• Feb - May 2008
    Animal Care and Community Volunteers Needed - Sign up for upcoming 1 hour orientation session
  • March - May 2008
    2008 Spring Raffle - Tickets on sale now!
Internship Program

Interns work full-time under the supervision of certified wildlife rehabilitators to perform animal husbandry duties and medical treatments. Some of the skills interns acquire include species identification, cage set-up and proper husbandry techniques, animal handling, tube feeding of mammals and birds, administering medication, performing lab work, data analysis, and various other procedures.

Interns will also work with, and train, volunteers and interact with the public. Interns are recommended to complete the Animal Care Workshops required of all Animal Care Volunteers prior to the internship or have experience in animal handling and husbandry. Interns will participate in lessons during their internship. A final project focusing on a wildlife-related topic is assigned and due one month following the internship.

Internships are two months in length, during one of the following two periods:

May - June           July - August

All internship positions are voluntary, NO stipend or salary is offered.

Accommodation is NOT provided. Please note that Wild ARC is not on a public transit route and therefore reliable transportation is necessary.

Requirements

  • Minimum age of 19
  • Current tetanus vaccination and good physical stamina and health
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  • Ability to work independently and as a team member
  • Academic background in biological or environmental sciences, veterinary medicine or animal welfare studies preferred
  • Volunteer experience in wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife management or animal care is beneficial but not required

 

Application process

 » Wild ARC Internship Application

  • Completed Application Form
  • Current Curriculum Vitae
  • Essay describing your career goals and how an internship at Wild ARC will help you achieve your goals - the essay must be 1-2 typed pages in length
  • Names, type of relationship held, and phone numbers of three references (including at least one former employer)

 

Application packages are to be submitted by mail to:

BC SPCA Wild ARC
Summer Internship Program 1020 Malloch Road
Victoria, BC
Canada V9C 4G9

Applications are due March 1st of each year.

2008 DEADLINE EXTENDED TO MARCH 15, 2008

Interns Testimonials

ASHLEY WEHREHEN

Victoria, July-August 2007
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I started volunteering at Wild ARC because I love animals. Watching the amazing work the rehabilitators do inspired me to do the internship. To be able to help wildlife on an individual level, aiding in their release into the wild, sometimes relieving animals from injuries that are causing intense stress and pain is an amazing feeling and something I found in the internship. Two months of long hours and a lot of information was what I expected. I was right! But it was a lot more than just that. Coming in and not knowing what was going to happen each day and what you were going to learn kept things very interesting each day! Feeding baby deer became one of my tasks that no matter how long it took, or how many fawns there were (17!!!!) it was one of the best parts of my day! A young heron that needed to be fed throughout the day with a taxidermy heron head was also an awesome experience. I became very attached to him (which is easy to do with the animals) and got to release him when he was ready to go! The action never stops, there is always a learning opportunity waiting with each step of the day. I learned how to examine animals when they first arrive at the clinic, medication dosages, stabilizing techniques, the use of homeopathics, handling methods, diet preparation, release criteria, and so much more on a daily basis. With the help of the rehabilitators I feel I learned a lot and got to experience things that some people don’t even know about, let alone get to experience hands on! I now feel very proud of the work I did this summer, and share my story with anyone interested, to spread the word about Wild ARC. With the experience I gained during my internship I hope to someday become a Wildlife Rehabilitator, and possibly run a center of my own. In preparation for that I am considering doing a Vet Tech program to increase my medical knowledge to better help the animals! Also, I am going to continue taking IWRC courses to further my wildlife knowledge as well.

UPDATE: After her internship Ashley got a job at as a vet assistant (and was told that her experience with wildlife was visible through her manner with the patients and her hands on attitude!)

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