Wildlife Husbandry Internship

Details:

Here at Alturas, we believe in the positive impact an internship can have on a person’s studies and career development. That’s why we want to give you the opportunity to participate in independent research specific to your interests while also taking care of daily needs in the sanctuary and rehabilitation center. Our goal is to tailor the internship experience to each individual so they can leave feeling like they’ve taken a definitive step towards their future goals.

Our ideal candidate is someone who is:

At least 18 years old
Can commit to at least one month
Has recently graduated or plans to graduate in a related field (zoology, animal keeping, wildlife conservation)
Has experience working in a related field (rescue center, sanctuary, zoo)
Can provide at least 2 educational/ professional references
Successfully completes a Zoom interview

Common Experiences With a Wildlife Husbandry Internship

While no two internship experiences are exactly alike, there are several opportunities an intern can expect to be involved with. Here are some common experiences:

Participating in daily husbandry of sanctuary and rehab animals
Diet preparation
Feeding animals
Creating and administering enrichment
Feeding juvenile animals and neonates
Carrying out an independent research project
Record keeping
Observing routine necropsies
Animal restraint and capture methods
Participating in animal training sessions at the sanctuary
Managing our onsite camera trap program
Carrying out public tours
Participating in weekly, educational lectures/ workshops put on by our staff

Wildlife Husbandry Internship FAQ

Think you have what it takes to be an intern with Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary? Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about our Wildlife Husbandry Internship to answer any queries you might have about the process:

While Spanish-speaking individuals are valued at Alturas, it is not necessary to be fluent in Spanish to qualify for an internship. (Interns must be fluent in English!)

While there are similarities in some of the tasks which befall both an intern and a volunteer, interns have the distinction of working quite closely with Alturas staff, especially with wildlife-related activities. Both interns and volunteers will be cleaning enclosures, feeding animals, collecting, making, and administering enrichment, and spending time in the emergency clinic, but there are a few extra duties expected of an intern. Interns will also conduct surveys of the surrounding wildlife by setting up infra-red cameras, assist in positive reinforcement training with sanctuary animals, and track two-toed sloths via radio which have been released on-site.

Because interns are expected to participate in in-depth tasks beyond what we expect of our volunteers, we believe one month is the minimum appropriate amount of time for an individual to learn our methods while still gaining experience beneficial to their future goals.

No, research projects are not mandatory; however, if you are interested in available research topics, please contact us!

In order to qualify, interns must currently be studying or have recently graduated with a degree in zoology, wildlife conservation, animal husbandry, or another relevant degree. Interns must also commit to the program for at least one month.

Yes, the internship is available during all times of year.

Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary will accommodate up to four interns at any given time.

No, interns and volunteers are offered the same accommodation rates and meals.