Dr. Michelle Oakley, born in September 1969 in Munster, Indiana, to Georgia Plantinga and Steve Plantinga, is a veterinarian who starred in the Nat Geo Wild reality series "Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet." She is an expert in the field of wildlife veterinary medicine and runs a veterinary practice from her residence in Haines Junction, Yukon Territory, treating not only wildlife, but also various creatures to meet the needs of her hometown.
Oakley became enamored with animals at a young age when she spent summers at her uncle's dairy ranch and was inspired by Jane Goodall, the celebrated English primatologist and anthropologist, whom she met at a book signing occasion at a local zoo when she was 11 years old. Oakley graduated from Munster High School in 1984 and went on to earn a B.S.C. in Animal Biology from the University of Michigan in 1992, followed by an M.D. degree in Veterinary Medicine from Atlantic Veterinary College.
When Oakley arrived in Yukon, she fell in love with a local firefighter named Shane. They got married in Hawaii on December 10, 1992, and had three daughters together. Oakley is well-known nowadays as the star of her TV series. Her husband and three daughters have all been featured on the show over the years. Two of her oldest daughters are currently studying at Canadian colleges. Sierra, the oldest daughter, is studying criminology in Nova Scotia, while Maya, the middle daughter, is pursuing a pre-vet degree.
Oakley opened her practice at the Yukon Wildlife Preserve in 2001 and has since worked as a wildlife veterinarian and regional biologist for the Yukon Government (2001-2009) and an intern at the Calgary Zoo (2008). Despite her hectic schedule, Oakley's enthusiasm for treating and helping creatures drives her to make house calls, even if they require her to drive a significant distance; in such cases, she utilizes helicopters to reach her clients quickly.
Oakley currently runs her veterinary service from her home in Haines, Alaska, and made her television debut in her show, "Dr. Oakley, Yukon Vet," which premiered on National Geographic Wild on April 4, 2014. What truly satisfies Oakley is watching out for creatures and providing them with clinical help and care. Despite its hardships and threats, Oakley cannot think of any other activity she would rather do and will continue to do so for as long as she can. Through her example, Oakley hopes to inspire others to care for animals as much as she does.
She has been a constant presence since her initial appearance in the first season's first episode on April 4, 2014. As of 2021, the program has completed eight seasons and is currently on its ninth season. According to reports, Dr. Oakley gets paid $15,000 per episode of the show. She is worth more than $700,000. Dr. Michelle's net worth is primarily derived from her work as a veterinarian; on average, a veterinarian earns an annual salary of $88,770, with annual earnings ranging from $52,470 to $161,070. She operates an animal clinic in Haines Junction and practices all-species veterinary medicine in Canada and Alaska.
The northwest Indiana native was raised near a stream and spent a lot of time watching animals as a child, eventually growing attached to them. She learned about animals through watching the show Wild World of Animals on Animal Planet. She then worked for several years as an intern at the Calgary Zoo. She went on to work for the Yukon Government as a Wildlife Veterinarian and Biologist. Michelle's expertise in wild animals has led to appearances on TV series such as Buzz: AT&T Original Documentaries and Home & Family.
| Net Worth 2020: | 7 million |
