An Interview with Veterinarian Dr. Wynona

Dr. Wynona Shellabarger has been a veterinarian with the Detroit Zoo for more than 17 years. She spends her days providing medical care to the animals who call the Detroit Zoo and Belle Isle Nature Center home — from tiny amphibians to massive mammals.

How did you get into the field of zoo veterinary medicine?

I probably didn’t go what would be a traditional route today. In veterinary school, my interests were in equine and small animal medicine. I’m from Illinois, and it wasn’t until I moved to the Toledo area that I started volunteering at zoos. I fell in love with it, so I did an internship. Once I got involved with this and had some amazing experiences, I never considered doing anything else. It’s been a really rewarding, challenging, exciting job.

What do you love about your job?

I always learn something new and never know what species I may be working with on a given day. I’m working with anything from an amphibian the size of my pinky all the way up to animals the size of a polar bear, giraffe or rhino. We have a diverse population of amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles. It’s our job as veterinarians to be ready to take care of any of those at any given moment. That’s what makes this job exciting and new every single day. Another thing that keeps me going is the comradery and teamwork aspect. I love working with a group of people who are so passionate about the animals they care for. It’s exciting to work together for positive change and know that you’ve made a difference in an animal’s life.

Is there a specific animal who has made an impact on you?

I hesitate to single out any species as I love working with them all. However, one of my roles is as a veterinary advisor for the Association of Zoos and Aquariums

for polar bears. So, I’ve developed a real fondness for them, and I enjoy being able to help share information and devise strategies that help polar bears at zoos across the country. A few years ago, I had the privilege of being involved in the care of twin polar bear cubs who were born at the Detroit Zoo. I feel like I used every piece of veterinary knowledge and tool in my toolbox. It was a very labor-intensive but rewarding period in my career.

Do you have any advice for young people looking to enter veterinary medicine?

Try to research and spend as much time with a veterinarian as possible and spend time with different animals to ensure you find the right fit for you. This job is a great way to merge a love for animals and a gift or talent in the sciences, but it is a long road and a competitive field. This is a job you do for the passion of it, so you want to make sure you will love what you do.