Level 1:

Learning Opportunities:

      • Knowledge of the missions of Red Creek Wildlife Center, Inc. and how our missions fit in with the larger picture of wildlife conservation and protection of public health.
      • Knowledge of the regulations and laws associated with wildlife rehabilitation.
      • Exposure to the operations of a wildlife rehabilitation center.
      • Learn how to properly care for rehabilitation animals.
      • How to deal with the public during stressful wildlife situations
      • How to feed baby wild animals
      • How to restrain birds of prey for treatment and exams
      • How to administer fluids to birds and mammals
      • How to complete a physical exam
      • How to identify Pennsylvania mammals and raptors and categorize non-raptor avian species
      • How to determine proper dosing for medications and fluids
      • Interns will also be exposed to learning about various diseases, nutritional information, and understanding zoological milk formulas.

Responsibilities

Interns will be responsible for:

      • Cleaning enclosures and caging, which may include raking, sweeping, and scrubbing.
      • Feeding and watering animals
      • Cleaning of the clinic and treatment areas.
      • Washing and disinfecting food and water bowls and caging.
      • Maintaining charts
      • Assisting staff with medical treatment and examinations of animals.
      • Identify potential health issues in animals and report these to staff.
      • Assist with intakes of new rehabilitation patients from the public, including imputing information into a database.
      • Assist with handling and enrichment of education and foster animals.
      • Plus, any additional chores needed to maintain animals and facilities
      • In addition, interns will be expected to attend all classroom training (4 sessions per summer)
      • Interns might be able to acquire rabies vaccinations through rabies clinics at various rehabilitation centers  (when available).

Applications are open until March 24th, 2024


References

References must be school or employment related. Family members listed as references will not be accepted.


This is a 13 week program. What are your approximate available dates?

The goal of wildlife rehabilitation is to release the animals back into the wild. Because of this, it is imperative that the animals remain wild and do not become habituated to people, including staff. Wildlife rehabilitation is a hands-off type of animal work and a professional distance must be maintained at all times.

Working in animal care at Red Creek Wildlife Center requires bending, kneeling and carrying buckets of water up to 30 pounds. Cages are cleaned and disinfected with simple green cleaner, dawn dishwashing liquid, bleach and nolvasan.

Red Creek accepts all species of Pennsylvania wildlife except bear and adult deer. This includes animals often thought of as undesirable such as starlings, snakes, skunks, raccoons and coyotes.

Many animals presented for rehabilitation are carnivores. This means there will be dead animals that will be fed to carnivores. Red Creek has freezers of frozen mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs and baby chickens that are used for food. Most of these are thawed and fed whole, but occasionally it is necessary to process them prior to feeding (sectioning with scissors or skinning).

Red Creek receives over 4,000 animals each year. Many of these animals come to us suffering severe injuries or illness. Some might not reach a level of health needed for release. These animals cannot be warehoused and the rehabilitator on duty may make the decision to euthanize the animal.

Please note: Volunteers and interns will never be asked to euthanize an animal.