Beaver Habitat Internship

Beaver Works Oregon  is excited to offer Beaver Habitat Internships

Think Wild’s Beaver Works program offers beaver habitat internships during the winter, spring, and fall. The intern will assist the Beaver Works Program Manager with efforts pertaining to beaver-related education, outreach, and habitat project planning and execution. The focal areas include conducting literature reviews, writing scientific outreach for broad audiences, supporting beaver site assessments and planting preparation (willow and cottonwood harvest and storage), researching best practices for riparian restoration methodology, monitoring remote trail camera footage, habitat planting coordination, organizing community science events, contributing to a better understanding of human dimensions of wildlife coexistence, and more. 

The internship seasons are 

• Winter –  February to April
• Spring – May to July
• Fall – September to November (start and end dates somewhat flexible).

Throughout the internship, the intern is responsible for three 8-hour shifts per week.  Please note, this is an unpaid position, but a $1,000 stipend, Think Wild merchandise (hat and t-shirts), and a letter of recommendation (upon request) will be provided upon successful completion of the internship.

About Think Wild 

Think Wild is a 501(c)3 non-profit Wildlife Hospital and Conservation Center located in Bend, Oregon. Think Wild’s mission is to inspire the high desert community to protect and care for native wildlife through education, conservation, and rescue and rehabilitation. Beaver Works Oregon is a Think Wild program that works to support beaver and native wildlife habitat and connectivity on Oregon high desert landscapes by promoting and establishing beaver habitat, supporting working lands stewards, and bringing awareness of beaver as a keystone species.

Learning Outcomes

Throughout the duration of the internship, the candidate will:

• Develop and deliver educational materials and outreach efforts to raise public awareness about the benefits of beaver and associated habitat
• Conduct site assessments to monitor growth, mortality, and infrastructure at existing restoration sites
• Deploy trail cameras and review trail camera footage, selecting highlights to use in education and outreach
• Assist in coordinating habitat planting projects including harvesting, planting, seeding, and fencing
• Coordinate with the Think Wild team to train and guide volunteers for projects
• Contribute to data management and project design for beaver research projects
• Organize events/workshops to leverage resources and support the program’s goals
• With support from Think Wild staff, conduct an independent project as a capstone to demonstrate skill growth in a focal area of your choosing

Throughout the duration of the internship, the intern is responsible for three 8-hour shifts per week (280 hours total).  Please note, this is not a substitute for work, this is an unpaid position. Participants will receive a stipend of $1,000 to help cover living expenses during their internship. Free and/or discounted housing options are available to selected applicants upon request.

Qualifications

• Earning a degree (AS or BS) in rangeland science, biology, natural resources, education, or a related field
• Must work well with staff, volunteers, interns, the general public, and as a member of a team
• Must be flexible and willing to adapt to a fast-paced work environment
• Proof of COVID-19 vaccination required
• Must present a signed Think Wild liability release waiver
• Knowledge and/or passion for learning about Oregon high desert wildlife and conservation
• Experience in rural or working lands communities is ideal but not required
• Interest or experience with GIS, drone operating, and mapping preferred but not required
• Car and valid driver’s license preferred but not required

EEO Policy

It is the policy of Think Wild to afford equal volunteer opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to their race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, citizen status, veteran status, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic or status that is protected by federal, state, or local law.

To get an idea of what to expect, check out this trip report documenting a weekend in the field from our most recent intern HERE!