National Audubon Society
Wildlife Rehabilitation Unpaid Internship
Audubon Sharon, Sharon, Connecticut
Audubon Sharon consists of The Sharon Audubon Center and The Emily Winthrop-Miles Wildlife Sanctuary and has been connecting people with nature for over forty years. Creating life-changing experiences that enable community members and their families to appreciate, understand and protect the natural world is at the very core of our mission.
Each year the Sharon Audubon Center admits approximately 300 animals, primarily birds, into wildlife rehabilitation clinic. The ultimate goal of the rehab program is to provide care and treatment to injured and orphaned wildlife and to release them back into the wild.
Although we admit and stabilize mammals, we primarily focus our rehabilitation efforts to birds of prey, songbirds, water birds and reptiles. In most cases mammals are transferred to local wildlife rehabilitators for continued care.
Audubon Sharon has an unpaid Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship available designed to provide an individual interested in conservation and the natural world with the opportunity to gain valuable practical experience caring for wildlife patients. The intern selected will have the opportunity to learn from experienced staff that are experts in their field and to learn about species identification, natural history, proper husbandry and enrichment techniques, animal handling, tube-feeding, medication administration, lab work, and various other procedures. The internship will afford the intern the opportunity to learn about the many aspects of wildlife rehabilitation.
At the culmination of the internship the intern will be able to demonstrate his/her ability to assess and treat many of the common injuries presented in wildlife such as broken bones, head trauma, wounds and parasites. The intern will understand the anatomy of physiology of birds, correctly administer fluid therapy and medications, triage in emergency situations, properly handle patients and understand the physiological response of stress in wildlife patients.
The successful candidate for this unpaid internship will have a strong interest in natural history, wildlife, and animal medicine, and be enthusiastic, committed, flexible, and have the desire to learn. Must be 18 years or older and prior experience with handling wildlife or in animal medicine is highly desirable. The intern will be supervised by the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Outreach Coordinator and will have access to the entire staff for special interest sessions, guidance, and assistance.
The intern is required to live on-site in housing provided by Audubon since this will afford the best overall learning experience during the internship. Housing is provided in a furnished cottage at The Emily Winthrop-Miles Wildlife Sanctuary and consists of 2 private bedrooms, 1 shared dorm style bedroom, a shared kitchen, 2 bathrooms and living room. The housing is considered in good condition and is provided for use only by the interns. Utilities are paid for by Audubon however the occupant is responsible for long distance telephone calls, telecommunication and any other expenses.
This unpaid internship is an excellent opportunity for those considering a career in conservation, wildlife rehabilitation or veterinary services. Students may arrange for school credit through their college or university. Candidates must have their own transportation and be committed for a 12 to 14 week time period from mid-May 2013 through mid-August, 2013.
To be considered for this internship, please visit https://careers-audubon.icims.com/jobs/1223/job [1] to apply. No resumes will be accepted via mail or email.