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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wildlife Intern

💰 $ - $

ConservationWildlifeInternshipEcology

🎯 Role Definition

A Wildlife Intern supports field-based conservation and research projects by conducting wildlife surveys, collecting high-quality ecological data, assisting with habitat restoration and species monitoring, and contributing to outreach and reporting. This role is ideal for early-career candidates pursuing degrees or experience in wildlife biology, ecology, conservation science, or related fields. Successful candidates will be comfortable working outdoors in varied conditions, following safety and permitting protocols, and using field equipment such as GPS units, camera traps, and telemetry receivers.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Volunteer wildlife technician or citizen science volunteer with field monitoring experience
  • Recent graduate or current student in wildlife biology, ecology, or environmental science
  • Seasonal field technician or research assistant

Advancement To:

  • Field Technician / Wildlife Technician (full-time)
  • Research Assistant or Project Coordinator
  • Graduate study (MS/PhD) leading to Wildlife Biologist, Conservation Scientist, or Research Scientist roles

Lateral Moves:

  • Habitat Restoration Technician
  • Environmental Education Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Conduct standardized wildlife surveys (point counts, transects, presence/absence, and call playback) to collect reliable species occurrence and abundance data for birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates across multiple habitats.
  • Set up, deploy, maintain, and retrieve remote camera traps, including baiting (when permitted), scheduling, and secure handling of SD cards and metadata to ensure high-quality imagery for occupancy and activity studies.
  • Operate radio telemetry equipment (VHF/UHF) to locate, track, and monitor tagged individuals, record fixes, estimate home ranges, and assist with capture or relocation under supervisor guidance.
  • Capture, handle, process, and release wild animals following established animal welfare protocols and under authorized permits—take morphometric measurements, apply tags or bands, collect biological samples (blood, feathers, swabs) and document injuries or health observations.
  • Conduct nest monitoring and reproductive success surveys for avian species, including nest searching, nest checks, predator monitoring, and detailed breeding records while minimizing disturbance and adhering to permit restrictions.
  • Collect environmental and habitat data (vegetation plots, canopy cover, substrate characterization, water quality, soil samples) to support habitat suitability models and long-term ecosystem monitoring programs.
  • Use GPS units and mapping tools to accurately record survey locations, transects, nest sites, and animal locations; ensure spatial data are collected with metadata and standardized naming conventions for GIS integration.
  • Assist with habitat restoration tasks such as invasive species removal, native plant propagation and planting, erosion control, and structure installation (nest boxes, artificial refugia) to improve target species habitat.
  • Process collected samples and specimens in the field and lab (labeling, preservation in appropriate media, cold-chain management) and prepare shipments to partner labs ensuring chain-of-custody and compliance with permit and biosafety protocols.
  • Maintain detailed field logs, datasheets, and digital records; enter, clean, and validate field data into centralized databases or spreadsheets within defined timelines to support analysis and reporting.
  • Conduct basic GIS mapping and spatial analysis (ArcGIS/QGIS) to produce maps of survey effort, species detections, telemetry fixes, and habitat units used in reports and presentations.
  • Perform regular maintenance, calibration, and troubleshooting of field equipment (GPS units, telemetry receivers, camera traps, drones, handheld weather stations) and ensure all equipment is charged, maintained, and inventory tracked.
  • Assist in compiling technical reports, presentations, and scientific outreach materials summarizing methods, results, and conservation recommendations for stakeholders, funders, and the public.
  • Help design and implement standardized monitoring protocols and quality control workflows under supervisor direction to ensure data comparability across seasons and sites.
  • Conduct nocturnal surveys and spotlighting, bat acoustic monitoring (deploying and retrieving bat detectors), and amphibian auditory surveys as project needs require, following safety and species-specific protocols.
  • Participate in capture operations requiring chemical immobilization or live-capture methods as an assistant, including monitoring animal vitals, documentation, and compliance with veterinarian and permit conditions.
  • Support community engagement and public outreach efforts such as guided hikes, volunteer training, school presentations, and citizen science coordination to increase public awareness and participation in conservation projects.
  • Assist with boat, canoe, or ATV-based surveys, including sample collection, shoreline habitat assessments, and species counts, while adhering to boater safety and vehicle operation protocols.
  • Implement and follow health and safety plans, including COVID-19 protocols, field emergency procedures, and first aid best practices—carry and maintain field safety equipment and complete required trainings (First Aid/CPR).
  • Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, partner agencies, landowners, and volunteers to coordinate logistics, share data, and achieve project objectives while maintaining professional communication.
  • Support permit applications and reporting by compiling field data, incident logs, and deployment records necessary for state and federal wildlife permits and Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) documentation.
  • Conduct quality assurance checks on datasets, assist with basic statistical summaries and visualization (Excel, R scripts) to highlight preliminary trends for supervisor review.
  • Assist with outreach-focused social media posts, blog entries, and content that documents field activities, species highlights, and conservation outcomes to boost visibility of projects and recruit volunteers.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis for research and management partners.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap by documenting field data flows and recommending improvements to collection protocols.
  • Collaborate with project leads to translate field observations into actionable recommendations for habitat management and species conservation.
  • Participate in project planning meetings, assist in logistical coordination for multi-day field campaigns, and contribute to risk assessments and safety briefings.
  • Train and supervise short-term volunteers and seasonal assistants in safe field methods, species ID, and standardized data collection.
  • Perform light vehicle and equipment maintenance tasks, maintain field stations, and assist with inventory management and ordering of supplies.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Field survey techniques: point counts, transects, nest monitoring, live-trapping, mist-netting assistant experience.
  • Radio telemetry: VHF/UHF tracking, homing techniques, triangulation, and data logging.
  • Remote camera systems: deployment, configuration, maintenance, image retrieval, and basic image sorting.
  • GPS & GIS: proficiency with handheld GPS units, ArcGIS or QGIS for mapping and spatial data management.
  • Data management: accurate data entry, database use (Excel, Google Sheets, Access), data cleaning, and metadata documentation.
  • Basic coding/analysis: familiarity with R or Python for data summarization and visualization preferred.
  • Wildlife handling & sampling: safe capture, handling, sample collection (blood, tissue, swabs), and sample preservation methods under permit conditions.
  • Laboratory basics: sample labeling, chain-of-custody, and simple molecular prep or storage protocols.
  • Vehicle/boat/ATV operation: experience driving 4x4, ATVs, or small boats in field conditions and adherence to safety protocols (where applicable).
  • First Aid & field safety certifications: Wilderness First Aid (WFA), First Aid/CPR certification preferred.
  • Species identification: regional flora and fauna ID skills for target taxa (birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates).
  • Equipment maintenance: battery management, sensor calibration, and preventative maintenance for field gear.
  • Permit compliance & reporting: knowledge of permit documentation, IACUC awareness, and regulatory compliance frameworks.

