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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wildlife Ecologist Intern

💰 $ - $

🎯 Role Definition

The Wildlife Ecologist Intern supports professional ecologists and conservation teams by conducting standardized field surveys, assisting with habitat assessments and species monitoring, performing data collection and quality control, and contributing written and visual reporting for conservation projects. This paid or academic-credit internship is designed to provide hands-on experience in wildlife field methods, regulatory compliance, GIS mapping, telemetry, camera trapping, and data analysis, while developing professional communication and project documentation skills for a career in conservation biology, natural resource management, or environmental consulting.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Undergraduate student (Biology, Wildlife Ecology, Environmental Science) seeking field experience.
  • Field technician or seasonal wildlife technician with entry-level survey experience.
  • Volunteer or research assistant who has completed coursework and basic field training.

Advancement To:

  • Wildlife Biologist / Field Biologist
  • Conservation Scientist / Ecologist II
  • Environmental Consultant (wildlife specialty)
  • Graduate study (M.S. in Wildlife Ecology, Conservation Biology)

Lateral Moves:

  • GIS Analyst (ecological focus)
  • Environmental Education Specialist or Outreach Coordinator
  • Habitat Restoration Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Conduct systematic wildlife surveys (point counts, transects, call-back surveys, nocturnal spotlighting) following established protocols to detect, identify, and enumerate target species while maintaining rigorous field data records.
  • Perform habitat assessments and vegetation surveys using standardized metrics (cover, structure, species composition) to characterize habitat quality and suitability for focal wildlife species.
  • Deploy, service, and retrieve remote camera traps, ensure correct placement for target species detection, manage image download and metadata, and catalog photographic records for analysis.
  • Assist in the capture, handling, and processing of wildlife (birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians) under direct supervision, following animal welfare protocols and permit restrictions, including banding, tagging, measurements, and sample collection.
  • Conduct radio-telemetry and GPS tracking tasks: deploy VHF/UHF tags, perform homing and triangulation techniques, record fixes with handheld GPS units, and upload location data for spatial analysis.
  • Collect biological samples (blood, tissue, hair, scat) with proper chain-of-custody, labeling, preservation (e.g., freezing or ethanol), and documentation for genetic, disease, or contaminant assays in partnering laboratories.
  • Operate and maintain field equipment including GPS units, rangefinders, binoculars, spotting scopes, mist nets, traps, boats, ATV/UTVs, and power tools, ensuring safety checks and routine maintenance logs are completed.
  • Enter, clean, and QA/QC field data using standardized spreadsheets or mobile data-collection apps; reconcile discrepancies, maintain metadata, and prepare datasets for statistical analysis.
  • Produce written field notes and technical sections for reports, including methods, results, maps, and photographs, that align with funder and permitting agency requirements.
  • Assist with the design and refinement of monitoring protocols and sampling designs under guidance from lead ecologists, ensuring statistical robustness and logistical feasibility.
  • Support GIS mapping tasks: digitize survey routes, create habitat and species distribution maps, and derive spatial metrics using ArcGIS Pro or QGIS to support modeling and reporting.
  • Participate in community outreach and stakeholder engagement activities such as presenting fieldwork updates to landowners, volunteers, and partner organizations, and helping lead educational field days.
  • Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local wildlife regulations and permit conditions (e.g., ESA, MBTA), ensuring all handling, transport, and documentation meet legal and ethical standards.
  • Assist with invasive species detection and control efforts by conducting targeted surveys, documenting infestations, and aiding in mechanical or chemical treatment under supervision.
  • Help coordinate and supervise short-term volunteers and student crews in the field, providing training in safety protocols, species identification, and data collection methods.
  • Support habitat restoration and stewardship activities such as native planting, erosion control, and invasive species removal to restore or enhance ecological function at project sites.
  • Conduct basic laboratory tasks related to wildlife ecology projects, including sample processing, weighing, tissue subsampling, data entry, and maintaining sterile technique where required.
  • Maintain an organized inventory of field supplies, consumables, and equipment, placing orders and tracking usage to ensure project logistics remain on schedule.
  • Contribute to grant and proposal preparation by compiling background literature, summarizing preliminary data, and supporting budget and materials lists for monitoring components.
  • Prepare presentations, posters, and outreach materials summarizing interim and final project results for academic audiences, agency partners, or public stakeholders.
  • Support long-term monitoring programs by ensuring consistent methods across seasons, maintaining historical data continuity, and suggesting improvements to protocols for efficiency or accuracy.
  • Perform seasonal health and safety checks, complete required training (e.g., ATV, boat safety, hazardous materials), and adhere to site-specific safety plans including COVID-19 or other public health protocols.
  • Assist lead ecologists in creating and updating maps, figures, and appendices for environmental impact assessments (EIA), biological assessments (BA/BE), and NEPA/CEQA documentation.
  • Participate in adaptive management by collecting targeted data needed to evaluate restoration or mitigation success and by helping interpret results for practical conservation decision-making.
  • Track field expenses, mileage, and timesheets; support basic project administration and scheduling to help keep multi-site field programs operating effectively.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests from project managers and conservation partners, delivering cleaned datasets, summary statistics, and visualizations for rapid decision-making.
  • Contribute to the organization's long-term monitoring strategy by sharing field insights, proposing methodological improvements, and standardizing metadata practices.
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams (GIS, lab technicians, communications) to translate field observations into deliverables such as maps, dashboards, and outreach content.
  • Participate in multi-disciplinary planning meetings and sprint-style project coordination to align field schedules, equipment needs, and reporting deadlines.
  • Assist with post-season data archiving, ensuring data are stored according to funder or institutional data-management plans and that repositories are discoverable by stakeholders.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Species identification skills across taxa (birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates) using field guides, call recognition, and morphological features.
  • Field survey techniques: point counts, line transects, camera trapping protocols, mist-netting, live-trapping, spotlighting, and mark-recapture basics.
  • Radio-telemetry and GPS skills: tag deployment, homing, triangulation, GPS waypoint collection, and error estimation.
  • Proficiency with GIS software (ArcGIS Pro, QGIS) for mapping survey routes, habitat layers, and creating publication-quality figures.
  • Data management and QA/QC: experience with mobile data collection apps (Survey123, Collector, Fulcrum, EpiCollect), structured spreadsheets, and relational data organization.
  • Statistical analysis and visualization in R (tidyverse, ggplot2, dplyr) and familiarity with basic applied ecological modeling (occupancy, GLMs).
  • Camera-trap image management and processing workflows, including use of software (e.g., Timelapse2, Camelot) and metadata tagging.
  • Basic laboratory techniques: sample labeling, storage (cold chain), subsampling, and documentation for genetic or contaminant analyses.
  • Knowledge of wildlife permitting processes and regulatory frameworks (state permits, ESA, MBTA) and ability to follow permit conditions.
  • Safe operation of field vehicles and equipment, including ATVs/UTVs, small boats, and use of PPE; completion of safety certifications (First Aid/CPR, HAZWOPER as applicable).
  • Experience with Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and version control or collaboration platforms (Google Drive, SharePoint).

