Intern with us!
Nashville Wildlife Conservation offers unique, competitive opportunities for college students or graduates interested in gaining hands-on experience in wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife education, conservation education and related programming.
“Interning at NWCC was an enlightening experience. Debbie Sykes not only provided me the hand on experience I needed, but also the knowledge that went beyond surface level. Being able to work closely with the animals there brought me immense understanding, and adoration for the native species of Tennessee.” -Rilee, NWCC Intern Summer of 2022
Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship
3 days/week
Unpaid. College Credit may be applied.
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship will cover three days per week and strives to teach based on the intern goals while providing a well-rounded experience. This internship will include aspects of wildlife rehabilitation in mammal orphan and turtle care and provide on the job training in basic rehabilitation skills. You will leave us with a solid foundation and experience to take to your future careers.
Training will encompass (but is not limited to) the examination and safe handling of wildlife, nutrition and diet, administering medication, critical care, initial triage, communicating with the rescuer, wound care, orphan care including handfeeding, basic husbandry requirements, enrichment, and study behavior of wild animals.
Interns in this program will work under the supervision of a professional wildlife rehabilitator and/or trained caregivers. This is a home-permitted rehabilitation center, with a separate entrance and separate utilities. You will witness death and/or euthanasia of an animal when necessary to ease suffering. We currently accept non-venomous reptiles and amphibians, opossums, eastern cottontails, and armadillos, with most of our focus on reptiles.
Expectations
Internship will include working in environments with animal feces, scents, and excretions. Working environment will include strong odors, awkward, tight spaces, and difficult tasks. Each task serves a purpose in both the rehabilitation of the animal and the educational value of the process of wildlife rehabilitation. Interns may be assigned any task and are expected to learn from such task. Questions are highly encouraged and expected. Interns are to be punctual and notify supervision in advance if a shift must be missed.
Requirements:
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
Willing to ask questions
A strong work ethic
Ability to work well under pressure
Must be able to handle a demanding workload
Interest in local wildlife
To apply, please send resume, cover letter and 2 written references to debbie@nashvillewildlifeconservation.org
The type of experience that can change your life.
“This position combined research and wildlife rehabilitation, which led me to get a job as a Biological Science Technician (implementing my research skills) and my other job as a Avian Zookeeper (implementing my animal husbandry skills).”
-Rachel Smith, NWCC Intern Summer of 2021
Turtle Laser Research Internship
3 days/week onsite, 1 offsite
Unpaid. College Credit may be applied
The Turtle Research Internship will be three days a week from May-August. This internship will provide the opportunity to develop research skills and a foundation in turtle rehabilitation and medical training.
Interns will assist the research coordinator on-site in monitoring turtles' rehabilitation with and without laser therapy by collecting and helping to interpret data. Research interns should be self-motivated, detail-oriented, data-driven, and flexible working in the hospital or on the computer. This internship will require focus off site organizing and labeling photos/spreadsheets/PDFs/etc.
Interns may also assist supervision off-site in monitoring turtle’s rehabilitation post-release using radio telemetry to collect and interpret data. This will require significant amount of walking under different environmental and physical conditions.
Training will encompass (but is not limited to) research, analyzing data, science communication, research skills, examining and safe handling of eastern box turtles, radio telemetry, wound management, and rehabilitation of turtles.
This is a home-permitted rehabilitation center, with separate entrance and utilities. You may witness the death and/or euthanasia of an animal when it is necessary to ease suffering.
Expectations
Internship will require exposure to diverse physical and environmental conditions that may include but not limited to ticks, mosquitos, extreme heat, and long hours. Intern is expected to be punctual and notify supervision in advance of any shift that must be missed.
Requirements:
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
A strong work ethic
Ability to work well outside in all types of weather
Interest in local wildlife
Self-driven and motivated
To apply, please send resume, cover letter and 2 written references to debbie@nashvillewildlifeconservation.org
“Impactful change and engagement happen when we fall in love with the wildlife in our own backyards. My time with NWCC has helped me learn how to build that bridge between local wildlife and its interacting communities with the help on animal ambassadors. I learned how to communicate with people about, sometimes difficult, scenarios in ways that are digestible and lasting. At NWCC, we see the passion in families when animals need help, we experience the interest and growth when stories are told and science is shared, and we also see love and understanding when people incorporate meaningful change in their lives to better their environment.”
-Charlie, NWCC Intern Fall 2021
Wildlife Education Outreach Internship
Unpaid. College Credit may be applied.
3 days/week
The Wildlife Education Outreach Internship covers wildlife education and provides on the job training of basic wildlife education skills in a rehabilitation center. Interns will work under the supervision of a professional wildlife educator and/or trained communications coordinator.
Training will encompass (but is not limited to) the examination and safe handling of wildlife, cooperative care, nutrition and diet, basic husbandry requirements, enrichment, behavior of wild animals, and training of animals (using LIMA methods).
As a home-permitted wildlife rehabilitation and education center, we work with a broad-winged hawk (currently in training), eastern box turtle, Virginia opossum, southern flying squirrels, groundhog, and a corn snake. It is expected the intern will gain experience with each animal. Duties will include doing 1-2 education programs a week, working and training with educational ambassadors, husbandry, and taking and interpreting data to help improve programs. Must be available either Fridays or Saturdays.
Expectations
Internship will include working in environments with animal feces, scents, and excretions. Working environment will include strong odors, awkward, tight spaces, and difficult tasks. Each task serves a purpose in both the rehabilitation of the animal and the educational value of the process of wildlife rehabilitation and outreach. Interns may be assigned any task and are expected to learn from such task. Questions are highly encouraged and expected. Interns are to be punctual and notify supervision in advance if a shift must be missed.
Requirements:
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
A strong work ethic
Work outside in all weather
Must be comfortable in public spaces and speaking in front of large crowds
Personal Transportation
Interest in local wildlife
Knowledge of local wildlife a plus
To apply, please send resume, cover letter and 2 written references to debbie@nashvillewildlifeconservation.org