Deadline: Sat, 04/27/2024 - 12:00pm Employer: Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge Job Field: Wildlife Job Type: Seasonal, Temporary, Internship Location: Florida Location Detail: Navarre, Florida Job Description: Applications are currently being accepted for candidates 18 years or older interested in a rehabilitation internship at a wildlife refuge in the Florida panhandle. The Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge (ECWR) is a non-profit organization, which means the internship positions are unpaid, but can provide academic credit if approved by your educational institution. Interns should have a reliable mode of transportation and are responsible for securing their own housing for the duration of the internship. (Please be sure to look into the cost of housing for this area to see if you are financially stable enough to support yourself with housing here.) The internship requires a commitment of working for a minimum of 15 weeks, but the internship can be extended if the intern is interested in something longer. Interns work a full-time schedule, with daily shifts that can last anywhere from 8-9 hours during the slower seasons (early spring or late fall) to 10-11 hours during the peak of the busy season (lasts from late spring through all summer). Our internship program is designed to provide rehabilitation training that focuses on native Florida wildlife. With this training, the intern will be able to participate in actual patient care and practice hands-on wildlife rehabilitation skills. Interns are trained under the direct guidance of our licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator, who also teaches weekly lectures and lab activities to the interns in order to provide as much information as possible throughout the internship. The experience gained from this immersion into the world of wildlife rehabilitation and animal husbandry is extremely beneficial to those who are contemplating careers in the fields of veterinary medicine, wildlife management, wildlife rehabilitation, conservation, biology, or zoology. Qualifications: ● Must be pursuing a relevant degree or have a strong passion to work in this field ● Ability to control the urge to play with and/or pet the wildlife ● Ability to lift, push, or pull 30 pounds ● Ability to stand, walk, kneel, bend, etc. for extended periods of time ● Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions, especially high heat and humidity → Exposure to mosquitoes and other small insects is likely ● Ability to cope with the preparation of meat-based diets for animals in our care ● Ability to perform basic math calculations ● Ability to understand basic medical terminology ● Ability to understand decision-making concerning quality of life issues and euthanasia for wildlife patients ● Once trained, must be able to work with minimal supervision, yet must recognize limitations in knowledge and abilities and ask for help when needed ● Ability to work independently for long periods of time, as well as work in a professional manner within a team atmosphere with other interns/volunteers/staff → Understand the need to perform your assigned tasks, but also recognize when others need extra help and be able to step in to provide assistance in order for everyone to accomplish their goals/tasks for the day How to Apply: To apply, please email a cover letter and resume to: Michelle Pettis, Intern Coordinator michelle@emeraldcoastwildliferefuge.org
