Wildlife Rehabilitation Summer Intern (@ Wisconsin Humane Society)

Wildlife Rehabilitation Summer Intern at the Wisconsin Humane Society in Milwaukee, WI - shared by Jobs That Help as a third party

(please note: estimated start and end dates are placeholders entered by Handshake--see details on flexible start and end dates for this opportunity below)

Job Type Details: Paid Summer Internship, 40 hours/week, $9/hour

Wildlife Rehabilitation Intern – Milwaukee Campus

The Wisconsin Humane Society’s (WHS) Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is now seeking motivated Wildlife Rehabilitation Interns for its 2025 Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship program! The WHS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is an urban wildlife hospital located at the WHS Milwaukee Campus in Milwaukee, WI. Over 5,000 sick, injured and orphaned wild animals of over 150 different species are cared for each year with the ultimate goal of being released back into the wild. Upon completion of the internship, interns will have acquired valuable experience, insight, and a working knowledge of the basics of wildlife care and the wildlife rehabilitation field.

Internship topics and responsibilities will include:

• Limiting stress in captive wild animals
• Facility sanitation and animal food hygiene
• Zoonotic disease transmission prevention
• Formula selection and feeding techniques for orphaned mammals and birds
• Maintaining accurate animal care records
• Medicating animals by various routes and basic fluid therapy techniques
• General release criteria for rehabilitated wildlife
• Other duties as assigned

This is an on-site, on-the-job learning opportunity for hard-working, dedicated individuals interested in experiencing a summer of wildlife rehabilitation at one of the busiest wildlife rehabilitation centers in Wisconsin! A limited number of paid internship positions are available with start dates beginning between early April 1– May 26th, and end dates between mid-August to October, depending on candidate’s availability. Candidates will be accepted for a minimum of eleven weeks, but a longer stay is encouraged.

Wildlife Internships are paid positions, with a wage of $9.00 per hour. Interns will receive a paycheck biweekly for any hours worked within the internship period. Please note that interns are responsible for their own transportation and living arrangements as we are unable to provide transportation or housing. Further details regarding this internship program can be found on our Wildlife Rehabilitation Center’s Internship Opportunities page.

Qualifications

• Previous animal handling or wildlife handling knowledge and experience is a plus.
• Commitment to treating animals and humans with kindness and respect.
• Emotionally-mature, hard-working, reliable, enthusiastic, and conscientious individuals who are willing to perform a variety of tasks as directed.
• Good interpersonal skills, teamwork, common sense, attention to detail, flexibility, and the ability to work successfully in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with WHS staff, volunteers, and clients in a professional manner over the phone, by email, and in person.
• Display interest in taking full advantage of the internship by ambitiously accepting increasing amounts of responsibility throughout the program.

Requirements

• Degree earned or coursework completed at an accredited undergraduate or graduate college majoring in biology, wildlife management or ecology, natural sciences, pre-veterinary, or related fields preferred.
• Must be available on evenings, weekends and holidays.
• Must be available to work 40 hours or more on average per week working in 8-hour shifts or more in a given day.
• Must be available to work indoors and outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Must be available for the entirety of the minimum twelve-week internship period. (Note: due to the seasonal busyness of our work, vacation requests are very rarely approved during this period)
• Must be able to successfully meet the physical demands of the job, which include: stooping, squatting, kneeling, crouching, crawling, standing for long periods of time, walking, pulling, lifting, grasping, talking, hearing, repetitive motions, and lifting 50 lbs. up to the waist level.
• Candidates must be up-to-date on their tetanus vaccinations.
• Depending on CDC recommendations at the time, vaccinations and masks may be required while inside our facility.

Benefits

Full-time and part-time staff are eligible for the following benefits:

• 403(b) retirement plan
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 30% off adoption fees
• 30% off manners classes and behavior consultations
• 20% off youth programs
• Event discounts
• Animal Antics retail discounts
• Limited wellness/veterinary care services for companion animals