Bat Care Intern

Austin Bat Refuge is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization led by veteran bat rehabilitators Dianne Odegard and Lee Mackenzie. Founded in 2015, our mission is to promote respect for bats and their place in the environment through rehabilitation and release, community education, and conflict resolution. We care for over 300 bats each year, providing them the resources and care they require to recover from injury and be released back to the wild. Bats that cannot be released live out their natural lives without fear or suffering, with the best environment, food, and medicine possible.

In the summer, many of the bats brought to our facility are pups, which require more frequent feedings than adult bats. We’re looking for Bat Care Interns to help us rehabilitate bats during pup season, May through September. Interns will work on-site at our facility in central Austin, two miles east of UT. They must be over 18.

Job Responsibilities:

• Feeds pups and adult bats according to feeding procedures and sanitation protocols
• Records the care given to bats in a rehabilitation database
• Examines bats to identify potential health issues, and alerts the Refuge Manager of their findings
• Cleans bat habitats, including bedding, water, and food bowls
• Washes dishes and laundry as needed

Interns will work part-time for 12 consecutive weeks and receive a $4,000 stipend. We are trying to fill two terms, one with a start date in late May or early June, and the other with a start date in late June or early July. Interns must work at our facility five days a week for a total of 20 hours per week, and they may be required to work some holidays and weekends. Each intern will receive five days of paid time off.

Qualifications:

• Love of animals, particularly bats
• Adherence to established policies and procedures at all times
• Ability to work calmly and efficiently in a fast-paced environment
• Attention to detail
• Documentation skills
• Rabies pre-exposure vaccination: We are happy to advise the selected candidate on how to acquire this vaccination at the lowest cost to them. Candidates who are already vaccinated will need to provide the results of a rabies titer check done within the last year, unless they received the vaccine less than a year ago.
• Ability to lift and carry 20 pounds and to climb an eight-foot step ladder

Hazards:

Interns will work outside during the Texas summer, so they will be exposed to high temperatures and mosquitoes. We offer many protections against these hazards, including bug-repellent clothing, bug spray, misters, fans, and required breaks during shifts. Climbing an eight-foot ladder is also a regular part of the job.