Turtle Rescue Team
If you are interested in working with reptiles, improving hands-on veterinary skills, learning how to create treatment plans, and/or performing various surgeries, Turtle Rescue Team is the club for you! As a student-run organization, we provide medical, surgical and husbandry services free of charge in the hope of releasing rehabilitated turtles back into the wild. Currently, Turtle Rescue Team sees and treats over 500 wild turtles, reptiles and amphibians each year. With such a high caseload, student volunteers have the opportunity to not only learn, develop, and refine their medical skills on “exotic” species, but also have the chance to contribute to protecting North Carolina’s native wildlife.
Members of TRT gain:
- Tons of experience with skills such as turtle handling, medication administration (IM, SQ & IV injections, eyedrops, oral, topical), wound care, husbandry, etc.
- After 10 treatment shifts, you can start taking Pager shifts, during which you are on call for the day and responsible for the management of any turtle that comes in for the duration of its care.
- You will learn how to formulate diagnostic and treatment plans, to perform various surgeries, and to problem solve when things don’t go as planned.
- Record keeping experience and writings medical records using RaptorMed
- Valuable mentorship from the Exotic Animal Medicine Service faculty and residents
- And more!
If you would like to get involved…
To get started, please email turtle-rescue-team@ncsu.edu. Undergraduates and veterinary students are welcome to get involved!
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