| Job Description: |
The Wildlife Center is offering a six-month advanced training program in wildlife rehabilitation, for the period February 1 – July 31, 2011. Through this training program, the intern will:
- gain intensive, hands-on training and experience in the field of wildlife rehabilitation;
- learn medical skills from staff veterinarians;
- develop leadership and mentorship qualities;
- receive public relations training.
Application deadline: December 1, 2011.
The Wildlife Center of Virginia is a non-profit hospital for wildlife, with the mission of teaching the world to care about and to care for wildlife and the environment. Since its founding in 1982, the Wildlife Center has treated more than 58,000 patients representing more than 200 species. An average of 2,500 patients are treated per year, including birds, mammals, and reptiles. The Wildlife Center is one of the leading teaching hospitals in the country and trains students from around the world in wildlife medicine and rehabilitation.
The Wildlife Center is offering a six-month advanced training program in wildlife rehabilitation beginning on February 1, 2011 and running through July 31, 2011. Through this training program, the intern will:
- gain intensive, hands-on training and experience in the field of wildlife rehabilitation, focusing on animal nutrition, husbandry, feeding techniques, capture and restraint methods, release criteria , captive animal behaviors, and natural history;
- learn medical skills from staff veterinarians, such as bandaging, medical math, fluid therapy, zoonotic diseases, and other subjects pertinent to wildlife rehabilitation;
- develop leadership and mentorship qualities by training and mentoring new volunteers and preceptorship students; and
- receive public relations training (wildlife hotline management and interactive public education).
The intern will be trained, evaluated, and directly supervised by two staff wildlife rehabilitators.
With the successful completion of the six-month training program, the intern will receive Advanced Certification in Wildlife Care and Rehabilitation from the Wildlife Center of Virginia.
As part of the rehabilitation team:
Provide excellent rehabilitative care to all animals at the facility.
- Daily cleaning and feeding of all animals housed at the facility.
- Assist with evaluating patients for release. Monitor patients’ health, attitude, appetite, etc., and maintain written records of each animal’s progress. Report evaluations to veterinarians and participate in daily clinical rounds with veterinary staff to discuss medical cases.
- Exercise all flighted patients daily and record progress in patient record.
- Assist with restraint, examination, diagnostic procedures and treatment of animals, as needed.
- Admit patients and complete associated paperwork. May also examine and initiate first aid to patients or new arrivals in the absence of the veterinarian or technician, within constraints of training and experience.
- Must be able to handle emotional aspects of euthanasia; may need to euthanize animals under supervision of veterinarians.
- Maintain high standards of cleanliness in hospital, kitchen and animal housing areas.
Participate in training
- With other staff, train and mentor animal care volunteers and eight-week preceptor (intern) students.
- Assist with teaching rehabilitation/caretaking protocols to veterinary and veterinary technician students.
- Assist in creation of a collection of photographs of mammals and birds for classes, workshops and educational/promotional materials.
Other Duties
- Daily and seasonal maintenance of cages, grounds, perches, etc. Recognize and correct any maintenance or safety hazards when possible. Report other problems to veterinary staff or office manager.
- Research a topic related to wildlife rehabilitation and present information to staff through a written paper upon completion of internship. Paper may be submitted for publication in a wildlife rehabilitation journal.
- Maintain inventory of animal food and cleaning supplies.
- Take carcasses to the incinerator, as needed.
- Other duties, responsibilities, and special projects, as requested.
Requirements
- At least two years of college or prior work experience.
- Must have pre-exposure rabies vaccination.
- Must have a valid driver’s license.
- Intern will be scheduled to work five days a week with two consecutive days off during the week. A typical day in the clinic consists of working at least 10 hours [9 am to 7 pm]. Weekend work is required.
- Demonstrated ability to handle diverse, competing tasks independently, efficiently, and accurately; flexibility is a must.
- Must be even-tempered and diplomatic.
- Demonstrated reliability and dependability; willingness to work on weekends and holidays.
- Ability to organize, set goals, and meet deadlines; attention to detail.
- Team player with strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Professional appearance and demeanor; ability to interact and communicate with the public, law enforcement, veterinarians and others.
- Ability to lift/carry equipment and animals up to 50 pounds.
- Previous wildlife experience preferred, but not required.
This is an unpaid training internship. The Wildlife Center will provide housing at the Center’s student house in Waynesboro [shared rooms, with shared housekeeping responsibilities]. Intern will also receive $400 per month in financial aid for living expenses.
Wildlife Center will provide vehicles for work-related trips.
TO APPLY:
Please mail or email cover letter, résumé, and two letters of recommendation to:
Rehabilitation Staff
Wildlife Center of Virginia
Post Office Box 1557
Waynesboro, VA 22980
sdoell@wildlifecenter.org
Application deadline is December 1, 2011.
The Wildlife Center of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer.
Position description posted October 20, 2011.
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