Wildlife Rehabilitation Intern

National Audubon Society • Sharon, CT

303d • $16

About The Position

Audubon's Wings internship program invites students and recent graduates to help shape a healthy environment and vibrant future for birds - and all of us who share the planet with them. The Sharon Audubon Center has a paid internship opportunity designed to provide an intern, who has a demonstrated interest in conservation, the natural world, and wildlife medicine, the ability to learn about native Connecticut animal species in a hands-on, rehabilitation clinic setting with sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife. The Wildlife Rehabilitation Program centers on birds, primarily songbirds, as well as small numbers of raptors, native reptiles and mammals. The intern will obtain extensive experience hand-rearing and developing outreach content on Chimney Swifts, a conservation priority species in the rehabilitation clinic. Topics that will be focused on are species identification, natural history, behavior, proper husbandry, enrichment techniques, animal handling, pre-release evaluation, record keeping, volunteer management and training, as well as basic and intermediate medical skills including tube-feeding, medication administration, fluid therapy, physical examinations, wound management, bandaging and splinting, and more. This is a high intensity position requiring the person to work efficiently at a fast pace. This position will require the intern to be standing for long periods, to engage in constant physical activities such as enclosure cleaning, in repetitive activities such as baby bird feeding, and have the ability to be flexible in the ever-changing atmosphere of a wildlife rehabilitation clinic. This is an onsite role based in out of the Sharon Audubon Center, in Sharon, CT. Onsite housing is provided and is required for this position.

Requirements

• Undergraduate degree or currently majoring in natural science, veterinary clinic experience or other science-related field required.
• Excellent work ethic, enthusiasm, commitment, flexibility, initiative, a desire to learn required.
• Must be a team player.
• Must be a 'go-getter' able to make decisions when working independently and work graciously with others.
• Must have a sense of humor.
• Must have a reliable form of transportation to report to the Center.
• Must have own laptop to use for internship work.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. with or without a reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to be on your feet for many hours and engage in consistent physical activities.
• Experience using social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram.

Nice To Haves

• Prior experience with handling wildlife and/or animal medicine is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Professionally and efficiently interface with the public during admitting patients, rescues, and fielding phone calls.
• Correctly identify common native bird species.
• Demonstrate their ability to assess physical conditions upon examination and treat many of the common injuries presented in wildlife such as broken bones, head trauma, emaciation, and cat bites as well as raising orphaned young birds.
• Understand the anatomy and physiology of birds.
• Correctly calculate and administer fluid therapy and medications.
• Triage in emergency situations.
• Properly handle and restrain patients.
• Understand the physiological response of stress in wildlife patients.
• Identify and develop proper husbandry plans for the variety of species admitted into care based on the natural history of the animal.
• Identify proper release criteria.
• Co-lead the five-day long Teen Rehabilitation Internship Program (T.R.I.P.) summer camp (including developing content and schedule).
• Assist in the development and presentation of skill training workshops for volunteers and apprentices.
• Assist in the development of education and outreach content on Chimney Swift and bird rehabilitation and conservation.
• Data entry and record keeping.

Benefits

• Onsite housing is provided and is required for this position.
• Compensation: $16.35 / hour.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Industry: Sporting Goods, Hobby, Musical Instrument, Book, and Miscellaneous Retailers
• Education Level: Bachelor's degree