Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship – 2026/2027
The Wildlife Center of Virginia (WCV) is excited to offer a one-year wildlife rehabilitation internship for 2026/2027, providing aspiring wildlife rehabilitators with hands-on experience at one of the nation’s leading teaching and research hospitals in wildlife and conservation medicine. Located in the heart of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, WCV’s mission is to "teach the world to care about and care for wildlife and the environment." Since its founding in 1982, WCV has provided care to more than 100,000 wild animals, with an annual caseload of approximately 4,500 patients, representing more than 200 native species.
This unique opportunity allows interns to work alongside professional rehabilitators and veterinary staff, gaining experience in animal husbandry, medical treatments, and release strategies, while also supporting WCV’s outreach and education efforts.
Internship Overview
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship is a year-long advanced training program beginning as soon as the selected applicant is available, and no later than January or February 2026. Under the supervision of the Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor and three certified wildlife rehabilitators, the intern will gain experience in:
Animal nutrition, husbandry, feeding, capture and restraint, outcome-based husbandry, and release criteria for a wide variety of wildlife species.
Medical skills such as bandaging, medical math, and fluid therapy, zoonotic diseases, and other subjects pertinent to wildlife rehabilitation
Leadership and mentoring skills through supervising and mentoring externs, animal care volunteers, and community service volunteers.
Public relations and wildlife hotline management.
Public speaking by teaching courses in WCV events, including the annual Call of the Wild conference.
Professional development, have the option to sit for the IWRC Associate 2.Wildlife Rehabilitator (AWR) certification exam.
Key Responsibilities
1. Animal Care
Daily feeding, cleaning, and enrichment for patients--including bear cubs, with opportunities to assist with non-releasable ambassador animal care.
Participate and assist the veterinary team in bear immobilizations.
Assist in the primary caretaking and hand rearing of white-tailed deer, carnivore species, small mammals, raptor species, and passerines.
Learn and apply outcome-based husbandry to patient care and release preparedness.
Create enrichment experiences for patients following the center’s husbandry-based approach.
Participation in daily clinical rounds and patient evaluations.
Support release readiness assessments by assisting with physical evaluations and behavioral observations, once trained.
Assist with restraint, diagnostics, and treatment under supervision.
Administer medication prescribed by veterinarians.
Exercise flighted raptors and document conditioning progress.
Participate in specialized raptor care activities such as imping and creancing, once trained.
Maintain meticulous dietary and progress diet records for reptile patients.
Maintenance of aquatic reptiles and water quality monitoring.
Conduct full intakes on healthy orphans and complete associated paperwork.
Monitoring developmental progression of orphans in the Infant Care Unit, including rabies vector species.
Communicate with local rehabbers and arrange patient transfer for healthy orphans.
2. Training & Mentorship
Assist in training new rehabilitation externs, animal care volunteers, and veterinary students on wildlife rehabilitation and WCV animal care protocols.
Present at the Call of the Wild conference, the Center’s annual three-day conference on wildlife rehabilitation.
Assist in evaluating and enhancing husbandry protocols for a variety of species.
Participate in and conduct education hours for externs, volunteers, and staff.
3. Student House Leader
Serve as one of the House Leaders for the student house, helping orient and support new externs.
Conduct check-in and checkout walkthroughs and coordinate room assignments with the LVT Intern or Volunteer Coordinator.
Report any housing concerns to the volunteer coordinator or the appropriate staff.
Assist with logistics such as external transport flying into Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport or Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport between 9 am and 5 pm.
4. Other Responsibilities
Act as on-call support for after-hours hotline.
Assist with seasonal maintenance and grounds upkeep of animal enclosures.
Conduct and present an independent research project related to wildlife rehabilitation or welfare, with the opportunity to publish in a professional wildlife journal.
Assist with other special projects and initiatives that support the center’s mission and improve patient outcomes.
Candidate Requirements
Pre-exposure rabies vaccination or an acceptable titer within the last two years
Up-to-date COVID vaccine and influenza vaccine recommended but not required
Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree preferred but not required.
Proven reliability, strong organizational skills, and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
Excellent interpersonal communication and professionalism in interacting with the public, law enforcement, and other professionals.
Compensation & Benefits
Free housing is provided at WCV’s Student House (shared housekeeping responsibilities among all students living in house) as well as a monthly stipend of $1,700 and additional compensation for on-call duties
80 hours of vacation time (awarded upon successful 90-day evaluation).
40 hours of personal time (awarded upon successful 90-day evaluation).
48 hours of sick time per year.
$75 work attire reimbursement.
Eligible for WCV’s health insurance plan, including dental and vision; WCV pays half of the employee’s premium.
WCV will reimburse the IWRC’s Certified Wildlife Rehabilitator (CWR) or (AWR) test fee if a passing score is obtained.
To Apply
Applications are open until November 22, 2025, with an ideal start date as soon as the selected applicant is available and no later than January or February 2026. Please submit your application, including a CV, letter of intent, and two reference letters, through the button below.
For further inquiries, please contact:
Alejandra Olvera
Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor
Wildlife Center of Virginia
PO Box 1557
Waynesboro, VA 22980
aolvera@wildlifecenter.org
No phone calls, please. Center phone lines are best kept open for wildlife
emergencies.
The Wildlife Center of Virginia (WCV) is an equal opportunity employer. WCV will not discriminate against applicants or employees on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, pregnancy (including childbirth or related medical condition), disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, military status, citizenship, or any other class protected by applicable law. We reserve the right to alter, change, modify, and/or terminate this job posting at any time without notice, or obligation, to any party.
Pay Range: $1,700 per month
