Wildlife Rehabilitation Intern

Wildlife Rehabilitation Intern - Milwaukee Campus

Job Location

Milwaukee Campus - Milwaukee, WI

Position Type

Internship

Salary Range

$9.00 Hourly

Job Category

Veterinary Services

Application Process

Online at wihumane.org/employment

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 by visiting www.wihumane.org/wildlife/how-can-i-help/internship-opportunities.

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

Application Instructions

To apply for this position, please submit your online employment application at wihumane.org/employment. Only applications submitted through our online application system may be considered. Please know that it is our policy to reply to each and every application received once we have a status update.

Come see why over 280 staff call one of WHS’s 7 locations home! You’ll be happy you did!

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Wisconsin Humane Society believes in equal employment opportunity for all employees and applicants for employment. WHS’s success depends on engaging qualified people regardless of race, color, creed, ancestry, religion, sex (including pregnancy and related conditions, gender identity, and sexual orientation), marital status, veteran status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, arrest and/or conviction record (unless substantially related to the position held or sought), veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

About Us

The Wisconsin Humane Society is the oldest and largest shelter in Wisconsin.  Founded in 1879, WHS operates shelters in Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Door, Brown, and Kenosha Counties, as well as a Spay/Neuter Clinic in West Allis. The organization offers adoption services, youth and outreach programs, veterinary resources for the community, retail stores, volunteer programs, and dog training classes. The Milwaukee shelter also houses the state's busiest Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. WHS is an independent nonprofit and receives no general government funding and is not part of any national umbrella group.  WHS maintains a four-star rating from Charity Navigator.