Description
Requirements and Considerations
Duties
Schedule
Application

Description:

Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and release of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife and to promote understanding and appreciation of wildlife through our Education Outreach Program. Our internships are set up to help us fulfill our mission statement and interns will contribute in all aspects of this statement throughout their term. Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue is a non-profit organization primarily run by volunteers and interns will be used in any area that may be lacking help and will have regular duties to accomplish each week.

Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue’s Internship Program is an unpaid position developed to teach students in related majors about wildlife conservation, how to properly work with and handle wildlife, intake exams, medical treatments and procedures, natural history and education aspects of wildlife rescue, care and maintenance of animals and their housing, and fundraising.

 

Requirements and considerations:

1. All interns MUST be 18 years or older
2. All interns must be flexible. Things change quickly throughout the day and week and many tasks will have to be set aside for more important animal care duties and interns must feel comfortable in an environment with unpredictable outcomes.
3. Commitment is extremely important. Interns must be reliable and committed to coming in on their scheduled days of work because others will be relying on their contribution to get everything done that day.
4. Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue is not a petting zoo. You will be working directly with the animals but it is important to remember these animals are wild and terrified of us and can’t be talked to, cuddled, or pet.
5. It is not glamorous. The work is dirty and most tasks will have the potential to get you dirty. Interns will be required to clean animal cages and enclosures and handle wildlife that can and will be filthy.
6. It can be dangerous. Interns will be handling wildlife, working in enclosures with wildlife and they can and will bite and scratch when they are scared. Safety training is required before these duties will be assigned. When properly trained dangerous situations can be avoided.
7. It is emotional. The work performed at Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue is all done for the animals and their best interest must always come first. If it is determined that an animal must be euthanized, everyone working must be comfortable and aware that this is best for the animal. We can not project our emotions onto the animals and must always consider how the animal feels about the situation not how we feel.
8. The reward is great. Interns will be involved in the care of these wild animals and will get to enjoy and take part in their release. It is a great feeling to watch the animals run off into the distance as they realize they are free.
9. Interns will be required to attend an Internship Orientation held on May 26th

 

Duties:

The internship program is designed to allow students to gain experience in wildlife rehabilitation and take part in this rare opportunity to work directly with wild animals. Very few people get the chance to work with these majestic creatures and provide them the care they need to be returned back to the wild.

This program will help you learn rehabilitation techniques and procedures and will allow you to learn from experienced wildlife rehabilitators who have gone through numerous trainings to stay up to date on the latest techniques. However, please note that most of the duties will revolve around cleaning. Animal care is kept to a minimum because the animals are terrified when being handled so these duties are done as quickly as possible. Laundry, dishes, cleaning animal enclosures, helping feed the animals, cleaning hospital supplies, and cleaning kennels will be common weekly tasks. Duties may also include but are not limited to animal intake and exams, medical treatments, rescues, education and administrative duties depending upon experience and need for extra help. Keep in mind many medical duties require training, which may not be available right away depending on staff availability. Some to all of these duties may need to be performed by trained staff until you have been trained.

We expect our interns to understand that wildlife rehabilitation is not just about caring for the animals and there is a lot of husbandry involved in keeping the place functional. This internship will require that you work cooperatively with others to get all tasks done even if they are not the most glamorous. Although some tasks may seem mundane, after you have completed the internship you will understand all that it takes to run a wildlife rehabilitation center and appreciate all the hard work that goes into keeping the center running.

 

Schedule:

Schedules are made before your internship begins. We allow you to choose your own schedule but expect you to commit to the schedule you create.

 

If you miss 3 or more scheduled days or refuse tasks given, you will be dismissed from the internship program.

Application:

Applications are due by May 1st 2012. Please include a letter of why you would benefit from the internship, a resume and three references. A limited number of students will be chosen so make sure your application best reflects you.

Send applications to:

US Mail: PO Box 448, Cotati Ca 94931
E-mail: education@scwildliferescue.org
Fax (only after 5:30 PM): 707-992-0276

Please address to Kristen Reeder

For more information please contact Kristen Reeder, Education Outreach Director at education@scwildliferescue.org or 707-992-0274.


Hotline: (707) 526-WILD(9453) ~ Bussiness Office: (707) 992-0274 ~ Exclusion Service/Fax: (707) 992-0276
                                                Location: 403 Mecham Rd, Petaluma Ca 94952
                                                 Mailing Address: PO Box 448, Cotati Ca 94931