Dr. Michelle Oakley’s remarkable journey began with her pursuit of education at the University of Michigan, where she earned her degree in Zoology in 1991.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Her passion for animal care led her to the Atlantic Veterinary College in Prince Edward Island, Canada, where she further honed her skills. Her practical experience was enriched through an internship at the Calgary Zoo, setting the foundation for her future adventures in veterinary medicine.
Career and Television Success
In 2014, Dr. Oakley’s unique veterinary practice caught the attention of Nat Geo Wild, leading to the premiere of her show on April 4, 2014.
Based in Haines Junction, Yukon, and Haines, Alaska, she has become renowned for her exceptional work with both domestic and wild animals. The show has successfully completed 11 seasons, with the final 12th season marking the end of this remarkable series.
Family and Professional Support
Dr. Oakley’s practice is strengthened by the support of her family, including her husband Shane Oakley and their three daughters. Sierra and Maya Oakley serve as veterinary assistants, while Willow Oakley contributes to the family practice in her own way. Their collective dedication has made the practice a true family enterprise.
Notable Cases and Challenges
Throughout her career, Dr. Oakley has handled diverse cases, from treating eagles with broken wings to performing surgeries on wild bears. Her work with muskoxen, caribou, and sled dogs has demonstrated her versatility in veterinary medicine. The challenging Yukon environment adds an extra layer of complexity to her daily work.
Season 1 (2014)
| Episode | Title | Air Date |
| 1 | “Fly Like an Eagle” | April 12, 2014 |
| 2 | “One Angry Muskox” | April 19, 2014 |
| 3 | “Caribou Down” | April 26, 2014 |
| 4 | “Reindeer Pains” | May 3, 2014 |
| 5 | “Oakley Get Your Blow Gun” | May 10, 2014 |
| 6 | “Winter Is Coming” | May 17, 2014 |
Season 2 (2015)
| Episode | Title | Air Date |
| 1 | “Mush Madness” | November 1, 2014 |
| 2 | “Flying Caribou” | November 8, 2014 |
| 3 | “When Coyotes Attack” | November 15, 2014 |
| 4 | “A Face Full of Quills” | November 22, 2014 |
| 5 | “Here Comes Cari-Boo-Boo” | December 6, 2014 |
| 6 | “Leopards, Wolf Pups & Grizzlies, Oh My!” | December 6, 2014 |
| 7 | “The Missing Lynx” | December 13, 2014 |
| 8 | “Bull Steam Ahead” | December 20, 2014 |
| 9 | “Moose on the Loose” | December 27, 2014 |
| 10 | “Havoc in the Herd” | January 3, 2015 |
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Season 3 (Spring 2016)
| Episode | Title | Air Date | Description |
| 1 | Yak Attack | Mar 19 | Dr. Oakley treats a tarred eagle while preparing for her eldest to leave home |
| 2 | Steer Clear | Mar 26 | Handles dangerous animal patients requiring special care |
| 3 | Taming of the Wolverine | Apr 16 | Works with a wolverine at an Alaskan rehabilitation clinic |
| 4 | Baby Boom | Apr 2 | Multiple births: tends to a calf, puppies, and an expectant goat |
| 5 | Got Moose Juice? | Apr 23 | Treats a baby moose suffering from severe indigestion in Alaska |
| 6 | Midnight Madness | Apr 30 | Responds to an emergency midnight call to help a family of dogs |
| 7 | Warts and All | May 7 | Assists a caribou with facial warts and a mountain goat’s injured foot |
| 8 | Cat Out of Hell | May 14 | Diverse patients: treats a Himalayan yak, porcupine, and hairless cat |
Season 4 (Fall 2016)
| Episode | Title | Air Date | Description |
| 1 | One Mad Mama | Oct 1 | Examines and treats a dog with paw issues |
| 2 | Poking the Bear | Oct 8 | Conducts examinations on two black bears |
| 3 | Raging Bison | Oct 15 | Prepares wood bison for release back into the wild |
| 4 | No Bull | Oct 22 | Investigates bison inbreeding concerns on Prince Edward Island |
| 5 | When Horses Fly | Oct 20 | Herds wild horses in the Yukon territory |
| 6 | When Cows Fight Back | Nov 5 | Performs calf castration on a remote island location |
| 7 | Bad News Bear | Nov 12 | Works to rescue a drowning brown bear |
| 8 | Bear Brawl | Nov 16 | Special episode featuring a conflict between bear siblings at a sanctuary |
Season 5 (Fall 2017)
| Episode | Title | Air Date | Description |
| 1 | Alaska Calling | Oct 14 | Season premiere following Dr. Oakley’s work across Alaska’s seasons |
