Professionals Making A Difference
The wild life of Dr. Helen SchwantjeOur nearly 3,000 members occupy a wide variety of job titles and roles. But this month’s featured member has a job that is probably one of the most unique in the entire province. As a Wildlife Veterinarian, Helen Schwantje analyzes, plans, and strategizes how wild and domestic animals can co-exist in a healthy environment with humans.
Name: Helen Schwantje (but it’s pronounced like “wantcha”)
Job Title: Wildlife Veterinarian
What does that involve: No two days are ever the same, so it’s hard to pin-point exactly what my job involves. Unlike a typical vet, I’m not really making animals better. It’s more like I put together a picture of wildanimal health from information, observations, and events. I use that knowledge to advise our ministry, our partners, and the general public about issues involving wildlife health.
What kind of events do you analyze?: Recently I performed a post-mortem on a bear who attacked someone. I was evaluating its health and trying to understand what triggered the attack.
Is that an extreme case?: Well, in this line of work, nothing is really extreme. I’m often asked to inform hunters on abnormalities that they may find with animals they harvest. The finding may mean nothing at all or may present potential risks to them and their families’ health.
How much of your work is field-based compared with office or lab work?: Travelling around the province to attend meetings and field work eats up about 1/3 of my time. Some of that time I am training ministry staff (I am responsible for instructing an intensive course on humane handling and care for anesthetizing wild animals). Office time includes forensic investigations.
How did you get into such a unique role?: I was in the right place at the right time. I was always interested in wild animals and at one time worked in a zoo. I completed a Master’s degree working with bighorn sheep in the mid 1980’s. That introduced me to the Ministry of Environment and some wonderful people who believed in me so that I was eventually able to develop this dream job.
How long have you been in your current role?: I started in 1992. As the only BC Government vet outside of the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, it is a truly unique position that requires a lot of dedication.
Outside of being a rock-star vet, what do you like to do?: It was always my dream to own a farm, and after graduating with my Master’s, I was lucky enough to find the perfect property in Duncan. My husband Barry and I raise edible sheep and just about everything else we need. It’s important for us to have that lifestyle, a place to come hometo – but there is little time to do anything else!
What does the future hold for you?: I am passionate about my work and the people I work with, so of course I expect to be in my position for the next few years. However, when the time does come to retire, I want to leave it in good hands. I hope that whoever takes my place shares the same devotion towards our natural resources. When I graduated, there were very few jobs like this available, but today there are more training and job opportunities showing up every year. It’s not an easy job, but it’s vital to the health of our wildlife and with the changing times we live in today. We’ll continue to need someone to put the same kind of commitment in.
Deborah Dykes of St. Margaret's School (SMS)
Peter Klit of the University of Victoria's Printing Services (UVic)
Susan Randle of the Ministry of Transportation (GLP)
Robyn Thrift of Prince George School District (PGSD)