Soft Skills

  • Strong observational skills with high attention to detail for accurate data collection.
  • Clear written and verbal communication for report writing, stakeholder updates, and public outreach.
  • Teamwork and collaboration: ability to work effectively with diverse teams and volunteers in remote settings.
  • Adaptability and resilience to work in varied weather, remote sites, and unpredictable field conditions.
  • Time management and organization to prioritize sampling schedules and meet project deadlines.
  • Problem solving and critical thinking to troubleshoot equipment and logistical challenges in the field.
  • Cultural sensitivity and interpersonal skills for working with local communities and landowners.
  • Initiative and eagerness to learn—willingness to take on new techniques and expand field competencies.
  • Ethical judgment and commitment to animal welfare, data integrity, and safety protocols.
  • Public engagement skills for leading volunteer days, educational activities, and outreach events.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent; some college coursework in biology, ecology, natural resources, or related field preferred.

Preferred Education:

  • Currently enrolled in or recently completed a Bachelor's degree in Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Environmental Science, Conservation Biology, or related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Wildlife Biology
  • Ecology
  • Conservation Biology
  • Environmental Science
  • Natural Resource Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 0–2 years of field experience; internships and volunteer experience accepted.

Preferred:

  • 1+ seasons of fieldwork experience (wildlife surveys, camera traps, telemetry, trapping), demonstrated coursework or lab experience in ecology, and documented safety/certification training (First Aid/WFA).
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