INTERNSHIP – von Arx Wildlife Hospital

Through this program, the Internship Program participant will gain experience and hands-on training in the field of wildlife rehabilitation. The Intern is also introduced to basic medical skills including bandaging, laboratory analysis, fluid therapy and other subjects pertinent to wildlife rehabilitation. Interns in this program are supervised by five wildlife rehabilitators and the staff veterinarian. This position is challenging and requires participants be enthusiastic, self-motivated, hard-working and dedicated to animal welfare. In return, the Intern will receive in-depth hands-on training in all aspects of wildlife rehabilitation and conservation.

Essential Duties

• Focus is on husbandry, nutrition, capture and restraint, release criteria.
• Maintain accurate medical records.
• Learn and comply with all health and safety policy and procedures.
• Assist with medical treatments.
• Learn and understand natural history of native Florida Wildlife.
• Interact with the general public, volunteers, staff and other internship participants.
• Be knowledgeable about the Conservancy.
• Weekends/ holiday hours may apply to intern’s schedule.

Related Duties

• Other duties may include interaction with Conservancy donors for endowment projects.

Qualifications: Applicant must be at least a senior in college or possess a science based degree. Preference will be given to those with prior rehabilitation experience or pre-vet degree tracts.

Skills and Abilities: All Interns must be self-motivated individuals, with good time management skills and willing to work long hours as needed. Interns must be able to work independently as well as part of a team and have a sincere interest in working with wildlife. Attention to detail, initiative and a strong desire to learn are required. Interns must have the ability to record information accurately, above average knowledge of mathematics, perform multi-stage tasks in an efficient manner and be able to listen and retain information in a fast-paced environment. A strong work ethic is needed. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.  Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.

Basic Skills:  Ability to understand basic math. Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form. Computer efficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint.  Ability to work outside, up to four hours, in hot, humid, and buggy weather-related conditions.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an Intern to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Physical Demands:  While performing the duties of this Job, the Intern is occasionally required to reach with hands, arms, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch and crawl.  The Intern is regularly required to stand, walk, sit and use hands to finger, handle or feel.  The Intern is frequently required to talk or hear.  The Intern must regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.  Special vision abilities required by this job include close, distance, and depth perception.

Work Environment:  The Intern is regularly exposed to wet and humid conditions and outdoor weather conditions.   The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Occasional long work hours during busy season.

The Conservancy is a drug free and smoke free, equal opportunity workplace.

$300 bi-weekly cost of living stipend and dorm accommodation, including laundry, provided.