- Agency
- Wildlife Center of Virginia
- Location
- Waynesboro, Virginia
- Job Category
- Internships
- Salary
- $1600 monthly stipend + housing
- Start Date
- 05/01/2023
- Last Date to Apply
- 04/07/2023
- Website
- https://www.wildlifecenter.org/
- Description
- The Wildlife Center of Virginia (WCV) is currently offering a year-long internship in Wildlife Rehabilitation. The Wildlife Center is a non-profit conservation organization with a professionally staffed, fully equipped, 5,700-square-foot hospital, research, and environmental education center located in Waynesboro, Virginia, in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley. WCV admits approximately 3,800 patients annually, representing more than 200 different species. In 2021, 50 percent of patient admissions were mammals, 10 percent were reptiles/amphibians and 40 percent were birds (of which 20 percent were raptors). The WCV is the only center in the state permitted to rehabilitate Black Bears. At any time, there may be anywhere from 80 to 250 animals on the premises. Our Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship is a one-year advanced training program in wildlife rehabilitation beginning mid-April or May 2023, running for 12 months. The intern is supervised by the Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor, two certified wildlife rehabilitators, and also reports to the Director of Veterinary Services. Through this program, the intern will: • Gain intensive, hands-on training and experience in the field of wildlife rehabilitation focusing on animal nutrition, husbandry, feeding techniques, capture and restraint methods, release criteria, captive animal behaviors, and natural history. • Learn medical skills from staff veterinarians, such as bandaging, medical math, fluid therapy, zoonotic diseases, and other subjects pertinent to wildlife rehabilitation. • Develop leadership and mentorship qualities by training and supervising new rehabilitation externs, animal care volunteers, and community service volunteers. • Receive public relations training in wildlife hotline management. • Develop public speaking skills through delivering didactic lectures and teaching developed courses to externship students, veterinary students, volunteers, and wildlife rehabilitators. • Have the opportunity to teach a course at the Wildlife Center’s annual Call of the Wild conference. • Sit for the IWRC’s Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator (CWR) certification exam. DUTIES 1. Provide excellent rehabilitative care to all animals at the facility. a. Daily cleaning and feeding of all animals housed at the facility. b. Assist with evaluating patients for release. c. Monitor patients’ health, attitude, appetite, etc., and maintain written records of each animal’s progress. Report evaluations to wildlife rehabilitators and veterinarians and participate in daily clinical rounds with veterinary staff to discuss medical cases. d. Exercise all flighted raptors daily and record progress in patient record. e. Assist with restraint, examination, diagnostic procedures, and treatment of animals, as needed. f. Admit patients and complete associated paperwork. May also examine and initiate first aid to patients or new arrivals in the absence of the veterinarian or technician, within constraints of training and experience. g. Must be able to handle all emotional aspects of euthanasia. h. Maintain high standards of cleanliness in hospital, kitchen, and animal housing areas. 2. Training a. With rehabilitation staff, lead orientation sessions, develop training plans, train and mentor wildlife rehabilitation externs and animal care volunteers. b. Assist with teaching rehabilitation and caretaking protocols to veterinary and veterinary technician students. c. Teach developed courses to wildlife rehabilitators and veterinary professionals through the Center’s Wildlife Care Academy. d. Have the opportunity to teach a course at the Center’s annual Call of the Wild conference. 3. House Leader for Student House a. Check-in new wildlife rehabilitation externs and coordinate room assignment with the LVT Intern. b. Conduct a walkthrough with wildlife rehabilitation externs prior to check-out. c. Assign chores to new wildlife rehabilitation externs and ensure all chores are successfully completed weekly. d. Report any housing concerns e. May help to arrange transport for wildlife rehabilitation externs flying into Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport or Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport between 9am and 5pm. 4. Other Duties a. Act as primary on-call for the after-hours phone one to two nights per week, as needed. b. Daily and seasonal maintenance of cages, grounds, perches, etc. Recognize and correct any maintenance or safety hazards when possible. Report any problems to supervisor. c. Research a topic related to wildlife rehabilitation and present information to staff. Written papers may be submitted for publication in a wildlife rehabilitation journal. d. Provide support during WCV’s annual Gala and Benefit Auction. e. Other duties, responsibilities, and special projects as requested. Requirements: • Pre-exposure rabies vaccination or valid titer within two years of start date. • Up to date on COVID-19 vaccination (including appropriate boosters) • Valid driver’s license. • Associates or Bachelor’s degree preferred. • Weekend and holiday work required. • Demonstrated ability to handle diverse and competing tasks independently, efficiently, and accurately; flexibility is a must. • Must be even-tempered and diplomatic. • Demonstrated reliability and dependability. • Ability to organize, set goals, and meet deadlines; attention to detail is necessary. • Team player with strong interpersonal and communication skills. • Ability to work independently and as part of a team. • Professional appearance and demeanor; ability to interact and communicate with the public, law enforcement, veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitators, and others. • Ability to lift/carry equipment and animals up to 50lbs Compensation and benefits: • Free housing is provided at WCV’s Student House (shared room with Diagnostic Intern, with shared housekeeping responsibilities among all students living in house, as well as a monthly stipend of $1600 and additional compensation for on-call duties • Paid sick and vacation/personal leave after first three months of internship • WCV will reimburse the IWRC’s Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator (CWR) test fee if a passing score is obtained.
- Qualifications
- Applicants must submit by April 7th, 2023 Curriculum Vitae Letter of interest Two reference letters
- Contact Person
- Karra Pierce
- Contact Phone
- 5409429453
- Contact eMail
- kpierce@wildlifecenter.org
