Our host Gail Buhl invited Dr. Leslie Reed on the show to talk about her unusual niche within the wildlife rehabilitation sector -- wildlife dentistry! Animals that have teeth suffer from many of the same problems humans do, such as cavities, chips, decay, and foreign bodies lodged in the gum line. These and many other dental issues can severely affect an animal's quality of life in care and after release, so Leslie draws on her years of experience to help her patients with the best dental outcomes possible. 

This is the first in a 2-part discussion about wildlife dentistry, so be sure to check back at the end of this month for part 2! In this episode, Leslie reveals a bit about her origin story, including her path to becoming a specialist in wildlife dentistry. We learn about what "dentition" means and how it is critical to an animal's healthy functioning in the wild. A big challenge in in wildlife dentistry is VERY small teeth. Leslie describes what it was like to perform a root canal on a bat. It's a memorable story, so be sure to listen all the way through!

Dr. Leslie Reed is our final guest on Season 2. We take a break from posting new episodes in the fall and shift to finding and interviewing more interesting people in the wildlife rehabilitation community. Do you know someone who would make a good guest on the show?  Is there a topic you really want to learn about? If so, we want to hear from you. Feel free to email your ideas directly to Gail: gailbuhl@umn.edu 

Special thanks to Partners For Wildlife and The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Our executive producer and host is Gail Buhl. Our producer is Kirk Klocke.

To learn more about The Raptor Center, visit Homepage | The Raptor Center (umn.edu). For more on Partners for Wildlife, visit Partners for Wildlife Home | The Raptor Center (umn.edu).