Wildlife. We love catching a glimpse of them in the wild. Experiencing the thrill of seeing a rare species. So imagine the excitement of working or volunteering at a wildlife rescue or rehabilitation centre where thousands of wild animals are brought for treatment every year!

Working with wildlife as a veterinarian goes beyond specific medical knowledge. It requires an approach to medicine not taught to us at veterinary school.

For one, wild patients are terrified in the presence of humans. Petting, speaking softly - all the tricks we use with dogs, cats, horses - doesn't reassure them. It creates extreme stress. When we work with wildlife we try to be silent, efficient and to plan well so we can handle the animal as few times as possible.

Safety is paramount.Wild animals will defend themselves when threatened. We must understand their defences and make sure everyone on the team is knowledgeable and equipped to safely handle and restrain our wild patients.

We also must understand their normal behaviours so that we can observe and recognize when something is wrong. For example if a bird of prey is lying on its back with its feet pointed in the air, depending on the species, this could be a normal defensive posture - not an injury!

Getting in the minds of our wild patients helps us predict their responses, understand when something isn't right and minimize the fear and stress that any wild animal will experience during their treatment and rehabilitation. As a veterinarian this is the first set of skills we must master if we want to heal our patients and get them back into the wild where they belong.

Understanding these principles will help you too, when YOU are volunteering with wildlife!