WRC provides qualified internship applicants the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with wildlife in our seasonal Mammal or Songbird Nurseries. Nurseries are open from late March through late October; there are different sessions within that time frame available for interns depending on availability (see our internship page for details).

College students, college graduates, or people just looking for a fun hands-on experience with wildlife are all welcome. Internship positions are unpaid and housing is not provided. Applicants must be 18 years or older.

Duties and responsibilities

• Commitment of 20-30 hours per week and 300 hours minimum to complete the internship. Interns are not working directly with veterinarians in the treatment room, however, upon completion of >400 hours of internship time, the intern may be considered the veterinary shadowing program (one 2-3 hour shadow shift per week).
• Working with wildlife requires some labor-intensive tasks, so you must capable of listing 30lbs, being on feet for 4+ hours, working in a hot and humid environment, bending down/sitting on the ground,  and working in varying weather conditions
• Follow all WRC policies and procedures relating to safety, personal protective equipment, biosecurity, animal care
• Be dedicated to providing the best care possible to patients and maintaining the wild nature of patients
• Work closely with volunteers by providing ongoing training and guidance
• Admit new patients: Set up caging, prepare food, organize paperwork, and follow protocols
• Prepare food for and hand-feed young patients, using a variety of techniques
• Maintain caging with appropriate furnishings for a wide variety of species
• Learn to recognize signs of illness and notify supervisor when there are concerns about a patient’s health
• Administer medications (including injections)
• Maintain paperwork
• Maintain laundry and clean cages; keep the nursery clean and orderly
• Treat everyone including staff, volunteers, other interns with respect