time staff, then came back the following year as seasonal staff. I later completed other internships at wildlife rehabilitation centers in Scotland and British Columbia, and realized that if I could, I wanted to dedicate my career to wildlife rehabilitation. I went into veterinary school still with an open mind, thinking perhaps I would be swayed back into the more “mainstream” large animal medicine, but had strong mentorship and opportunities in wildlife medicine at Tufts, and kept pursuing as many wildlife experiences as I could.
After vet school, I completed a small animal rotating internship at Michigan State University, followed by a wildlife and conservation medicine internship at Tufts University. I worked in zoological companion animal medicine for a few months before moving to California, where I was the staff veterinarian for California Wildlife Center and Ojai Raptor Center.”
HH: What brought you to Illinois?
SL: “The only thing I love more than working with wildlife is teaching veterinary students about wildlife medicine. There are not many veterinary schools with a wildlife caseload large enough to support a dedicated wildlife faculty, and none of them provide as amazing of a student experience as our Wildlife Medical Clinic. The WMC is a truly special place, where student education is prioritized. With our amazing faculty and resources at UIUC, we are also able to contribute a great deal to the community in terms of research and education.”
HH: Tell us about a favorite case of yours.
SL: “I have a soft spot for gallinaceous birds (chickens, turkeys, quail, etc.), and once successfully treated and released a 20-pound turkey tom with a tarsometatarsal (leg) fracture. He required some unconventional treatment and outside the box thinking, due to his strength and weight. He was housed within a short distance of our elephant seal pups, and so that corner of our facility became quite noisy, between his gobbling and the seal pup vocalizations!
My other special case was a fledgling bald eagle whose entire life had been featured on a very popular nest cam. She arrived at my rehabilitation center with a name and massive public following. From the day she arrived, my wildlife center would receive dozens of calls and messages about her every day. She presented paretic, and I was able to very thoroughly work up her case, even with a CT scan, and diagnosed her with zinc toxicosis. She was successfully rehabilitated and released.”
HH: What most excites you about your profession?
SL: “I am so excited to see how wildlife rehabilitation medicine continues to grow and evolve. Just a few decades ago, wildlife rehabilitation consisted entirely of individuals trying to treat wild animals and raise orphaned wildlife out of their homes. These rehabilitators would be lucky to find a general practice veterinarian who would even be willing to see one of their animals. Since then, wildlife rehabilitation has grown exponentially. Every year, new wildlife centers are adding veterinarians to their staff. Many centers that started out with one individual have now grown into huge non-profit organizations that each help thousands of animals every year.
Wildlife rehabilitation centers are also providing a wealth of knowledge about what is going on in our environment. We are often the first to know about new disease outbreaks and new toxins affecting our ecosystems. We are important resources for public health and public education. Our work can help inform public policy and direct conservation efforts. There is so much to learn in this profession, and so many ways we can use our unique knowledge and perspectives to better our world.”
HH: What would you like the public to know about your field?
SL: “Many people do not realize that the vast majority of animals presenting to wildlife rehabilitation centers like the Wildlife Medical Clinic have been negatively impacted by human activities. Many presenting animals have experienced vehicle strikes, window strikes, or domestic cat attacks. They may have ingested lead, pesticides, or trash. Marine wildlife often ingests or becomes entangled in fishing lines, hooks, and lures, or contaminated by toxicants such as crude oil. Young animals are often inadvertently “kidnapped” by well-meaning citizens. Even if wildlife rehabilitation doesn’t make a significant impact on an entire population, I think it is important to improve the welfare of those individual animals when we can, because more often than not, they need our help because human activity has made it more challenging for them to thrive in their native environments.”
HH: What hobbies and activities do you like to do outside of work?
SL: “In my free time, I am usually riding my horse or spending time with my partner and our four dogs and three silkie chickens.”
– Interviewed and written by Hassan, Class of 2025.
What do wild animals do during the winter? Some migrate to other parts of the world and some stay right here year round. Join CiLiving, Dr. Stephany Lewis, and student, Tyson Jenkins to learn what happens when things get colder.
Imagine: a grassland stretching as far as the eyes can see, dotted here and there with small patches of trees. Great herds of animals cross the land, grazing on the plentiful vegetation. The disturbance they cause sends insects soaring into the vast sky, where thousands of birds swoop and feast. Smoke drifts on the horizon as gentle fires sweep across the hills, sending nutrients back into the rich, dark soils. This is the landscape that once covered more than a third of America and gave Illinois its nickname “the Prairie State.” What was this iconic ecosystem that supported a vast amount of animal (and human) life, and where did it go?
What is a Prairie?
