Hello, I’m Charlotte, a student in my second year at Sparsholt College Hampshire. I’m currently studying a diploma in Animal Management and hope to go on to do Veterinary Nursing or something similar as a degree after a GAP year of work experience. Within my course I cover a huge variety of different subjects, some of those being practically based, however the majority of my course is theory based which although doesn’t sound as fun and interesting as the hands on practicals, it actually is! We learn so much about so many different aspects of animals and the environments in which they live, from the way they work with biochemistry and microbiology to where they live with Ecology or why they behave the way they do with Animal Behaviour.

Another very important aspect of my course is the work experience that we undertake. June and Bob and everyone at HART Wildlife Hospital kindly let me spend two weeks with them, working along side them learning and taking part with all the hard work that they do.

On my first day I learnt the basics of cleaning out, which at this time of year is mainly hedgehogs! After doing my first box or two I realised how important it was to be thorough, as infection and disease can be so easily spread. A lesson that really did not take me long to learn is; Stand clear of the hose!!! Water proofs or not, that hose is harder to handle than any animal in the hospital! After I had mastered the art of box cleaning (as well as you can on their first day) I was shown how to weigh the hedgehogs, before they are put into their boxes. This I found really interesting as the weight can tell you a lot about the animal and their health. I also learnt how to health check them and record my findings.

Once all the cleaning had been done, in the boxes, sheds and aviaries it was time for a much needed coffee! After finishing that and all the equipment put away it was time to start learning about what goes on in the afternoon.

I was taken into the shed with hedgehogs in and shown a tub, as the tub was opened an increasingly worrying aroma filled the air... I looked at the tub and the label stated ‘FAECAL SAMPLES’. At first the thought of looking at hedgehog poo under a microscope and looking for all things that wriggle was a bit disgusting, but after my first look into the microscope I immediately found quite the opposite, it was actually really fascinating. After finding and recording samples that have eggs, worms or larvae in them I was shown exactly what’s done about it. Injections! Another subject I found thoroughly interesting. The first few days I just watched how they are done and helped, then after the first week I was allowed to actually do the injections (under supervision), which really interested me as well as educated me.

Also through out the twos weeks I was able go on two rescue missions as well as go along to the vets to see what happens when they need veterinary treatment.