Wildlife Husbandry Internship

Program overview

Commitment Length: 6 months

• Winter Term: January – June
• Summer Term: July – December

From carnivores to antelope species, learn husbandry skills while providing direct care to a range of wildlife in human care. This internship offers direct experience working alongside staff in all aspects of daily care, supporting our conservation work. Housing provided.

Program details

Gain hands-on experience and launch your career in animal husbandry,

learning side-by-side with expert wildlife specialists at White Oak!

Nestled along the St. Mary's River in mixed wetland and forest habitats, White

Oak is an expansive working conservation facility focused on species

recovery, education, and habitat restoration. White Oak has an impressive

track record of rehabilitation and reintroduction programs, including work with

Florida grasshopper sparrows, Florida panthers, and Mississippi sandhill

cranes. White Oak is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and

Aquariums (AZA).

Interns provide 40 hours of service per week, and must be available for the

duration of the internship. Interns receive on-site housing and a monthly

stipend. We are proud to have a high graduation rate of interns moving on to

full-time roles as zookeepers or wildlife biologists with conservation

organizations through this internship program.

Interns are provided with a variety of projects designed to give the technical

skills and knowledge that makes them well qualified candidates for a variety of

roles across conservation facilities such as:

Wildlife Husbandry

Internship

Apply Here!

Career-Ready Skills & Learning Opportunities

Study animal behavior, provide daily care, learn applied conservation skills and

support herd management of wildlife in large habitats that keeps wildlife wild.

Animal husbandry skills including cleaning, feeding, diet prep, diet stocking and

organization

Knowledge of different animal behaviors, including identifying vocalizations, body

language/postures, reproductive behaviors, and social dynamics

Safe animal capture, hand restraint, and transportation

Habitat maintenance including landscaping and fabrication

Basic research skills in observation training, sample collection, note taking and

reporting

Medicating and tracking health outcomes of animals in collaboration with our

veterinary team

Observation of advanced veterinary care practices, procedures and necropsy

Cross training on days off, or as opportunities arise

Elephant Team

Carnivore Team

Rhino & Ungulate Team (2 Roles Available)

Conservation and Recovery Department (CaRD)

Ossicones, antlers and horns,oh my! White Oak's Rhino & Ungulate

Teams care for a variety of species including white, black, and greater

one-horned rhinos, giraffe, okapi, exotic equids and a variety of antelope and

gazelle species. Interns learn animal care hands-on from day one, working

with some of the largest populations of these imperiled species. Specialized

skills in herd management, manual restraint, neonate care, animal

introductions and animal body language are available to high- achieving

interns in the program.

Wild about winged things? White Oak's CaRD team provides interns with

species recovery programs that focus on avian species, including cranes,

sparrow and cassowary species. Interns help with catch-ups, breeding

programs, reintroduction work and more. Specialized skills in conservation,

reintroduction programs, artificial incubation, research, controlled burn

procedures and insect management are available to high-achieving interns in

the program.

Spots or stripes? Pick both! White Oak's Carnivore Team cares for

carnivores species such as Florida panthers and tigers, and manages one of

the largest and most successful cheetah breeding programs in North

America. Interns learn a variety of skills in carnivore care and behaviors.

Specialized skills in animal identification, carnivore diet prep, breeding

behaviors, shifting techniques, real-time problem solving and behavioral

conditioning are available to high-achieving interns in the program.

Do you feel at home with the herd? White Oak's elephant team proudly

cares for one of the largest populations of Asian elephants in the Western

hemisphere. Interns should have a clear or growing interest in elephant

husbandry and operant conditioning. Specialized skills in animal

management, observing operant conditioning training sessions and bathing

elephants, learning social dynamics and novel elephant behavior are

available to high-achieving interns in the program.

Interns select which teams they wish to intern with as part of the application

process. Available internship placements are detailed below.

Wildlife Husbandry

Internship

All Wildlife Husbandry Internships have a commitment length of 6 months.

Applications must be submitted online. Incomplete applications, or

applications submitted outside of a recruitment window, will not be considered.

Winter Term: January - June

Applications open in September

Summer Term: July - December

Applications open in February

Interns receive on-site housing during the internship. Housing is not available

for spouses/partners/dependents. Pet housing is on a case-by-case basis,

and restricted to animals that can be housed in small aquariums/tanks.

Furniture, linens, towels and kitchen supplies including cookware, flatware,

and dishes are provided. Interns will be assigned weekly chores, and may be

assigned a roommate of the same gender. Questions? Please email

Training@white-oak.org for assistance.

Wildlife Husbandry

Internship

Application Dates & Housing Information

Eligibility Requirements

Preference for applicants with a strong career interest in animal husbandry, zookeeping,

wildlife biology or similar job field

Preference for recent college graduates or early career professionals

Hold a valid driver’s license and health insurance

Able to pass a drug test upon starting

Legally able to work in the United States (US Citizen, Permanent Resident, or hold an

Employment Authorization Document)

Able to work well independently and in a team environment

Able to work evenings, weekends and holidays

Have previous experience working with animals, domestic or exotic (internships and/or

volunteer work counts!)

Experienced and comfortable working outside in high heat and humidity Strong

attention to detail and data management skills

High drive to learn, take on challenges, and stay motivated

Be flexible to changing environments, priorities, or animal care needs

Able to lift 50 lbs. repetitively, and remain standing, walking or crouched over for long

periods of time

Able to work 40 hours per week for the duration of the internship

Documentation of current TB test, or completion of TB-testing prior to start date

(Elephant Interns only.)

Apply Here!