Anyone familiar with what Wisc has for wildlife/zoo opps? i see they have 1 credit "exotics" electives, but they don't go into any detail. I would think they'd have a wildlife clinic being in wisconsin, but i see no mention anywhere...
So I know this question is old, and you might have an answer already, but I went to the open house dealie this weekend, and spoke with Dr. Sladkey who is one of their two zoo/exotics boarded faculty. He actually told me some very encouraging things about their program:
Some time at the beginning of first year they try to identify all the people with an interest in non-domestics (zoo/wildlife/exotics), and they have biweekly (or so) meetings with Dr. Sladkey and the other doc whose name I forget (she's currently in Europe so I didn't meet her) all through the first, second, and third years (you'd be welcome as a fourth-year but most are too busy to make it). They basically discuss opportunities, maybe have guest speakers, that kind of thing. He made it sound like they tried pretty hard to collect info and keep the students informed of whatever research opportunities and scholarships and things were available. They have stipend money available that's dedicated specifically to students who do a field research project over the summer.
The group above is separate from the student-run wildlife/exotic/zoo club, which they also have (and seems to be pretty active with field trips, maybe not so much in the way of wet labs - but you could join up and organize that if you wanted).
There's a "global health program" or something like that, where students can travel to Ecuador, Belize, Thailand... and maybe somewhere else too, and work with local people on animal husbandry and health issues. Dr. Sladkey is on the steering committee for that, and it sounds like a lot of zoo/exotics students get involved there.
There is a single "special species" clinic on campus, that sees exotic pets and animals from the Milwaukee Zoo and other small area zoos. Wildlife goes to the Madison Humane Society which has a huge and beautiful wildlife rehab facility (at which you can do externships and generally be involved if that's your cup of tea). He said Wisconsin vies with Davis for non-domestic caseload, but the special species ward was empty the day of the open house (a Friday, so not just the expected weekend emptiness). He said the special species docs always get a call whenever something unusual comes in, they're involved with pretty much every non-dog/cat/cow/horse/goat/sheep case.
