11/11/2024
Internship Description: Wildlife Care Intern
(2025: Summer)
About Cedar Run
Cedar Run is a non-profit dedicated to the preservation of New Jersey’s wildlife and habitats through education, conservation and rehabilitation. Woodford Cedar Run Wildlife Refuge sits on 171 wooded acres on the edge of the New Jersey Pinelands. Cedar Run includes the Woodford Nature Center, an outdoor Wildlife Housing Area with nearly 60 native residents, and a Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital. The overall mission of Cedar Run is to serve as a community resource on the importance of protecting and enhancing healthy ecosystems for all. To that end, Cedar Run engages in: ecologically based land management; the operation of a Federally and NJ State licensed hospital facility that cares for more than 6,000 injured, orphaned or displaced native wildlife each year; the education of over 20,000 students annually through our various on-site and outreach programs; and serves as an active resource to the greater New Jersey community on all wildlife and habitat related questions and issues.
- Position Title: Wildlife Care Intern
- Department: Wildlife Rehabilitation
- Reports to: Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation
- Schedule: Full-time 40 hours a week for 12-week commitment.
Internship starts at the end of May or beginning of June (dates flexible). - Deadline for Applications: 3/31/2025
- Type: Unpaid, College credits are available.
Purpose of Position:
The Wildlife Care Intern will work primarily with the Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation and Cedar Run’s Wildlife Care Team on efforts required to assist with direct animal care in our Rehabilitation Hospital and our environmental enrichment program. Assignments will include; feeding, cleaning, medicating, and otherwise providing care for injured and orphaned wildlife (this includes dishes and laundry); answering the telephone and giving information; returning phone calls about animal concerns; and all other aspects of the Refuge.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Assist with direct animal care in our Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital and our environmental enrichment program.
- Perform tasks and duties assigned to assist with animal care and rehabilitation efforts, including but not limited to, cleaning, feeding, and medicating animals in Cedar Run’s care.
- Performing essential tasks such as cleaning (enclosures, dishes, and laundry), organization, and other tasks as assigned.
- Interacting and communicating to the public by answering the telephone and conveying information, and returning phone calls about animal concerns.
- Work primarily with Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital staff, and work alongside volunteers and other Wildlife Care Interns.
- Act in a manner to positively represent Cedar Run.
- Other duties as assigned.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Currently enrolled college student or academic background (college coursework and/or degree preferable) in Wildlife Studies, Wildlife Rehabilitation, Biology, Environmental Science, or related fields.
- Interest and excitement for Cedar Run’s mission to protect and preserve New Jersey’s wildlife and habitats through education, conservation and rehabilitation.
- Knowledge of native species is essential.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, flexible and collaborative with an ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Ability to relate to the public in a positive and empathetic manner is key to this position.
- Well-spoken, friendly, calm and pleasant.
- Must have good telephone skills, an ability to work in a hectic, sometimes emotional situation and must have a willingness to learn and participate in various aspects of Refuge work.
- Adaptable, dependable and responsible.
- Must be a self-starter who is flexible, committed to teamwork but able to work independently when necessary.
- Rabies vaccinations are required, as they allow interns to work with the full spectrum of species that are admitted to Cedar Run.
- Must have access to a vehicle or transportation.
- Must be able to lift and carry up to 40 pounds safely, and work outdoors in varying weather.
- Must be able to work on site in the Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital (6 Sawmill Road, Medford, NJ).
- Some weekend and evening work will be required, as scheduled.
It is the policy of Cedar Run not to discriminate in hiring, or any other aspect of employment, on the basis of race, gender, age, color, national origin, religion, marital status, military status, sexual orientation or any other protected category under federal or state law.
For all inquiries, please submit your resume, cover letter, and 2-3 professional references.
Please apply before 3/31/25 to be considered. The position will be accepted on a rolling basis.
Contact: Lori Swanson, Director of Wildlife Rehabilitation, at [email protected].
No phone calls about this position please.