Soft Skills

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills for clear technical reporting, stakeholder updates, and public outreach.
  • Collaborative teamwork and the ability to work effectively in cross-disciplinary crews under variable field conditions.
  • Attention to detail and strong organizational skills for meticulous data recording, sample tracking, and equipment maintenance.
  • Problem-solving mindset and flexibility to adapt protocols and logistics in response to weather, access constraints, or field observations.
  • Physical stamina, resilience, and a safety-first mentality for extended hikes, lifting equipment, and work in remote or rugged terrain.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to balance multiple field sites, data-entry deadlines, and training responsibilities.
  • Cultural awareness and professionalism when working with private landowners, indigenous communities, and diverse stakeholder groups.
  • Initiative and curiosity to learn new field methods, software tools, and analytical techniques as projects evolve.
  • Ethical decision making with regard to animal welfare, data integrity, and permit compliance.
  • Mentoring capability to train volunteers and newer interns in field techniques and safety protocols.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Currently enrolled in or recently graduated from a Bachelor's program in Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Conservation Biology, Environmental Science, Forestry, Zoology, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor's degree completed in Wildlife Ecology, Conservation Biology, Ecology, or Environmental Science; progress toward or enrollment in graduate studies (M.S.) is a plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Wildlife Biology / Wildlife Ecology
  • Conservation Biology
  • Ecology / Environmental Science
  • Forestry / Natural Resources Management
  • Zoology / Biological Sciences

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–2 years (seasonal/academic internships or 1+ field seasons as a technician)

Preferred:

  • 1+ seasons of field experience collecting wildlife and habitat data, experience with standard survey protocols, familiarity with GIS and R for basic analyses, and documented completion of relevant safety and handling certifications.
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