This opportunity is curated through the UF TESI Environmental Leaders Network. Opportunities posted through the Network may not be affiliated with the Florida Museum or TESI, but are shared with UF undergraduate students who want to learn more about environmental research, education and outreach, and civic engagement.
Host Organization
Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge
Position description
The internship program is designed to provide rehabilitation training that focuses on native Florida wildlife. With this training, interns will be able to participate in actual patient care and practice hands-on wildlife rehabilitation skills. Upon successful completion of the internship, interns will receive a certificate and documentation of the hours of service performed.
Intern responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Animal Husbandry (About 37.5% of the Internship)
- Cleaning indoor and outdoor animal habitats to USDA standards, which involves the daily removal of fecal material, old food, prior enrichment, stagnant water, soiled linen and other items.
- Habitat building and maintenance, such as raking leaves/sand from habitats, removing weeds, sweeping concrete areas, shoveling/moving sand to fill habitats, and more
- Sanitizing soiled items in habitats, such as tires, branches, exercise wheels, crates/dens, etc
- Daily diet preparation, which involves handling raw fish and meat food items
- General facility maintenance – sweeping, mopping, laundry, dishwashing, organizing, etc
- Safely capturing wildlife patients that have been successfully rehabilitated and are ready for release per state and federal regulations
Wildlife Nursing (About 37.5% of the Internship)
- Cleaning indoor enclosures of orphaned mammals and birds to USDA standards, which involves the daily removal of fecal material, old food/water, soiled linens, and other items
- Understanding species-specific formulas and their applications, as well as specific rations and feeding styles for the most commonly encountered orphaned species
- Handling, weighing, and accurately recording patient health data
- Cleaning and sanitizing assortment of feeding supplies, such as bottles, nipples, syringes, and tubes
- Performing neonatal feeding techniques for litters of orphaned mammals ever 1-2 hours
- Performing hatchling/fledging feeding techniques for nests of orphaned songbirds every 30-60 minutes
- Taking home neonatal mammals and hatchling songbirds for after-hours feeding and general care
Veterinary Medicine (About 25% of the Internship)
- Cleaning cages of injured or sick patients in the ICU, Intake Room, and Isolation Ward
- Safely handling [aggressive] wildlife patients for examinations and various medical treatments
- Administering oral and injectable (subcutaneous & intramuscular) medications
- Performing medical treatments such as wound cleaning, bandaging, and splinting
- Conducting initial assessments and creating suggested treatment plans for new patients
- Cleaning and sanitizing medical instruments, such as syringes, forceps, hemostats, feeding tubes, etc
- Organizing and restocking medical supplies in exam/surgical room
- Assisting staff with digital radiography & monitoring patients while under anesthesia for procedures
- Managing the facility’s wildlife hotline to coordinate wildlife rescues and answer the public’s inquiries
Eligibility
- 18 years or older
- 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
- 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