| 2 | The Boar Ultimatum | Oct 14 | Aerial mission to track a wild boar |
| 3 | Wild Wild Wolverine | Oct 21 | Studies a trapped wolverine to learn about the species |
| 4 | Bear Trapped | Oct 28 | Monitors a hungry bear from trees while helping a reindeer |
| 5 | Bovine Intervention | Nov 4 | Handles unruly pigs and performs a challenging calf procedure |
| 6 | License to Quill | Nov 11 | Treats Harper the dog after a dangerous porcupine encounter |
| 7 | Hump Day | Nov 18 | Takes on squealing boars and an aggressive camel needing neutering |
| 8 | Wily Coyote | Nov 25 | Deals with a surprising coyote case and a seal’s emergency surgery |
| 9 | Reindeer Rodeo | Dec 2 | Examines a reindeer herd and investigates a moose’s swollen belly |
| 10 | Whoa, Baby! | Dec 9 | Focuses on various animal births and infant care in Alaska |
Season 6 (Fall 2018)
| Episode | Title | Air Date | Description |
| 1 | The Riddle of the Lynx | Oct 6 | Performs emergency c-section and recovers from a horse kick |
| 2 | Bison Business | Oct 13 | Races against time with bison wrangling and horse procedures |
| 3 | Dances With Ibexes | Oct 20 | Investigates an unconscious dog and tracks ibex in France |
| 4 | Mother Mayhem | Oct 27 | Balances life as a vet, wife, and mother with determination |
| 5 | Wild Cow Chase | Nov 3 | Chases wild cows while Sierra shows her veterinary skills |
| 6 | Swedish Bears | Nov 10 | Studies bears in Sweden and treats a dog’s eye condition |
| 7 | Up to the Tusk | Nov 17 | Examines two breeder bulls crucial for a reindeer herd’s future |
| 8 | Muskox in Arms | Nov 24 | Checks on a baby muskox while using drones for horse herding |
| 9 | Mommy Deer-est | Dec 8 | Focuses on treating mother animals throughout the Yukon |
| 10 | Yukon Do It | Dec 15 | Takes on new challenges despite years of experience |
| 11 | All Hooves on Deck | Dec 22 | Collaborates with others on difficult medical cases |
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Season 7 (Fall 2019)
| Episode | Title | Air Date | Description |
| 1 | Blazing Bison | Sep 28 | Tackles a cat’s bladder issue and wrangles unruly bison |
| 2 | Foal’s Gold | Oct 5 | Castrates a wild stallion and checks on potentially pregnant mares |
| 3 | Bears on a Plane | Oct 12 | Assists with bear cubs’ relocation to new home |
| 4 | No Horsing Around | Oct 19 | Investigates the cause of a horse’s nosebleed |
| 5 | Don’t Poke a Sleeping Porcupine | Oct 26 | Treats various animals across Yukon’s remote regions |
| 6 | One Clever Bison | Nov 2 | Provides medical care for a challenging bison patient |
| 7 | The Stricken Chicken | Nov 9 | Handles muskoxen, a coyote, and a burned dog |
| 8 | Running with Reindeer | Nov 16 | Participates in human versus reindeer racing event |
| 9 | Yukon 911 | Nov 23 | Responds to various animal emergencies as first responder |
| 10 | Antlers, Shoulders, Knees, and Hooves | Nov 30 | Treats notably large animal patients |
| 11 | Under the Yukon Sun | Dec 7 | Provides care while battling harsh weather conditions |
| 12 | Wild Things! | Dec 14 | Season finale featuring wildlife cases |
Season 8 (Spring 2020)
| Episode | Title | Air Date | Description |
| 1 | The Big Bad Wolf | Mar 21 | Works with daughters to bond with solitary wolf at AWCC |
| 2 | Law of the Claw | Mar 28 | Teams with Dr. Doyle to treat horse’s leg infection |
| 3 | The Miracle Dog | Apr 4 | Cares for sick reindeer and performs surgery on burned dog |
| 4 | A Hoarse Horse | Apr 11 | Family helps rescue and treat an injured fox |
| 5 | Squawk Off! | Apr 18 | Examines a German shepherd and treats difficult peacock |
| 6 | I Quill Survive | Apr 25 | Investigates horse’s lump and weight loss in bull |
| 7 | At the Cow Wash | May 2 | Checks on ailing reindeer at Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center |
| 8 | Porcupine Posse | May 9 | Removes French bulldog’s lump and diagnoses cat seizures |
| 9 | Rescuers Down Under | May 16 | Travels to Australia to help wildlife affected by wildfires |
Season 9 (Spring 2021)
| Episode | Title | Air Date | Description |
| 1 | Don’t Be Mean, Wolverine | Mar 13 | Examines a wolverine’s lump and makes surprising reindeer discovery |
| 2 | Goodnight Musk Ox | Mar 20 | Handles puppy emergency and treats wolf’s eye condition |
| 3 | The Very Hungry Reindeer | Mar 27 | Investigates dangerously underweight reindeer’s stomach issues |
