UF Veterinary Forensic Sciences Program

08/10/2026

Have you ever wondered if your insect spray could affect crime scene evidence? Probably not, but Dr. Teomie Rivera-Miranda definitely has! 🪰🔬

Meet Dr. Teomie Rivera-Miranda, an entomology expert and one of our faculty members! Her research has explored how commonly used insecticides can affect blow fly development, egg laying, and carcass decomposition. Understanding those effects is especially important in forensic investigations because changes in insect development can influence estimates of the minimum time of colonization of a body by insects.

Her research has important implications for cases where insecticide exposure may be suspected, and today Dr. Rivera-Miranda is a certified forensic entomology technician by the American Board of Forensic Entomology.

But her work extends beyond the lab. From teaching forensic investigation and analysis courses to introducing younger students to forensic science, Dr. Rivera-Miranda has made science communication and mentorship an important part of her career.

We’re so glad to have her experience and perspective in the classroom for our students.

🔗 https://bit.ly/4iUawbb

01/10/2026

Did you know you can take the next step in your veterinary career from the comfort of your home?

Our 100% online Veterinary Forensic Sciences offers a master’s degree, graduate certificates and individuals courses designed for students who want that maximum flexibility. If you're wanting to learn the skills to jumpstart your career, come talk to us! We will be at the CALS Career Expo on October 8 ready to answer all your questions.

Find our table in the Reitz Union Grand Ballroom from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and let us find the path that fits you!

Find out more about the CALS Career Expo at the link below ⬇️

https://bit.ly/4hv0tXA

With employers representing the food, fiber, natural resources and life sciences sectors, students can expect to find opportunities for internships and permanent employment as well as representatives of graduate programs and professional schools.

24/09/2026

Celebrating National Forensic Science Week! 🔬🐾

This week honors the experts who use science to give a voice to animals who can't speak for themselves. Veterinary forensic science plays a critical role in animal cruelty investigations, from autopsy and forensic toxicology to evidence collection that supports the justice system. We're proud to equip students to succeed in a field that believes every animal deserves the truth to be uncovered on their behalf.

17/09/2026

You don’t have to put an animal in the ring to commit a federal crime at an animal fight.

Most people know animal fighting is illegal. What they may not realize is that knowingly attending one is a crime, too. Since 2014, federal law has made it a crime to attend an animal fight as a spectator. Violators can face a fine, up to one year in prison or both for each violation. Taking that a step further, if someone knowingly brings a minor to one of these events the penalty can increase to up to three years in prison, a fine or both.

These laws make it clear that animal fighting is taken seriously far beyond the people organizing the event. States also have specific laws that can carry even heavier penalties.

How has your area combatted animal fighting?

10/09/2026

Can a radiograph testify in court? 👀

In VME 6579 Veterinary Forensic Radiology and Imaging, students learn exactly how imaging evidence is used to support animal cruelty investigations and hold up under legal scrutiny. From bone fractures to gunshot wounds to disease, understanding radiology is a crucial skill that safely proves what our eyes can't always see.

Add this course to your Spring schedule! Learn more here👇

03/09/2026

There are a lot of tools in forensic science that help us find and document important information. One of the coolest ones is the forensic light source kit. 🔦

At first glance, it might just look like a collection of really colorful flashlights. But each color represents a different wavelength of light, and changing that wavelength can change what we’re able to see.

Certain materials can absorb light and fluoresce, while others become easier to distinguish from the surface around them. That can help investigators visualize evidence like biological fluids, hair, fibers, fingerprints and even bruising that may be difficult to see under normal lighting.

So what are all those colors doing?
⬜️ White: General illumination and an initial look at an area or item.
⬛️ Ultraviolet: Visualizing biological fluids, fibers and other fluorescent materials.
🟥 Red: Examining documents and identifying for differences that may not be obvious under normal light.
🟨 Amber: Viewing or barrier filtering to improve contrast and make fluorescence easier to see.
🟩 Cyan + Green: Enhancing treated latent fingerprints and reducing distracting background patterns.
🟦 Blue: Searching for biological fluids and other fluorescent evidence.
🟪 Violet: Enhancing certain biological stains, hair, fibers and some injuries such as bruising.

So yes, they may look like really fun colored flashlights, but changing the light can reveal details our eyes might otherwise miss. And when you’re working with potential evidence, seeing those details can make all the difference.

Have you ever worked with a forensic light source? What did you think?

28/08/2026

Animal ForensiCon 2027 information has been released!

Check out this fantastic conference and its beautiful location in St. Pete Beach, Florida!

May 12–14, 2027

We hope to see you there!

Animal ForensiCon 2027 will be held May 12–14, 2027, at the Sirata Beach Resort in St. Pete Beach, Florida!

Hotel reservations are now open, so be sure to book your room early. We're putting the finishing touches on an outstanding educational program featuring hands-on workshops, expert-led masterclasses, and a comprehensive lecture series. The full conference schedule and registration details will be released soon. Select topics will include:

Parasites and neglect
Artifical intelligence and forensic science
Crime scene processing
Forensic photography
Veterinary forensic pathology
Money laundering and wildlife crimes

Mark your calendars! We look forward to seeing you in St. Pete Beach for Animal ForensiCon 2027!

More information can be found at:

https://animalforensics.vetmed.ufl.edu/training/2027-animal-forensicon/

27/08/2026

Are you always looking for ways to strengthen your expertise, but know you’re not ready to take on a master’s degree right now?

That’s exactly why we offer non-degree courses! This pathway gives you the opportunity to explore the specific topics that interest you, strengthen your skills and continue learning on your own terms.

🌟 Explore the areas you want to learn more about at the link below.

https://info.distance.ufl.edu/l/307541/2026-07-24/57xzh1

20/08/2026

Welcome back and happy first day of Fall 2026! 🐊

Before work and life get busy, we want to know: What’s on your goal list this semester?

Maybe you want to learn more about crime scene photography, strengthen a specific skill, attend a workshop or finally spend time on a topic you’ve been curious about.

Tell us! Share what you’re hoping to accomplish in the comments. You might give someone else an idea for their own list!

13/08/2026

The people our students learn from are actively involved in the work they study.

A recent aggravated animal cruelty case in Santa Rosa County brought together law enforcement, animal services, prosecutors and veterinary forensic experts. As part of the investigation, experts from the UF College of Veterinary Medicine performed the animal autopsy and conducted DNA analysis, providing evidence that contributed to the case.

Getting a closer look at cases like this helps students understand the process of animal cruelty investigations, from the initial response to the forensic examination and into the courtroom.

We’re proud to have professionals in our program whose active involvement in this work helps students see how veterinary forensic science is applied in real-world cases!

https://bit.ly/4gwWLNW

(Santa Rosa County, Florida) Ginger Bowden Madden, State Attorney for the First Judicial Circuit of Florida, announces that on June 19, 2026, Gunner Cole Bush was convicted by a Santa Rosa County Jury of Aggravated Animal Cruelty. The Defendant is scheduled for sentencing before Judge Clifton Drake....