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Internships > Animal
Care Internship
Animal Care Internship
Applications are being accepted for Animal
Care Internship positions at Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation
(WRR).
WRR Interns learn animal husbandry skills
and basic wildlife rehabilitation, care for a diverse range
of animal species, rescue and transport animals, and perform
limited administrative duties. This is an excellent opportunity
to learn hands-on about captive, free-ranging, and urban wildlife
with an emphasis on humane ethics and solutions.
Internships require a 6–9-month commitment
at 40 hours minimum per week. This position requires physical
labor (must be able to lift 50 pounds), ability to work in
all types of outdoor conditions, and to handle a demanding
workload and long hours. Applicants should be at least 21 years of age, and possess a strong personal work ethic and
a high level of personal integrity. Rabies pre-exposure vaccinations
are required. A good driving record and ability to drive manual
transmission vehicles is also necessary.
Compensation includes housing and a $100-per-month
stipend.
Intern Testimonials
It's difficult to pinpoint my most favorite
aspect of the internship, but just to name a few: feeding
a baby squirrel for the first time, being the first thing
an opossum sees once he opens his tiny eyes, hearing the lions
roar at dusk and dawn, watching a squirrel monkey get dentistry
done, driving down to compost and seeing how beautiful the
hill county is, counting the points on a deer antler, the
satisfying feeling of seeing all 16 primate buckets filled
to the top with fruit, filling up a baby pool with clean water
just to have it dirtied up again by my favorite geese, seeing
the baby sheep twins run from across the pasture because they
know I have their bottles, waking up before the sunrise, the
sunrise, being able to get a hotline caller to understand
and respect the wildlife, seeing how happy the fennec foxes
get when they are being fed, handling a snake after overcoming
my fear of them, working with people who feel the exact same
way about wildlife as I do.
— Ela, WRR Intern, December 2005–May
2006
I came to WRR with virtually no experience in animal care. I never even had pets growing up! With my background in biology and lifelong interest in the natural world, I wanted to expand my knowledge of animal behavior and biology. Further, I wanted experience working with an NGO in the environment sector.
As an intern, you get an incredible amount of exposure to every aspect of animal care for a great variety of animals, mostly species native to the Texas Hill Country. My favorites were the raccoons, who have blue eyes when they are babies!
Interns are given a lot of responsibilities. Feeding and medicating the animals in our care keeps them alive! Knowing that if you fail to do your job, animals will suffer or die, can be very stressful. As someone not familiar with the animal care field, I was surprised by the hours we worked. During baby season, twelve-hour days became routine, and more hours were always a possibility. At times it seemed we were stretched so thin, and yet there were always more animals needing care. It took a lot of teamwork and determination to surmount these challenges. This internship really is so much more than a job; it is a way of life completely centered around animal care.
In the end, the animals — the joy of working for them and with them — more than made up for the personal sacrifices I made. Additionally, I felt supported by a tremendous community of interns, volunteers, and staff. I was lucky enough to have a fabulous roommate from France.
We spent a lot of time together playing music and baking elaborate desserts. Despite how little time off we had, I made a point of exploring the Hill Country region, which is a wonderful place for camping, climbing, and rafting (or "toobing," as they call it).
More than anything I accomplished at WRR, I am so glad for the ways this internship changed me. For starters, I mastered a whole new level of multitasking when trying to care for three different rooms full of animals, each on a different feeding schedule! Along with the animal care skills I learned, I gained an invaluable perspective on what it is to work on the behalf of animals who most people know virtually nothing about, and are consequently terrified of.
Talking with callers on our hotline provided a constant reminder of how lucky I was to be in a community that embraced animals and viewed them as a vital part of our world. I became an ambassador on the behalf of animals and plan to remain one for the rest of my life.
I have always said that I care about the environment, but it is an entirely different thing to wake up every day and do something to care for the animals who are losing their habitat and coming into conflict with people. It helps you realize the complexity of both the ecosystem and the struggle to maintain balance. I saw something of the richness of nature and the tragedy of human activity — so creative and yet so destructive. In summary, the internship was a deeply challenging experience for which I remain most grateful.
— Elizabeth Z., WRR Intern, February–August 2009
I arrived at Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation as a new intern in September 2009. I wasn't too sure what to expect. I was told, "The work is hard, but the payoff is worth it." On arrival, I was greeted by friendly people and even had a few offers to help me with my luggage. Like the first day of any job, it was nerve-wracking and tensions were running high. I really felt like I was messing up right and left. However, with every step, I was reassured with positive reinforcement, "It's OK. Don't worry. It happens to everyone." I have never felt more welcomed or supported by an organization.
The work is straightforward and highly rewarding. I am amazed just thinking of the many things that I have accomplished in the first few weeks and have taken part in: Caring for opossums; hand-feeding the young deer; feeding the raccoons; releasing animals into the wild; handling and tube-feeding the doves. The list goes on and on.
If you looking for a place where you can really make a difference, honestly feel inspired, and truly be and feel appreciated, then Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation in Kendalia, TX, is the place for you.
— Paul N., WRR Intern, September–December 2009
More Information for Animal Care Interns
Animal
Care Internship Information & Application
Animal Care Internship
Job Description
Animal Care Internship
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
General Information
for Interns
Application
Download, print, complete, and return an Animal
Care Internship Application.
Questions
If you have questions about interning at WRR,
please contact Krystal Mathis at krystalm@wildlife-rescue.org
or (830) 336-2725 x303.
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