WILDLIFE SANCTUARY – FULL-TIME

Positions: Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship
Type: full-time vol. + honorarium + accom.
Organization: Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

Location: North Gower, near Ottawa, Ontario
Accommodation: shared accommodations available for out-of-town applicants
Honorarium: $200 per week to help cover incidental expenses
See also: Part-time internship | Jobs

The Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary rehabilitates about 1,200 orphaned and injured wild mammals and reptiles every year. Volunteer rehabilitation interns play an essential role in helping to care for these animals and release them back to the wild.

The Sanctuary is located between North Gower and Kemptville in a lovely rural environment surrounded by hundreds of acres of forest, about 45 minutes south of downtown Ottawa, Ontario. There is no public transit to the wildlife sanctuary. There is a limited number of shared accommodations available for out-of-town applicants.

Benefits

Wildlife rehabilitation is a rewarding experience, with the majority of an intern's time spent on direct care of orphaned wildlife. Previous wildlife rehabilitation experience is not required as we provide on-the-job training in group and individual settings, and provide ongoing support and learning opportunities. Interns receive training to care for almost all species at the centre. 

Interns also learn about many aspects of wildlife rehabilitation, such as wildlife identification, natural behaviours, animal handling, animal health monitoring, nutrition, diagnostic procedures, fluid therapy, medicine administration, hygiene and quarantine protocols, and environmental enrichment. Interns also gain valuable work skills, such as working as part of a team with staff and volunteers, learning to work with minimal supervision, and managing your own time and priorities. There are also opportunities to gain leadership skills by helping to mentor other interns and volunteers. With a common passion for animals and team camaraderie, interns can expect to make long lasting friendships. Internships do not provide advanced training or job shadowing in veterinary care.

Interns who commit to their full term with above-average job performance will receive a written reference, and will be considered for paid positions at RVWS.

Job Duties

Job duties include, but are not limited to:

• admitting and examining new patients
• preparing formula and food
• formula-feeding animals and providing fresh water and solid foods
• cleaning cages, enclosures and facilities
• calculating and administering medications (under supervision)
• performing diagnostic procedures (under supervision)
• performing fluid therapy and wound management (under supervision)
• monitoring animal health
• maintaining health and feeding records
• releasing animals
• other related duties

Work Term

Terms are a minimum of three months and maximum of eight months between March 1 and October 31. Interns work an average of 40-50 hours per week on a rotating schedule, which includes days, evenings, weekends and holidays. Interns work an average of five days a week, with two consecutive days off and every second weekend off.

Compensation and Accommodation

Full-time internships are volunteer positions. Interns receive an honorarium of $200 per week to help cover incidental expenses.  There is a limited number of shared accommodations available for out-of-town applicants.

Qualifications

Ideal interns are mature, hardworking, reliable and conscientious individuals who will commit to their full term and work long hours. Work is often fast-paced, repetitive and requires working outdoors in all kinds of weather. Interns should be able to perform physically demanding tasks, such as heavy lifting. Most applicants are involved in biology, wildlife, environmental or veterinary-related studies, but we will consider all applicants who demonstrate an enthusiastic, hardworking attitude and who will become an integral member of our rehabilitation team.

Other qualifications include:

• minimum 18 years of age
• access to reliable transportation (there is no public transit to our facility)
• proof of vaccinations for rabies*, tetanus (every 10 years) and Covid-19 (two vaccines at minimum) upon acceptance to the program
• ability to follow and comply with established policies and procedures
• mature, hardworking, reliable and conscientious
• strong work ethic and attention to detail
• strong interpersonal and communications skills
• ability to speak, read and write in English 
• ability to work under pressure and remain calm
• willing to take the initiative, and be adaptable and resourceful
• commitment to work your full term and long hours in a fast-paced environment
• ability to work outdoors in all kinds of weather and perform physically demanding tasks, such as heavy lifting
• proof of a valid work visa for non-Canadian applicants

Applications

Most applicants are involved in biology, wildlife, environmental or veterinary-related studies, but we will consider all applicants who demonstrate an enthusiastic, hardworking attitude and who will become an integral member of our team.

To apply, please provide a covering letter (including your availability and preferred terms, vaccination status, what you hope to gain from an internship and how you will contribute to our team), resume and two written references by email to info@rideauwildlife.org Preference will be given to applicants who apply for a term greater than three months. 

* Rabies Vaccine Information

The rabies pre-exposure vaccine is a series of three injections given in your arm on days 0, 7 and 21. You are able to start working with rabies-vector species after your 2nd vaccine on day 7. You can obtain a prescription and get your injections from your family doctor, and order the vaccine from any pharmacy. You can also obtain the vaccines from a travel clinic without a doctor's prescription. Most health plans cover such vaccinations. If not, the cost is about $700. To check if your health plan covers the vaccine, you will need the following Drug Identification Numbers: RabAvert - DIN 02267667; Imovax - DIN 01908286. If you have had the rabies vaccine in the past, you need to provide proof of protective titre levels (blood test for levels of antibodies) every two years, which you can obtain from your family doctor.

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