SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Wildlife Care Internship Opportunities at Center for Wildlife- 5 Spring Intern positions available!

We are now accepting applications for our Spring Internship Program– Deadline for all applications is February 1st.

** Please note: because student's schedules and plans can often change too far in advance, we will not be accepting applications for our Summer Internship Program until April 1st. Please check back then for the summer application. Thanks!

We have 5 positions open for our Spring Internship from April 1st through June 10th! Spring is a busy time for wildlife; adult birds are coming back from migration, baby birds and baby mammals face many challenges, and turtles are busy crossing roads to nesting sites. We can have up to 250 patients in the clinic at this time. Spring Interns will receive specialized training and workshops in the areas of hand-feeding and supportive care, diet, habitats, current challenges for the native species at the clinic, and will have an active role in an Area of Responsibility.

Click here for an application and complete description of the internship. Scroll down for more information on our program and email our medical clinic Volunteer and Intern Coordinator Amy Pierce with any questions.

Senior Wildlife Care Internship Opportunities at Center for Wildlife- 3 positions available!

We are now accepting applications for our Senior Internship Program (Stipend Internship from March 15th through October 15th)- deadline for applications is February 1st!

The Center for Wildlife Senior Internship offers practical, hands-on experience in a large rehabilitation clinic. Some of the skills learned include species identification, husbandry techniques, wild animal handling, medical exams/triage, administration of medication, managing, supervising, training other interns and volunteers, and other procedures. Senior Interns report directly to staff and work closely with the medical clinic team in a more experienced and supervisory role than first-year Wildlife Care Interns. Extensive training and workshops are provided. We are looking for a strong leader that can motivate and work closely with our large team of interns/volunteers to make a memorable experience for all and ensure that patients get the daily attention and care that they need. We are looking for someone who takes initiative to get projects and daily tasks done in a timely manner. A Senior Intern is expected to work 30-40 hours/ week in 5 shifts from March 15th- October 15th. Shifts include some early, late, and weekend shifts but schedule is set for the duration of the internship. Vacations are unpaid and must be approved in advance.

For a detailed description of qualifications and specific duties click here. To apply for this position, please fill out an intern application and note 'Senior Intern' on top. Send the application to our mailing address- P.O. Box 620, Cape Neddick, ME 03902.

if you have any questions please email Amy or call the center at (207) 361-1400

Wildlife Education Internship Opportunities at Center for Wildlife

We have currently filled our Wildlife Education Intern position. Please stay tuned for the next opening!

This joint internship with the Mount Agamenticus Conservation Program links wildlife education and conservation. The Wildlife Education Interns will have the opportunity to develop and assist with displays, activities, and educational programs that teach the public about wildlife, habitats, and the natural resources within the great Mt. Agamenticus region. Specific duties include caring for wildlife ambassadors, data entry and record-keeping, developing display and hands-on materials, assisting with promotions, and attending programs and events. Additional work will include staffing the new Learning Lodge, greeting visitors as they explore the area, recommending trail routes, and helping to explain current conservation efforts. For more information and an application click here.

Email our Director of Education and Outreach Kristen Lamb with any questions or to apply by email.

Volunteer Wildlife Caretaker Opportunities at Center for Wildlife

PLEASE NOTE: We are currently accepting volunteer applications. Please allow up to 2 weeks for processing.

Each year at the Center for Wildlife we admit more and more animals, close to 1,700 last year. With our limited budget we rely heavily on our volunteers and interns and staff shifts according to seasonal patient loads. We couldn't manage the number of cases and diversity of species we treat without help from our dedicated non-paid staff!

Because of this fact, we take the roles of Animal Care Volunteers and Wildlife Care Intern very seriously and hope you will too. We're looking for volunteers that:

• We can depend on, and who can take instruction easily
• Understand our goal is to give each animal a clean, comfortable, and stress-free environment
• Provide supportive care so that patients can receive intensive care from experienced medical staff
• Understands that a missed shift means that coverage is thin and the entire clinic can be set back
• Understands the need for quiet in a medical setting
• Are excited and motivated to learn natural history and best practices
• Love and respect wild animals and wants to be a part of giving them a second chance

Please be sure that you are ready to make this commitment before you apply, we are a very busy clinic and the position can be rewarding but certainly demanding!

