Program Aims to Improve Veterinarians’ Skills With Wildlife

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- The University of Minnesota is launching a year-long fellowship aimed at improving veterinarians' skills in handling wild animals who may wind up in their care.

The fellowship is led by Partners for Wildlife, a wildlife rehabilitation program run by university staff and based at the Raptor Center. Julia Ponder, the Raptor Center's executive director, says veterinarians are trained only in caring for domestic animals like dogs, cats and horses.

The program instructs vets in basic rehab skills like handling, bandaging, and examining wild animals such as deer, wolves and raccoons.

The program participants went through three days of training this past weekend. They'll have virtual check-ins monthly before getting together again in March.