Image retrieved from Wikimedia Commons
A prairie is a type of North American grassland that originally stretched from Ohio to the Rocky Mountains. It was formed in the rain shadow created by the Rockies as they stretched taller and taller, blocking the rains from the humid Pacific air from reaching the Midwest. There are three main types of prairies: shortgrass, found in the westernmost range, midgrass, found stretching from the Dakotas south to Texas, and tallgrass, the easternmost prairie that was once found across almost all of Illinois.
The tallgrass prairie was once the largest continuous ecosystem in North America, covering more than 170 million acres and supporting such a diversity of life that it was only rivaled by the Amazon Rainforest. When the glaciers of the Pleistocene (the most recent ice age) swept across Illinois, they left behind a landscape characterized by gentle hills and deep soils. This soil allowed tallgrass prairie plants to create extensive root systems that could reach more than ten feet deep, allowing them to survive in the harsh conditions prairies often experienced.
One such harsh condition that dominated the prairie: fire. During late summer and early fall, lightning strikes would ignite the landscape. The fire would burn the above-ground portions of the plants, but the deep roots would give rise to new growth next spring. The ash left behind would provide further nutrients, creating the incredibly rich soils prairies were known for. The seasonality of these fires protected plants as well, as there was never enough material built up to create massive fires whose heat could penetrate the soil. Additionally, the fires prevented tree growth, an incredibly important aspect of prairie maintenance as shade can kill prairie plants adapted to life under a constant, harsh sun.
These fires benefitted the grazing animals that called the prairie home, as new growth is more palatable and nutritious than old growth. One such grazer is our national mammal, the American Bison (Bison bison). Bison graze on the prairie grasses for nine to eleven hours per day, working their way across the landscape. Compared to cattle, bison are more efficient grazers, utilize rougher terrain that cattle cannot, consume less, and are much less likely to graze the same area more than once per season. All of this means that the estimated 21-88 million bison present prior to European settlement coexisted with the landscape and improved it, acting much like fires did to add nutrients back to the soil and clear out dense plant life.
Bison (Bison bison) once roamed the prairie ecosystem in incredible numbers. Image retrieved from Wikimedia Commons
What Happened to the Tallgrass Prairie?
When European settlers first made their way across the American west, they described the land as “park-like” and filled with endless abundance. It was this belief that led to the disappearance of the prairie and the loss of its residents.
Purposeful overhunting of bison caused the species to drop to a record low of less than a thousand individuals by the start of the 20th century, removing an important ecosystem engineer and cultural cornerstone of Indigenous tribes. It was only through the conservation work of these tribes, as well as important public and private stakeholders such as the National Park Service, that bison are once again roaming what is left of the Great Plains.
Today, the “Prairie” state is better known for its agriculture, but prior to the 19th century it was thought to be unfarmable. All that changed with the invention of the steel plow by John Deere in 1837. Previously, plows were made from cast iron. Prairie soil and roots would stick to the metal, so farmers needed to continuously stop and clean them. The steel plow was thought of as “self-cleaning,” as the thick soil did not stick to it, allowing for continuous plowing. This invention tore through the prairie, opening the doors to some of the most fertile farmland in the entire world.
When not effectively managed, trees will encroach into the prairie.
European expansion also brought about an age of fire suppression, as fire and its effects on the land were relatively unknown by settlers until very recently. It wasn’t until the Yellowstone fires of 1988, in which centuries of fire suppression and brush build up led to the largest wildfire in Yellowstone history, that fire suppression policies were abandoned in favor of prescription fire and controlled burn practices, yet logistical and legal hurdles to these practices still exist. Prairie remnants that weren’t plowed slowly disappeared under the shade of trees previously prevented by grazers and fires.
Living Up to Our Name
How do we continue to feed a growing world while protecting and maintaining our natural resources? This is one of the greatest challenges to prairie protection and restoration in Illinois and across the Midwest. This question also continues to grow in relevance as research into the carbon sequestration abilities of prairies and grasslands sheds new light on their impact; since most of a grassland’s mass is beneath the soil, restoring grasslands has the potential to trap massive amounts of carbon much faster than newly planted forests can.
To understand our impact on the prairie, we must learn from one of the most important prairie engineers: humans. Prior to European settlement, the Plains Tribes managed prairies very similarly to the newly emerging management styles today. In many cultures, September was known as the “burning moon,” the time when the prairie was purposefully set ablaze to give rise to new growth. This new growth attracted grazers closer to tribal settlements, providing ample hunting opportunities. Unlike modern fire regimes, these ones were cultural: the act of burning provided access to traditional foods and materials that were sustainably utilized for centuries.
