Internship Program
Spring and
summer are the busiest seasons for wildlife rehabilitation centres.
During these months, we often take in approximately 1,000 wild mammals
and birds. The primary role of a wildlife centre intern is to help care
for these animals, many of whom are orphans. The internship is intense,
physically demanding, fast-paced and repetitive, giving interns the
opportunity to learn about all aspects of wildlife rehabilitation. Interns
gain valuable practical experience, while helping SPWC’s wildlife
patients and working with professional staff and volunteers. Some of
the skills learned include:
- individual species identification and natural history
- proper husbandry and enrichment techniques
- animal handling
- tube feeding of mammals and birds
- medication administration
- various other procedures
Our
internships are intended to provide on-the-job training in basic rehab
skills, not to teach advanced veterinary theory or techniques. We hope
a working internship will help participants to consider wildlife career
opportunities. In return, we expect to work with enthusiastic, mature,
hard working people who will become an integral part of the working
staff at SPWC during their internship.
Interns may
come from biology, wildlife management, veterinary medicine, veterinary
technician or environmental education fields, but we will consider
interns from any background. We believe that a strong interest in
wildlife, enthusiasm and willingness to learn are more important than
academic qualifications. We are offering a stipend of $100.00/week
including housing for the successful applicant. You must be 18 years of age or older to apply.
We are located
on a hobby farm in a rural area, with no public transportation
available. There are plenty of provincial parks and beautiful areas to
explore all around us. Kingston and Belleville are within a 30-minute
drive and Toronto a 2.5-hour drive. See more information on the Town of Napanee and the City of Kingston.
Intern Job Duties
- Cage cleaning, laundry, dishes, sweeping and mopping, ground keeping
- Answering phones and admitting new animals
- Setting up and maintaining animal enclosures by referring to the natural history of the individual species
- Preparing food (includes preparing dead prey for carnivores and raptors)
- Animal care: handling and
restraint, hand feeding and tube feeding of birds and mammals, and
assisting with the releases of rehabilitated wildlife.
- Medical care: administering daily medications, and assisting staff with animal intake and physical examinations.
- Observing surgical procedures and anaesthesia.
- Other tasks as required.
Abilities and Experience Required
- Speak, read, and write the English language fluently.
- Work independently and as a team member.
- Perform tedious tasks for long periods of time.
- Do rigorous outdoor work in all types of weather.
- Perform physically demanding tasks, such as cleaning, lifting (up to 40 pounds), climbing stairs, etc.
- Work quickly and efficiently while precisely following directions and procedures.
- Get along with others in a group-housing situation.
- Rabies and Tetanus vaccines (proof will be required upon acceptance to the program).
Accommodations
Shared
bedrooms (2 interns per room), in a house on-site. Cooking and bathroom
facilities are shared with the Centre’s director. Interns are responsible
for their own food and beverages.
Length of Internship
Each
internship is for three months, five days per week. On your working
days, you will be responsible for all patients who require overnight
feeding and late night admissions, which are often unavoidable.
2010 Dates available: 3-6 month rotations starting April 1st and ending Sept 30th.
Application Deadline for 2010 Rotations: Send application, references and résumé by February 1st, 2010.
2008
Interns
2007 Interns
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Internship Program