We look forward to working with new volunteers and interns and feel that the Center can be a fun and fulfilling place when everyone does their part and the animals are well cared for.

Volunteer Program Information and Application Process

Volunteers are an integral part of the Center for Wildlife. Each year, the Center treats over 1,700 birds, mammals and reptiles. The role of a Wildlife Care Assistant is to help create a healing environment to maximize the animals' release potential. Some of the volunteer opportunities are feeding nestling birds and young mammals, monitoring animals' conditions and preparing foods, cage cleaning and outdoor cage habitat maintenance, and assisting the public with questions concerning wildlife. General cleaning and some administrative tasks may also be included. As one volunteer has said, "The Center gives me a chance to do something positive, I am able to see the results of all our hard work. Releasing an animal back to the wild, giving it a second chance, is the greatest thrill I have ever experienced."

A real compassion for animals and a willingness to learn are the main requirements for volunteers. Because of the medical nature of the position and the need for safety at the clinic we require that you are at least seventeen years old. We provide extensive training and orientation workshops for new volunteer; thus require a minimum commitment of 6 months.

Because of the large number of animals and species that come are admitted at the clinic and the varying species' needs, we have a structured application and training process that volunteers go through before they are put up on the schedule by themselves. Training involves many hours of Staff and Volunteer Trainers time. We realize this is an investment however, and we are happy to take the time to train serious volunteers. We are all working towards the common goal of providing the best care for our patients until release. If you feel you are ready to make the commitment of 4 hours per week for a minimum of six months, then please follow the instructions below. We look forward to welcoming you!

Step 1 - Download our Volunteer Information/Application (PDF) fill it out and mail it to us at:

Center for Wildlife
P.O. Box 620
Cape Neddick, ME 03902

Step 2 - Once we receive your application, we will review it and get back to you in order to schedule a phone interview. The phone interview is an introduction to the Center for Wildlife, our needs and expectations, and to make sure that these are a good fit for you and the Center for Wildlife.

Step 3 - Once you have attended an orientation, you will need to sign up for a four-hour workshop. This is a hands-on introduction to animal care, cleaning, and food preparation, as well as an orientation to our 34 outdoor enclosures.

Step 4 - After the orientation and workshop have been completed, volunteers generally shadow with a seasoned volunteer or intern for two shifts.

Step 5 - Dig in! After shadowing and the workshop volunteers are generally able to be on their own, helping to care for some of our up to 300 patients in residence during the busy season!

Please note: Our staff members wear many hats. Upon mailing in the application, please allow up to two weeks for a response. We appreciate the interest and your patience!  We also have a volunteer capacity and may not be accepting new volunteers. In this event we will hold on to the application until the next available opening.

If you would like to learn more about opportunities at The Center for Wildlife, please contact us.

Wildlife Care Internship Information and Application Process

We are currently accepting applications for our Spring Internship Program.

The Student Internship Program at the Center for Wildlife is a work/learning experience for students interested in the native (and some non-native) wildlife of our region.  The large number of animals and diversity of species admitted to CFW give our interns the unique opportunity to become familiar with many different species' diets, habitats, and conservation needs. Due to the hands-on and often veterinary nature of rehabilitation, interns will also have an opportunity to focus on physiological, behavioral and some pathological aspects of the animals admitted.

Each year the Center for Wildlife hosts over 20 interns from all over the country, usually majoring in one or more of the following areas of study: Biology, Zoology, Marine Biology, Psychobiology, Wildlife Ecology, Environmental Science, Animal Husbandry or Veterinary Science.  CFW’s Internship Program is now more comprehensive than ever, offering experience in wildlife medicine, conservation, and education.  Our program was recently spotlighted in the National Wildlife Rehabilitator’s Association Annual Symposium during their “Building Better Internships” seminar as an example of a professional approach to wildlife rehabilitation internships.  Our Internship Program offers a two-week orientation period with workshops, ongoing training and hands-on experience, and professional staff mentoring.

Download our Spring 2012 Wildlife Care Intern Program Information/Application

Email our Volunteer and Intern Coordinator Amy Pierce with any questions. 

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