The tallgrass prairie can thrive in places it once grew, as seen in this image taken at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, a former munitions factory complex restored to a thriving ecosystem.
It was humans that shaped the prairies we recognize today, and it is humans that can bring them back. One important way to do that is to rethink how we utilize space. A typical grass lawn consists of only a few types of plants with very shallow root systems, in stark contrast to the deep-rooted prairie grasses. Very few animals can utilize grass lawns for food or shelter, whereas even a small area of native prairie plants can provide countless opportunities for all manner of living things. Bringing back the prairie can start in our own yards through the planting of native prairie species, many of which feature brilliant flowers and showy growth patterns that rival many non-native annuals. Utilizing plants adapted to this region also means less water and overall maintenance for the owner. It doesn’t need to stop at yards, either. Underutilized natural spaces are all around us. Along the edges of highways, underneath power lines, in the medians of parking lots: all it takes is a little soil and sun to create a patch of prairie.
Aside from physically planting new prairie, one of the most impactful ways to bring them back is to change people’s perceptions of them. Environmental education and access to high quality outdoor spaces have been positively correlated with improved awareness towards and positive attitudes regarding conservation and the environment, especially among children. One way to utilize this is to simply visit a prairie and truly take in what it has to offer. You can use the Prairie Scavenger Hunt resource featured in this article to encourage your children to explore and discover. When perceptions change and people understand and appreciate what prairies provide, conservation initiatives, public and private funding, and local, state, and federal policy changes follow.
Less than one hundredth of one percent of Illinois’ original prairies remain, but the number of new and restored prairies have steadily grown throughout the past decade. Together, through simple acts such as gardening and spreading awareness, we can finally live up to our nickname again and welcome people back to the Prairie State.
For information on how to landscape with prairie plants and where to find prairie remnants throughout Illinois, explore this website from the Illinois Natural History Survey.
To see the impact of prairie restoration and what a large prairie ecosystem looks like, visit the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, a part of the Chicago wilderness.
To learn more about the efforts of Indigenous tribes to improve bison populations and resecure food sovereignty, check out this website from the Intertribal Buffalo Council, a group of over eighty tribes facilitating the management of thousands of bison.
Dreitz, V. J., Stinson, L. T., Hahn, B. A., Tack, J. D., & Lukacs, P. M. (2017). A large-scale perspective for managing prairie avifauna assemblages across the western US: Influences of habitat, land ownership and latitude. PeerJ, 5, e2879. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.2879
Anderson, R. C., & Anderson, M. R. (1975). The Presettlement Vegetation of Williamson County, Illinois. Castanea, 40(4), 345–363.
Ardoin, N. M., Bowers, A. W., & Gaillard, E. (2020). Environmental education outcomes for conservation: A systematic review. Biological Conservation, 241, 108224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2019.108224
Aune, K., Jørgensen, D., & Gates, C. (2016). IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Bison bison. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. https://www.iucnredlist.org/en
Axelrod, D. I. (1985). Rise of the grassland biome, central North America. The Botanical Review, 51(2), 163–201. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02861083
Bach, E. M., & Kleiman, B. P. (2021). Twenty years of tallgrass prairie restoration in northern Illinois, USA. Ecological Solutions and Evidence, 2(4), e12101. https://doi.org/10.1002/2688-8319.12101
Copeland, T. E., Sluis, W., & Howe, H. F. (2002). Fire Season and Dominance in an Illinois Tallgrass Prairie Restoration. Restoration Ecology, 10(2), 315–323. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1526-100X.2002.02023.x
Frost, C. C. (n.d.). Presettlement fire frequency regimes of the United States: A first approximation. Fire in Ecosystem Management: Shifting the Paradigm from Suppression to Prescription, 70–81.
Garfinkel, M., Hosler, S., Whelan, C., & Minor, E. (2022). Powerline Corridors Can Add Ecological Value to Suburban Landscapes When Not Maintained as Lawn. Sustainability, 14(12), Article 12. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127113
Nature—Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). National Park Service: Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, Kansas. Retrieved October 17, 2023, from https://www.nps.gov/tapr/learn/nature/index.htm
Purakayastha, T. J., Huggins, D. R., & Smith, J. L. (2008). Carbon Sequestration in Native Prairie, Perennial Grass, No-Till, and Cultivated Palouse Silt Loam. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 72(2), 534–540. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj2005.0369
Ries, L., Debinski, D. M., & Wieland, M. L. (2001). Conservation Value of Roadside Prairie Restoration to Butterfly Communities. Conservation Biology, 15(2), 401–411. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1739.2001.015002401.x
The Wildlife Medical Clinic’s Ambassador Program is delighted to introduce you to our newest member – Clover the American kestrel!
