Education and Training

The Wildlife Futures Program trains health professionals to help protect wild populations and promote conservation in Pennsylvania and beyond. Our team engages and educates members of the general public, wildlife agency staff, and veterinary students through in-person and virtual training sessions, presentations and workshops.

Wildlife Curriculum - Penn Vet Students

Many WFP team members are Penn Vet standing or adjunct faculty who incorporate wildlife health into the veterinary curriculum. Beginning in their first year, Penn Vet students receive WFP taught hands-on laboratory instruction in examining and stabilizing native wildlife. In their second and third years, students attend lectures and labs on wildlife toxicology, wildlife pathology, and wildlife diseases from WFP experts. Third and fourth year students may participate in a more intensive wildlife diseases and diagnostics course. First- and second-year students may also elect to complete capstone experiences through the WFP. These 9-day sessions provide an immersive opportunity to experience wildlife diagnostics firsthand.

Summer Research Positions - Penn Vet Students

We offer paid summer research positions to Penn Vet students as well as undergraduate students. These students receive training in various program areas and provide important contributions to our ongoing research projects.

Wildlife Training - Pennsylvania Game Commission

The Wildlife Futures Program helps PGC ensure that their team members are up to date on wildlife health issues and best techniques and practices for working with wildlife. We assist with organized training events and spend time in the field with biologists to ensure that they and other field staff are proficient with sample collection for health and disease testing. We are also developing a video training series on wildlife handling, disease response, and biosafety procedures, for wardens and deputies who are often the first line of response to wildlife health concerns in Pennsylvania.