Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship

Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship Program 

The SCWC’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship Program offers current college students as well as college graduates the opportunity to play a vital role at our hospital by helping raise and rehabilitate the 2,700+ animals admitted for care each year.  

Over the course of this internship, participants will learn: 

• Husbandry for birds, mammals, and reptiles in rehabilitative care, including preparing diets, cleaning and setting up enclosures, providing enrichment, etc. 
• Basic handling and proper restraint of patients during feeding, as well as occasionally during treatments, exams, and transport  
• Identification of various avian, mammalian, and reptilian species, including determination of sex as well as basic physiology and anatomy as it pertains to rehabilitation and wildlife medicine 
• How to observe and interpret animal behavior in captive and natural settings 
• Common wildlife injuries, zoonotic diseases, and parasites 
• Common causes for admission and the general treatment plans for various ailments, injuries, and illness 
• The requirements for and process of conditioning and assessing patients for release, with the possibility of participating in releases 
• Communication skills helpful in educating and advising the public on human-wildlife conflicts 
• How to stay organized and multitask in a busy (and often hectic) environment 

A wider variety of experiences can also be gained from our program depending on the intern’s interests and experience, the season during which they participate, and their individual skillsets. Although many of these skills are taught through formal training by SCWC staff, the extent and depth of learning about the above topics will also be driven by an intern’s personal engagement, initiative, and inquiry. 

Internships are a minimum of 10-12 consecutive weeks, with the ability to extend upon request. They are typically 3 days/week for 8 hours/day, especially during our Summer cohort. For students attending classes alongside this internship, or graduates with full-time jobs, the number of hours worked per week may be adjusted upon request, with a minimum of 8 hours/week required. One weekend day is typically required for any internship. Shifts either start at 7:30am, or end at 9pm (for example, 8-hour shifts would be 7:30am-3:30pm or 1pm-9pm). Interns working multiple days per week will be scheduled for at least one of each shift.  

Our hospital operates 7 days a week, 365 days a year to ensure non-disrupted daily care for all of our patients. While internships may be available year-round, the most common cohorts are: 

• Spring (begins mid-March or April) 
• Summer (begins May or June) 
• Late Summer/Early Fall (begins late July or August) 

Applicants must indicate on their applications in which season they wish to participate. Note that applications are accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled, so applications should be submitted as early as possible. Summer internships are especially popular, and applicants are encouraged to plan accordingly. 

INTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS: 

• Completion of at least one semester of undergraduate study  
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, sometimes under stressful conditions 
• Dependability, punctuality, and the ability to commit to their assigned schedule for at least 10 consecutive weeks 
• Ability to comprehend and closely follow complex instructions, both written and verbal  
• Ability to work in an efficient, effective, and timely manner 
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a team 
• Strong self-motivation, initiative, and work ethic 
• Excellent verbal communication skills, including but not limited to:
  • Checking in with staff and supervisors upon completion of tasks
  • Asking for help as soon and as often as needed, and before attempting any tasks in which you are not confident
  • Reporting any concerning or unusual patient behavior as soon as it is seen
  • Asking for clarification on assignments when needed 
  • Reporting any human health issues or concerns immediately 
• Ability to perform physically demanding tasks (walking/standing for extended periods of time, lifting up to 50lbs, bending, crouching, shoveling, etc.) Access to reliable transportation and housing 
• A current tetanus vaccination is strongly encouraged, along with all other common vaccinations recommended by your physician (excluding a Rabies vaccination—interns will not work with or around rabies vector species) 

To apply, please email the following to internships@scwc.org in PDF format (preferably in one document): 

• Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship Application Form
  • See the attachments for this internship, or go to https://www.scwc.org/join-our-team/ 
• Cover Letter/Letter of Interest 
• Resume 
• Unofficial Transcript 

Please note that this internship program does not offer a stipend or housing.