Why Clover, you ask? Well, we are very fortunate to have support from the University and surrounding area and are thrilled that a generous community member, Rich Sivicek, helped us to name her. Our previous American kestrels have had rhyming names (Pistol before Thistle). To continue with related names, since Thistle is a type of plant, another plant-themed name was selected, being Clover!
Clover was initially found in Springfield, Illinois, and brought to the Illinois Raptor Center in Decatur, Illinois, in the middle of June. She had only minor injuries but also presented with neurological symptoms. It was thought that she may have flown into a wall or window but with no improvement of her neurological symptoms after a couple weeks, IRC transferred her to the Wildlife Medical Clinic on the first of July.
At the Wildlife Medical Clinic, we assessed the same mild injuries but did not find anything out of the ordinary on radiographs, so nothing was broken or required surgical intervention. After a few days of keeping her and managing potential pain, we started to see that she did not act like a normal kestrel should. She was eager to see people and would try to run towards us when her cage was opened instead of trying to get away from us, and she was not eager to fly. This habituation to humans meant that, even when healed, she would likely not be successful in the wild.
Due to her non-releasable status, we started looking around for a permanent placement for this little kestrel. While being kept at the WMC, we started reinforcing her comfort around people so that she would be comfortable wherever she ended up. She turned out to be very food motivated – she very quickly learned to perch on a small scale for stress-free weight checks as long as there was a bite of mouse for her afterwards. We admittedly became fond of her and, after many conversations with the WMC faculty and student volunteers, it was decided that we had a place for her in our Ambassador program. Our ambassador American kestrel Thistle was getting older, and we were hoping a new kestrel would put less strain on Thistle, so she could travel to fewer off-site programs and mainly be used for on-site programs. Unfortunately, Thistle passed away before we had Clover ready for programs so we will have a few programs without a kestrel, until Clover is fully trained.
Clover has been in training for a few months now and has made great strides. She flies to select perches when we ask, steps up onto the glove, and still stands on a scale for weight checks. She also flies to the glove on command, which is not something our other Ambassador raptors do. She is beginning to become comfortable with jesses in her anklets. These cords will allow us to eventually secure her to the glove so that she will be safe and contained during programs and while on walks outside.
Training can be a slow process, and every bird is different, but she’s doing well so far and once we are sure she is comfortable and ready, we will start bringing her with to some of our outreach events! In the meantime, she can be seen during on-site programs or at any time by visiting the Ambassador Building, which is located behind the South Clinic. Clover loves to sit on the high beams of her outdoor enclosure, so if you don’t see her, try looking up!
In November, the Non-Traditional Species Club at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine hosted the fourth annual Wildlife University conference. Wildlife University is a student-organized conference for veterinary students, pre-vet students, and anyone else that is part of or interested in veterinary medicine or wildlife. This two-day conference consisted of lectures on various topics, a workshop opportunity, a trivia night, and a career panel.
This year, we had several amazing speakers who graciously took their time to give very informative and exciting lectures. Our speakers on the Saturday of the conference included: Dr. Margarita Woc-Colburn, Dr. Greg Lewbert, Dr. Tamara Qabazard, Dr. Lily Parkinson, Dr. Alida De Flamingh, and Dr. Karisa Tang. After these lectures, the day concluded with a fun and informative trivia night! On Sunday, our lecturers included: Jacob Dalen, Sarah Hollander, Dr. Giovana Miranda, Dr. Laura Adamovicz, Dr. Mandy Womble, and Dr. Michelle Borsdorf. The conference then concluded with a career panel where attendees were able to ask questions and learn about the variety of careers available in wildlife and veterinary medicine.
Wildlife University 2023 was a fun and successful conference enjoyed by many attendees. Much was learned through the various lectures on topics such as fish medicine, emergency zoo medicine, aquatic veterinary pathology, and so much more. The Non-Traditional Species Club and the Wildlife University planning committee would like to thank all of the speakers that took time out of their busy schedule to share their knowledge and experiences with the attendees. We would also like to thank our sponsors at the Wildlife Medical Clinic and the Illinois Raptor Center, as well as all the attendees who attended our conference. Our club will begin planning the 2024 Wildlife University conference in the spring, so keep an eye out for more information on next year’s conference!
Wildlife Medical Clinic Program Coordinator, Sydnee Oliveira, and Ambassador Care Coordinator, Jacob Dalen, are joined on CiLiving by our Ambassador, Ruby the Red-Tailed Hawk. Learn more about Ruby’s care, training, and the role she plays in educating the community as an Ambassador!
