Texas A&M Zoo, Exotics & Wildlife Club (ZEW)
Mission
The mission of the Texas A&M Zoo, Exotics & Wildlife Club (ZEW) shall be to offer members training in handling and medical procedures with regard to all non-domestic species, as well as to broaden veterinary students’ comprehension of the anatomical differences in non-domestic species and how their medical management and diseases compare and contrast with that of domestic animals.
About
The ZEW Club works to unite its membership as an active organization on the Texas A&M campus and, through leadership training, make each member better qualified to participate in professional organizations upon graduation.
Established in the spring of 1996, the goal was to accommodate the rising interest in non-traditional medicine within the veterinary student body. We represent six different aspects of exotic animal medicine, including aquatic, avian, reptile, small mammal, wildlife, and zoological medicine.
National Organizations
To provide the best information possible to our members, our officers represent the following organizations at conferences and events:
- AAV (Association of Avian Veterinarians)
- AAWV (American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians)
- AAZV (American Association of Zoo Veterinarians)
- AEMV (Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians)
- ARAV (Association of Reptile & Amphibian Veterinarians)
- IAAAM (International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine)
Monthly Meetings
We have meetings each month, covering topics related to all aspects of non-traditional animal medicine. We try to bring diverse speakers, ranging from zoo veterinarians to private exotic practitioners.
Annual Wet Lab
We host an annual wet lab to provide an opportunity for students to get hands-on experience. Under faculty and practitioner supervision, students are able to learn and practice physical exam techniques, proper techniques in restraining animals, and important clinical skills such as drawing blood, placing catheters, crop feeding placement in birds, and sexing techniques in reptiles. The wet lab also allows students the opportunity to sit with our lecturers and lab instructors and ask questions about their various fields and interests.
Trips
Field trips give us a chance to get away from school and experience exotic animal medicine first-hand. We have at least one field trip per semester. We organize behind-the-scenes tours rotating through the 17 AZA Accredited institutions within the state.
We try to attend as many exotic conferences as possible. Our members regularly attend the AAZV, IAAAM, and ExoticsCon meetings—so you can be sure you’ll have someone to go with. Our own wet lab is open to students from other schools as well to provide additional networking opportunities for our members.
We’re a fun group of people from many different backgrounds. We’re anxious to learn while having fun and we are looking forward to getting you involved!
Schedule
- Zoom Link: https://tamu.zoom.us/j/94547499566?pwd=wlUD868NSG58qRwcbgC5ybVRUYZIBK.1
- Zoom Passcode: 817528
- 9/2/25: Joint Introduction Meeting (Bee Vets/ZEW/WDA/Green Vets)
- 9/18/25: Wild Bird Pesticide Exposure and Zoonotic Disease
- 10/8/25: Zoo and Conservation Medicine (ZEW/AAVMP Joint Meeting)
- 10/12/25: OKC Zoo Field Trip
- 11/1/25: Fossil Rim Field Trip
- 11/8/25: Deantlering Lab
- 11/12/25: Small Mammal Dentistry
- 11/16/25: Reptile/Amphibian Handling Presentation and Demonstration with Pre-Vet Society
- 1/31/26-2/1/26: ZEW Wet Lab
- 2/26: Reptile/Amphibian Chair Meeting
- 3/26: Aquatics Chair Meeting
- 4/26: Wildlife Chair Meeting
Texas A&M ZEW Leadership
2025–2026 Officer Team
- President: Alyssa Trickey ’27 | alyssatrickey@tamu.edu
- Vice President: Claire Webb ’27 | clairewebb@tamu.edu
- Treasurer: Abigail Mason ’28 | acmason23@tamu.edu
- ZEW Relations: Sarah Dart ’27 | sarah.ejohnson@tamu.edu
- Wet Lab Coordinator: Kassi Royer ’27 | future-dr.kass@tamu.edu
- Aquatics Chair: Nina Pyron ’28 | npyron@tamu.edu
- Avian Chair: Kaitlyn Morales ’28 | kaitlyn.morales@tamu.edu
- Small Mammal Chair: Alyssa Carroll ’27 | alyssa.carroll@tamu.edu
- Wildlife Chair: Anna Mehner ’28 | anna.mehner@tamu.edu
- Zoo Chair: Xena Gehring ’28 | xenag@tamu.edu
- 1VM Representative: Danielle Nagad ’29 | danielle.nagad@tamu.edu
- VERO Representative: Makenzie Limbocker ’28 | mbnorden.2024@tamu.edu
- Faculty Advisor: Alice Blue-McLendon, DVM, Clinical Associate Professor, Winnie Carter Wildlife Center, Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology (VTPP)
Engage with Texas A&M ZEW
Follow us on Social Media — Instagram: @tamuzew
Contact us — Email: tamucvmzew@gmail.com
