2023 Year in Review: Jenn Dunsheath, LVT Intern
While the day I got the opportunity to work with a favorite animal didn’t have the outcome I had envisioned, I was so proud of myself and everybody around me that day.
While the day I got the opportunity to work with a favorite animal didn’t have the outcome I had envisioned, I was so proud of myself and everybody around me that day.
The direct treatment and rehabilitation of patients is a side of the Wildlife Center that I don't get to see each day, but I am thrilled that I had these experiences to have a heightened understanding of the care that goes into every animal.
Within the nuanced boundaries of life and death in wildlife medicine, humane euthanasia is merely a clinical necessity.
But after an incredibly busy and often stressful season at the Wildlife Center this year, I think what I needed more was a reminder to better appreciate and cherish these victories.
Seeing someone of a younger generation already have so much passion and excitement about what we do here at the Wildlife Center tugged at my heartstrings and is a memory that I will never forget.
For me, both of these teaching opportunities at NWRA took a tremendous amount of work and planning, but they were so well worth it! It was extremely gratifying, especially in the workshop, to walk around and get to answer questions, and see people learning in a hands-on setting. It was certainly a highlight of my year!
Though unfortunate, this is a moment that will live with me for the rest of my career. I was only able to witness the end of this curious creature’s story, but I am content knowing we were able to humanely end her suffering and I had a role in ensuring her “history-making” adventure did not go unnoticed.
As the cub began to recover, her feisty personality began to shine and she gradually reclaimed the playful nature that defines the spirit of bear cubs. Each tentative step, every curious glance, and the joyous return to climbing structures spoke volumes about the strength this little one had.
The return to in-person workshops served as a reminder that, despite the hurdles faced in the last three years, the pursuit of education and the joy of learning new skills are timeless and universal.
This kind of direct interaction with the local community helps all of the messages we are putting out there about wildlife feel a bit more concrete and real: there are small choices that we make every day and those ultimately add up to either harm or benefit our wild neighbors