Behind the Scenes - A Day in the Life of an Intern: Meet Ellie Nagle

Rod: So this is Ellie. Where are you from?

Ellie: I'm originally from South Wales. Even though I don't have much of a Welsh accent, it's because I'm right on the border between Wales and England. I grew up my whole life there.

Rod: And education-wise, is this a field that you're studying?

Ellie: Yeah, I'm at the University of Hartpury, just outside of Gloucestershire, studying zoology. This is my placement year.

Rod: Is that the same school Morgan's from?

Ellie: Yes, it is. That's how we met.

Rod: What year are you in there?

Ellie: Technically, it's between my second and third year. When I go back to university, that'll be my final year.

Rod: And you're doing this as a placement as part of your education?

Ellie: Yeah, we had an assignment to do over this year, and we just handed it in about our experiences.

Rod: Is this your first time here or have you been here before?

Ellie: First time.

Rod: First time, so. What's a typical day like for you?

Ellie: Usually, I wake up around seven, a bit earlier because I have raccoons to feed at seven. I have seven baby raccoons. Then I feed ten skunks at eight. We have our morning meeting at 8:45, then do all the morning cleaning tasks. I also have to feed coyotes. Luckily, they’re not on milk feeds, so I just put their food in and do a spot check of their enclosure. We have four separate areas for them since a new one just came in, and he has to be separate until he can be mixed with the others.

Rod: What's been the most difficult thing for you about being here?

Ellie: The loss is really hard. When animals don't make it, it’s tough. I had a group of bunnies with a co-parent, and one of them was the best drinker we ever had. But she got diarrhea and didn’t make it. That was really hard, but she had a happy life with her siblings. The happy times hopefully outweigh the losses. It’s so rewarding to see any improvement.

Rod: It's so much like an emergency hospital here, right?

Ellie: Yeah, it really is.

Rod: What will you do after this? Are you going back to school?

Ellie: Yeah, back to university for my final year. Maybe something in conservation or rehab like this. I’m keeping my options open. My field is definitely hands-on work. I don’t think I could be in a lab; it’s not really my thing.

Rod: When you go home, what will you tell people? What's the value in a place like Critter Care?

Ellie: Without places like this, I don't know how animals would function. Work like this is so important. There'd be a lot of animals not making it. Some people might think it's just nature, but every life deserves a chance. It's important that we prioritize the animals and ensure they have the best care. I will always tell everyone how great it is to have a place like this. It’s incredible how many people want to be here and help. It gives you faith in humanity. The support from donations, volunteering, or even just an hour of someone's time keeps places like this running

Rod: Thank you!