I am currently working as a Veterinary Technician at the Oregon Zoo. My role works with all of the different species we house , from scorpions to sea otters and rock fish to polar bears. We need to adapt quickly to treat any given animal on any given day.

I always knew I wanted to work with animals and studied Wildlife Biology at Colorado State University (CSU). It was at CSU that I had the amazing opportunity to travel to Kenya & Tanzania with SFS for their Wildlife Management Program. Participating in this field study program was by far one of the most incredible experiences I have ever had.

After graduating, I worked in wildlife rehabilitation, and it was through those experiences that I became interested in veterinary medicine. I decided to obtain my Associates degree in Veterinary Technology, a 2-year program. After receiving this degree, I had to sit for my national and state boards before being able to practice as a fully licensed technician. While preparing for my national boards and graduation, I interned at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (Tacoma, WA). There, I was introduced to zoo medicine and immediately knew I wanted to pursue it as a career.

Luckily the Oregon Zoo (OZ) has amazing diagnostic equipment to provide top notch medical care for our animals. We frequently use our CT scanner and ultrasound to help identify issues with an animal. At OZ, every animal counts! We will take the time to provide care, from a newt that isn’t feeling well that needs CT imaging, to figuring out how to care for a sick fish or frog with an injured leg.

We have a surgical microscope that helps us work on tiny animals. We also have special blood pressure cuffs for our larger animals. In the field of zoo medicine, you often need to get creative to produce solutions for helping our patients, since they vary so much in size and shape. It is a fun field because we are constantly learning. There is still so much to discover about different animal species and their medical needs.

I enjoy working for an AZA (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) accredited institution because there are multiple opportunities to actively perform conservation work. We are currently part of a project with the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) that is trying to find treatments for a severe fungal infection affecting the Western Pond Turtle population. We are also part of breeding programs that help sustain wild populations of animals, like the California Condor.

Favorite SFS Memory: Coming across a black mamba in the bathroom and having to have our site cook get it out with a stick!