Turtle Intern

WRC provides qualified internship applicants the opportunity to gain hands-on experience working with wild turtles as a Turtle Care Intern. Internship season runs from May through late October; but start/end dates are flexible based on availability.

College students, college graduates, or people just looking for a fun hands-on experience with wildlife are all welcome. Internship positions are unpaid and housing is not provided. Applicants must be 18 years or older. This application process is competitive as there are limited openings. Desirable qualities include the ability to work both cooperatively and independently, and proficiency in time management. Syringe handling and animal experiences are a huge bonus.

See https://wrcmn.org/Wildlife-Internships-at-WRC/12/ for more details and applications.

Duties and responsibilities
- Commitment of 20-30 hours/week. Shifts are strictly 12pm - 6pm.
- Working with wildlife requires some labor-intensive tasks, so you must be able to lift 30lbs from the ground, be on feet for 4+ hours, work on the floor, work in a humid environment, and able to work in varying weather conditions
- Follow all WRC policies and procedures relating to safety, personal protective equipment, biosecurity, animal care
- Be dedicated to providing the best care possible to patients and maintaining the wild nature of patients
- Work alongside volunteers to feed and clean rehabilitation patients
- Admit new patients: set up caging, prepare food, organize paperwork, and follow protocols
- Set-up and maintain caging with appropriate furnishings for a wide variety of species
- Learn to recognize signs of illness and notify supervisor when there are concerns about a patient’s health
- Administer medications (mostly injections)
- Maintain paperwork
- Keep wards clean and orderly
- Maintain laundry and clean cages; keep wards clean and orderly
- Maintain the wild nature of our patients by following WRC policies and procedures
- Treat everyone including staff, volunteers, other interns with respect

Requirements
- 20-30 hrs/wk for a minimum total of 300 hrs/season; shifts are strictly 12pm - 6pm
- Available weekends and holidays
- Able to follow specific instructions
- Minimum age of 18 years
- Desirable qualities include the ability to work both cooperatively and independently, and proficiency in time management. Syringe handling and animal experiences are a huge bonus.
- All interns must be up-to-date on their tetanus vaccine and have health insurance