Avian Wildlife Care, Education & Communications Intern – Hybrid Internship

Avian Wildlife Care, Education & Communications Intern – Hybrid Internship

Organization & Core Values
Fellow Mortals was founded in 1985 on a philosophy of respect for individual life. We work with any species of wild bird (eagles to house sparrow) and certain non-predatory mammals, including squirrel species, beaver, opossum, woodchuck, mouse. We do not euthanize healthy orphans. We rehabilitate eyes-closed and newborn or new-hatched individuals. Approximately two thousand animals receive care annually; the majority are admitted over the summer months.

Description of Facility
The hospital is located on a 5-acre property outside of Lake Geneva, WI. We also have a 52-acre secondary location which is where intern housing is located. Animal care buildings and facilities include a state-of-the art hospital, species-specific care rooms, several pool habitats, indoor and outdoor caging and flights, exam, x-ray, and surgical facilities.

Internship Description
This is a new position at Fellow Mortals in 2024, which provides experience in the rehabilitation of orphaned songbird and waterfowl species, as well as experience in public education.

The wildlife care position involves preparing formula, feeding, cleaning, and record-keeping related to patients in care. The intern will be provided with training and supervision in order to excel and feel comfortable in providing care.

The public education position involves admitting new patients of all species, providing stabilizing care, interacting with the public on the phone and in person and some recordkeeping. Phone education is critical to our mission in keeping or reuniting healthy orphans with their parents in many of the situations where the public contacts us for help. Every situation is assessed individually by the rehabilitator. The intern will work closely with a licensed rehabilitator throughout this internship. Every situation is assessed individually by the rehabilitator.

Hours and days will be split about 50/50 between positions.

Dates for Internship: 3 month minimum commitment starting May, 2024.

Interns work the same hours as wildlife rehabilitation staff on wildlife care days.

Accepted applicants must live within 12 miles of the hospital location.

Benefits
• Stipend of $1000 per month
• Possible Excellence Bonus of up to $1000 upon successful completion of internship*
• Filtered water, snacks, occasional meals, and drinks provided.
• Work with experienced wildlife staff
• Located right outside of popular tourist destination, Lake Geneva
• Limited intern housing available** If housing is not available for an accepted applicant, housing reimbursement of $500 (equal to the value of intern housing) is provided.

* Staff will meet with each intern monthly to review goals and answer questions.
**Interns living in the housing assist with laundry in exchange for the housing benefit.
Requirements
• Current college student or recent graduate
• Private health insurance, current tetanus vaccination
• Valid driver’s license, and a vehicle
• Mature demeanor, adaptable, emotionally stable
• Occasional heavy lifting (up to 50# feed bags when restocking)
• Good grip strength (use of water hose with nozzle or pressure washer)
• Able to perform repetitive motions (use of feeding instruments)
• Able to perform normal movements (walking, bending, kneeling, standing)
• Stamina
• Compassion and respect for the life and welfare of an individual animal, and for other humans
• Desire to perform at a high standard, to be exceptional as an intern

Extended internships longer than 3 months are available. Enquire with your cover letter.

How to Apply
Email the following to Yvonne Wallace Blane, Director of Rehabilitation
Yvonne@fellowmortals.org

Cover Letter addressing your interest in the position
Resumé (work, education & volunteer experience)
Two work or volunteer (not family or personal) references, with e-mail & phone contact (when possible, please submit reference letters with your application)
Specify earliest start date and latest end date

Application acknowledgment and process:
Applicants will be notified when their application is received.
Qualified applicants will be contacted for further information within one week.
If you are not contacted within one week, this means we will not be considering your application at this time.

This position will remain open until July, 2024.