Travis Kelter, Animal Caretaker Preceptorship student:

Many memories come flooding back when I reflect on my two-month preceptorship at the Wildlife Center of Virginia in the summer of 2011. Rarely was there a dull moment at the Center or the student house and the opportunities presented by the Wildlife Center were truly amazing. When I think back over my time there, two memories in particular stand out – one about a patient, the other about … my own adventure at the Center.

I have a particular soft spot for foxes so, naturally, one of my favourite patients was a Red Fox that came in with mange. The fox was initially placed in isolation, minimizing contact to select staff members. However, I waited for the day when I could see him and possibly handle him myself. For the interim I had to rely on a few photos some of the vet students had taken.

Eventually, the day came when I was able to hold the fox while his cage was cleaned and he was examined by the veterinarians.  I was in my glory. Even though my part was minimal, it was especially rewarding to see the transformation in this animal – from a thin, nearly hairless fox into a healthy fox whose hair was virtually all grown in and was almost ready for release.

My other memory … for those who know me, I think it safe to say an inordinate amount of strange things happen to me in comparison with the average person. Though I try my hardest to forget some occurrences, this story is worth sharing. If not for the enjoyment of myself, I am sure it was a highlight for others.

I had gone up to the Center’s outdoor aviary for the last baby-bird-feeding of the day. While checking on and feeding a Yellow-bellied Cuckoo, two of the other veterinary externship students came into the aviary complex to feed a Least Bittern, unbeknownst to me. When I gathered up all of the food supplies up and went to leave the complex, I realised the others had accidentally locked me in. I thought to myself, “Well, this is no big deal, everyone gets locked in the aviary at some point in time, I just have to wait a couple of minutes until someone comes up the hill to check on one of the patients or some other end-of-day task.” Apparently everything was already done, because two hours elapsed … and no one came by.

In the meantime, I did what any other bored, incarcerated person would do: I fed the birds some more, I sang to myself, and contemplated my escape. I first tried fashioning devices out of twigs and other various items in hopes that I could slide the lock and be free. These MacGyver-like contraptions all failed.

Next I reasoned that the aviary walls are only chicken wire stapled into a wood frame, so I could kick out the side of the main hallway and be on my way, but I also figured as soon as I did this, someone would come by and these efforts would be for nothing – and I’d have to fix the enclosure on top of everything else. I waited a bit longer and still there was no one.

I decided to take freedom in my own hands and kick out the part that I thought was the weakest. This plan wasn’t fully developed as I apparently kicked out the portion of the elevated complex where the floor was the highest off of the ground. Just as I was crawling out, my back belt loop hooked onto a piece of the wire. Just as this was occurring, my fellow preceptorship student came up the hill to see me half-hanging out of the aviary, legs dangling, hanging by my belt loop and giving myself a “wedgie.” While she was incapacitated by laughter, I managed to wriggle free and hit the ground. I had no words and simply headed to get the staple gun to fix the enclosure …

Editor’s note: Since Travis’s preceptorship, a generous donor has purchased 15 walkie-talkies for us from our wish list – ideal for quick escapes!

Read about more “memorable moments” from our staff, volunteers, and students — 2011 Year in Review.