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Best way to get into wildlife biology/vet med

Hi everyone,

Just currently thinking about what I want to do with my career, I’ve always dreamed of working with exotics/wildlife but struggled to get into it.

I took a zoology course at queen Mary after an animal management course in college, but after a year I felt like it was too much like statistics and report based worked. I don’t know if I should’ve stuck through if there was more too it but it didn’t feel right for me.

So now I’m currently working as a VCA in a vet in London, planning to be a vet nurse. But I’m starting to feel a bit bored and miss studying. I’m basically re thinking some paths I can go down to get back into wildlife and exotics sort of thing.

My idea was to maybe do vet med at RVC and wildlife course after. Or do a wildlife biology course at RVC. But honestly have no idea

Would really appreciate some honest opinions on what I want to do. I’ve heard it’s very hard and not paying very well. Just so stuck because I love animals and biology especially exotics but being a vca is getting very repetitive.

Reply 1

evitaliz0024

Any courses to do with the above that anyone could suggest pls

Reply 2

ALEreapp

Two major considering for wildlife veterinary 1. If you think what you are earning now doesn’t pay well, it won’t get any better for wildlife care!
2. Wildlife veterinary is so incredibly competitive you will have to pay a fortune for experiences etc to get your foot in the door.

Realistically most of the work with animals is statistics based because you are studying them. Being a vet is a different insight but you won’t just be able to avoid that.

Reply 3

evitaliz0024

Original post

by ALEreapp

Two major considering for wildlife veterinary 1. If you think what you are earning now doesn’t pay well, it won’t get any better for wildlife care!
2. Wildlife veterinary is so incredibly competitive you will have to pay a fortune for experiences etc to get your foot in the door.
Realistically most of the work with animals is statistics based because you are studying them. Being a vet is a different insight but you won’t just be able to avoid that.

Yeah fair enough, I was told before it’s so competitive and you have to know the right people. For me it’s not so much about pay because I get like min wage now. Just wondering as there are some wildlife courses but honestly not sure if it’s worth it since it’s so hard to get work after it unfortunately. But I’m still so interested I’m biology so I’m also considering lab type work. Just really overwhelmed with all the options and the fact a course is probably a big commitment

Reply 4

evitaliz0024

Original post

by evitaliz0024

But I am thinking a bit towards vet med as I feel it’s more biology focused if I’m not wrong . Also sorry to add, for me doing wildlife is more like for my passion, I already love animal biology so to imagine wildlife I think is just amazing, if i could even just experience it I’d be so happy

Reply 5

greg654

Honestly the quickest way back into wildlife stuff is getting hands on experience. A lot of zoos and wildlife centres take volunteers or seasonal assistants, and that gets you way further than chasing another degree right away. Vet med is a huge commitment and super intense, so you kinda want to be sure before you throw yourself into that.