CROW, shell museum partnership supports aquarium animal care
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum and Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife are celebrating their synergies and mutual love of wildlife — one showcases marine animals and the other cares for Southwest Florida creatures — by joining forces for a unique innovative relationship.
CROW Medical and Research Director Dr. Heather Barron has been providing specialized veterinary care for the sea life at the shell museum since before the aquarium opened, officials reported.
“There is very little information on veterinary care for invertebrates, let alone care specific for mollusks,” museum Executive Director Sam Ankerson said. “Much of the work our aquarists are doing is uncharted territory. It’s a great opportunity to work with an accomplished veterinarian and non-profit partner on the island who is willing and eager to do the research to help better mollusk husbandry for the future.”
Through the years, Barron has cared for everything from birds to turtles, raccoons to rabbits. In addition to caring for creatures of the land and air, she is also certified in aquatic medicine.
“I am honored to be able to provide medical care for the amazing animals at the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum,” Barron said. “The knowledgeable national shell museum staff is always a pleasure to work with and is invaluable in the effort to provide a world-class living mollusk museum.”
In 2010, the museum was awarded a 15-year accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums, which enables it to demonstrate its commitment to excellence and continued institutional improvement as a Natural History Museum to its communities, donors and sponsoring agencies. Since the opening of the Beyond Shells: Living Gallery aquariums in 2020, the museum has also been focused on obtaining accreditation by the American Aquarium & Zoological Association.
Veterinary care is an important aspect of the accreditation. One of the standards is that a certified aquatic vet must be under contract with the institution and must make at least two visits a month to do health inspections. As part of the CROW-museum partnership, Barron visits the museum every other week to take an in-depth look at each of its marine animals, from fish to the giant Pacific octopus.
Before any new animals go on exhibit, the animals go through a quarantine period after an intake exam from Barron. She inspects their body condition, checks weights, draws blood, examines their fecal matter and performs any other diagnostics that may be necessary. Barron also conducts any necropsies.
But the partnership is more than providing veterinary care. It provides enhanced learning opportunities for students in CROW’s externship and internship programs who may be interested in marine biology.
“I often take students or vet interns with me to the museum because each trip offers a wealth of learning opportunities,” Barron said. “Whether we are doing ultrasound on the giant Pacific octopus or drawing a blood sample from a California sea hare, every day is an exciting challenge that helps to advance the science of mollusk medicine.”