| 4 | Don’t Cry She-Wolf | Apr 3 | Helps malnourished bison, spays wolf, and checks toothless cat |
| 5 | A Vet’s Life is a Highway | Apr 3 | Various cases while traveling through Yukon |
| 6 | Dr. O and the Three Bears | Apr 17 | Treats injured dog and guinea pig with breathing problems |
| 7 | Oh Deer! | Apr 10 | Addresses elderly horse’s dental concerns |
| 8-12 | Multiple Episodes | Apr-May | Season concludes with various wildlife cases |
Season 10 (Fall 2021)
| Episode | Title | Air Date | Description |
| 1 | You Ain’t Nothin’ But a Hound Dog | Oct 9 | Treats limping Sitka deer and alpaca-llama hybrid |
| 2 | Even If It Quills Me | Oct 16 | Cares for rescue pig and dog with porcupine problems |
| 3 | Flip the Pig | Oct 23 | Masters pig-flipping technique and saves dog’s injured paw |
| 4 | Dances with Dachshunds | Oct 23 | Helps remote dachshund and emotional support pig |
| 5 | Hold Your Horses | Oct 23 | Transports horse by boat and treats limping bull |
| 6 | This Little Piggy Had an Ouchie | Oct 23 | Examines limping bison and dog’s mammary mass |
| 7 | I’ll Tell you Wattle Want | Oct 23 | Treats horse’s limp and helps overweight dog |
| 8 | Pups in the Oven | Oct 23 | Addresses dog’s bloated stomach and cow’s jaw condition |
| 9 | Duck Duck Chicken | Oct 23 | Checks pregnant rabbits, helps sore duck and reindeer |
| 10 | Chicken of the Sea | Oct 23 | Treats overweight chicken and bear-attacked calf |
| 11 | Hug for a Pug | Oct 23 | Handles large bull and family pug’s medical needs |
| 12 | No Pot to Pee In | Oct 23 | Aids injured moose and car-struck puppy |
Special Episodes (2021)
- Two “Vetsgiving” specials aired Nov 26-27, 2021
Season 11 (Spring 2023)
| Episode | Title | Air Date | Description |
| 1 | Cat Got Your Tongue | Apr 8 | Treats cat with swallowed string, cancerous reindeer, and drooling porcupine |
| 2 | Grandma Knows Best | Apr 15 | Helps limping bison, damaged reindeer antler, and struggling newborn puppies |
| 3 | The Pug We Love | Apr 22 | Checks horse’s lump, herds bison, and treats family pug with new therapy |
| 4 | Dirty Rotten Chompers | Apr 29 | Saves dog from supplement overdose and performs deer and alpaca surgeries |
| 5 | Boatload of Bull | May 6 | Transports large animals by sea and examines chinchillas and working dog |
| 6 | Like Mother, Like Daughter | May 13 | Sierra leads clinic while team handles lynx checkup and reindeer procedures |
| 7 | No Moosetakes | May 20 | Treats musk ox’s hair loss and performs public moose examination |
| 8 | Just Another Manic Meatball | May 27 | Checks over 100 cattle while handling aggressive mule and sick calf |
| 9 | Don’t Have a Cow | Jun 3 | Sierra attempts miniature cow pregnancy check while team treats ferret and kitten |
| 10 | Eagles and Beagles | Jun 10 | Rappels to eagle nest and treats dogs with severe medical issues |
Season 12 (November 2024)
| Episode | Title | Air Date & Time (CAT) | Rerun Time | Description |
| 1 | Stay Wild | Nov 18, 18:00 | 23:40 | Treats limping baby elk, performs musk ox dental work, and gives emergency pig pedicure |
| 2 | Pura Vida | Nov 18, 18:50 | – | Synopsis not yet available |
Viewing Notes
- Both episodes premiere on Monday, November 18th
- “Stay Wild” will have a same-day rebroadcast late night
- All times are in Central African Time (CAT)
FAQ’s
What is Dr. Oakley’s educational background?
She holds a Zoology degree from the University of Michigan and studied veterinary medicine at Atlantic Veterinary College.
How many seasons did “Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet” run?
The show ran for 11 seasons, with the 12th season announced as its final season.
Where is Dr. Oakley’s primary practice located?
Her practice is based in Haines Junction, Yukon, and Haines, Alaska.
Who are the main cast members of the show?
The main cast includes Dr. Michelle Oakley, her husband Shane, and daughters Sierra, Maya, and Willow.
When did the show first premiere?
The show premiered on April 4, 2014, on Nat Geo Wild.
Conclusion
Dr. Michelle Oakley’s journey from a passionate veterinary student to a renowned television personality has inspired many. Her dedication to animal care in the challenging Yukon territory, combined with her family’s support, has created a lasting legacy in veterinary medicine.
