Wildlife Rehabilitaton Internship - 2027/2028

Wildlife Center of Virginia • Waynesboro, VA

6d • Onsite

About The Position

The Wildlife Center of Virginia is hiring for a full-time, thirteen-month advanced training internship in wildlife rehabilitation for the 2027/2028 cycle. The ideal start date is January 2027, with a start no later than February 2027. Interns gain hands-on experience in daily animal care and rehabilitation, working with experienced wildlife rehabilitators and veterinary professionals and a wide range of Virginia native wildlife, from hummingbirds to black bears, as well as raptors, reptiles, and fawns. Training includes animal husbandry, nutrition, behavior, medical treatments, and release preparation, along with supporting outreach and education efforts.

Under the supervision of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor and three certified wildlife rehabilitators, the intern also helps train students and volunteers and participates in rehabilitation projects. The role includes serving as a student-house leader, providing after-hours hotline support, assisting with seasonal enclosure and grounds maintenance, and conducting an independent research project related to wildlife rehabilitation or welfare, with the opportunity to publish in a professional wildlife journal.

Housing is provided at the Center’s Student House, where residents share housekeeping responsibilities. Compensation includes a monthly stipend of $2,100 and additional compensation for on-call duties. Benefits include paid vacation, personal and sick time, eligibility for the Center’s 401(k) plan with an employer match after six months, work-attire reimbursement, and eligibility for the Center’s health insurance plan, including dental and vision coverage. The Center will reimburse the fee for an IWRC CWR or AWR test if the intern earns a passing score.

Requirements

• Pre-exposure rabies vaccination and/or an acceptable rabies titer within the last two years.
• Proven reliability and strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Excellent interpersonal communication and professionalism when interacting with the public, law enforcement, and other professionals.

Nice To Haves

• Associate’s or bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.
• Up-to-date COVID, tetanus, and influenza vaccinations are recommended but not required.
• Option to sit for the IWRC Associate Wildlife Rehabilitator (AWR) certification exam.

Responsibilities

• Provide daily feeding, cleaning, and enrichment for patients, with opportunities to assist in care of non-releasable ambassador animals.
• Assist with primary care and hand-rearing of orphaned wildlife, including black bear cubs, small mammals, white-tailed deer, raptors, and other avian species.
• Apply outcome-based husbandry to encourage natural behavior and prepare patients for release.
• Participate in clinical rounds, patient intake, medical treatments, behavioral assessments, and release preparation under staff supervision and after training.
• Participate in specialized raptor care, including imping, creancing, and general raptor conditioning, once trained.
• Maintain dietary and progress-diet records for reptile patients, including enclosure maintenance and water-quality monitoring.
• Help train and mentor rehabilitation externs, animal-care volunteers, and veterinary students; coordinate the Extern Enrichment Project.
• Lead educational sessions and present at the Center’s annual Call of the Wild wildlife rehabilitation conference.
• Assist in evaluating and enhancing husbandry protocols for a variety of species.
• Serve as a student-house leader by helping orient and support new externs, conducting check-in and checkout walkthroughs, and coordinating room assignments with the LVT Intern or Volunteer Coordinator.
• Assist with extern transportation logistics from Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport or Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• Provide on-call support for the after-hours hotline.
• Assist with seasonal maintenance and grounds upkeep of animal enclosures.
• Conduct and present an independent research project related to wildlife rehabilitation or welfare, with an opportunity to publish in a professional wildlife journal.
• Assist with other special projects and initiatives that support the Center’s mission and improve patient outcomes.

Benefits

• Housing at the WCV Student House, with shared housekeeping responsibilities among residents.
• Monthly stipend of $2,100 and additional compensation for on-call duties.
• 80 hours of vacation time, awarded upon successful 90-day evaluation.
• 48 hours of personal time, awarded upon successful 90-day evaluation.
• 48 hours of sick time awarded on the first day of employment.
• Eligibility for the Center’s 401(k) plan after six months, with up to a 4% employer match.
• $75 work-attire reimbursement.
• Eligibility for the Center’s health insurance plan, including dental and vision; WCV pays half of the employee’s premium.
• Reimbursement of the IWRC Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator (CWR) or Associate Wildlife Rehabilitator (AWR) test fee if a passing score is obtained.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed