WRSOS Board Member

  Jamille Heer
Born and raised in Edmonton, I became passionate about animals after getting my first dog “Max” at the age of three. As a little girl, I dreamed of being the next Jane Goodall and even went as far as writing my idol letters. When I was a teenager, I met Jane and told her how I wanted to be a primatologist just like she was. She told me, “grab hold of all your opportunities and you can do anything”. From that moment on I did.

I worked as a wildlife biologist after completing a diploma in Biological Science (Renewable Resources) and a Degree in Environmental Science. The projects I was involved in include mist netting songbirds and doing bird senses by song and sight at the Lesser Slave Lake Bird Observatory as well as Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship. I have worked on a nest searching and bird behaviour project in Fairbanks Alaska and an oil toxicity study with endangered seabirds at the Alaska Sea life Center in Seward. I did a cricket courtship song and mating behaviour study in Lethbridge. I have worked on botany projects with tropical trees and an over wintering bird behaviour study in Elk Island National Park. All these biology projects helped me work towards my primatology goal. Then I was offered my dream job in South America studying woolly monkeys for a year for the New York University! I dropped my life in Canada and followed my dream to Ecuador, where life in both a 3rd world country and the Amazonian jungle dramatically changed my perspective on many things.

I realized during my time in the Amazon that I wanted to work more directly in animal health, conservation, education and protection rather than just through biology and behavioural studies. When I came home from South America I began to chase a new dream of wildlife rehabilitation. I went back to school and got a diploma in Animal Health Technology to better prepare myself for a career in wildlife health. 		   

I originally had experience working in wildlife rehabilitation at the Alberta Birds of Prey Society and the Alaska Sea Life Center but I decided to further my experience by working with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Society of Edmonton and volunteering for the Wildlife and Exotic Animal Medicine Society in Saskatoon. I have also participated in many other small volunteer opportunities with a variety of wildlife rehabilitation facilities. I moved to Saskatchewan in 2005 hoping to start up my new dream. So here I am working with a great group of people with the same interests, trying to build a credible society for wildlife rehabilitation and, most importantly, public education to PREVENT injuries from happening.

I have recently ended a project at the University of Saskatchewan Vet College studying West Nile virus and environmental stress in waterfowl. I am currently working at VIDO (Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization) as a research technician studying carbon nano tube technology. Other than work I keep myself busy helping as a board member for WRSOS as well as other activities such as volunteering for Big Sisters, and fostering abused and abandoned dogs for New Hope dog Rescue. I have a part time hobby painting portraits of wildlife and peoples pets. I compete, train and help teach flyball (a relay racing sport for dogs) and am active as a retired National Springboard diver training for fun and fitness.

There’s not much room in the day for TV but that’s ok, I love to live life large and prefer to keep my focus on what I’m passionate about… especially keeping Saskatchewan Wildlife Wild!!!