Internship Opportunities
The Florida Wildlife Hospital offers unique internship opportunities for college students with an interest in native Florida wildlife. Please note, these opportunities are unpaid.
Some colleges and universities allow internships to count towards course credits, but each have slightly different requirements. Please indicate on the application form if you wish to complete the internship for course credits, so that we can discuss this further with those who are selected for the positions.
General Requirements
- Understanding and demonstration of our mission: “Keeping wildlife wild by providing quality, compassionate care”.
- Must be 18 years of age or older.
- Have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
- Enrolled or recently graduated in a related college subject matter (biology, ecology, zoology, environmental science, education, etc.)
- Be willing to work a schedule including weekends, holidays, and all-weather conditions.
- Be in good physical condition with the ability to lift at least 50lbs; able to bend, stoop, and crawl.
- Possess good communication skills, a positive attitude, able to follow directions, and work as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
- Must provide proof of a current tetanus vaccination.
- A rabies vaccination is not required, though it is preferred.
- No peanut/nut allergies or cleaning chemical sensitivities.
- Please note: individual internships may have additional requirements.
Schedule
We offer both part time (~20 hours per week) and full time (~40 hours per week) internships. Preference will be given to full time interns during the summer semester. We will contact all applicants who submitted a complete application shortly after the application deadline to schedule interviews.
Spring Part-time Internships
Application deadline: November 15th
12-week commitment
Start Month: January | End Month: April
Summer Full-time Internships
Application deadline: March 15th
12-week commitment
Start Month: May | End Month: August
Fall Part-time Internships
Application deadline: July 15th
12-week commitment
Start Month: September | End Month: December
Internship Descriptions
About the Internship
Interns will:
Gain hands-on experience in wildlife rehabilitation through animal husbandry and daily care. Interns learn to identify native species, prepare species-appropriate diets, maintain enclosures, monitor animal health and behavior, and assist with treatments under supervision. Summer interns rotate through Nursery, CCU/Treatment, and Outside Enclosures; Spring and Fall interns work primarily in the Nursery.
Requirements
Applicants should:
- Have a willingness to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.
- Commitment to essential daily tasks such as cleaning, laundry, dishwashing, and enclosure maintenance.
- Comfort working with sick, injured, and orphaned wildlife.
- Emotional maturity to cope with animal illness, death, and humane euthanasia when necessary.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Skills Gained
By the end of the internship, participants will have developed practical experience in:
- Wildlife species identification and animal husbandry
- Wildlife nutrition and diet preparation
- Enclosure setup, maintenance, and sanitation
- Animal observation and behavior monitoring
- Safe wildlife handling techniques
- Teamwork, communication, and professionalism
- Time management, organization, and attention to detail
- Understanding of wildlife rehabilitation practices, ethics, and conservation
About the Internship
This unique internship combines hands-on experience in nonprofit operations with wildlife education and community outreach. Interns will gain insight into how a nonprofit wildlife hospital operates while developing skills in animal husbandry, public education, and volunteer management.
Interns will:
- Learn the day-to-day operations of a nonprofit wildlife hospital.
- Learn species-specific information about native Florida wildlife and techniques for educating the public about wildlife conservation.
- Assist with the care, training, enrichment, and husbandry of educational ambassador animals.
- Participate in educational programs and outreach events at schools, festivals, scout meetings, retirement communities, and other public venues.
- Develop public speaking and curriculum design skills by creating and presenting educational programs to audiences ranging from small groups to more than 100 participants.
- Gain experience with volunteer management software systems.
Requirements
Applicants should:
- Demonstrate excellent customer service and communication skills.
- Be self-motivated, detail-oriented, and capable of working independently.
- Be comfortable with public speaking and interacting with diverse audiences.
- Be proficient with computers, including email and Microsoft Office applications.
- Willingness to work indoors and outdoors in varying weather conditions.
Skills Gained
By the end of the internship, participants will have developed practical experience in:
- Wildlife education and interpretation
- Public speaking and curriculum development
- Ambassador animal care and enrichment
- Professional communication and customer service
- Volunteer management
- Community outreach
*We are not accepting research interns in 2026*
About the Internship
Interns will:
- Learn more about Florida’s native wildlife through the stories their lives tell us.
- Gain exposure to wildlife conservation and animal-related educational experiences.
Requirements
Applicants should:
- Be comfortable with graphic circumstances involving animals, as exposure to such situations is unavoidable.
Skills Gained
By the end of the internship, participants will have developed practical experience in:
- Knowledge of Florida’s native wildlife and ecosystems.
- Understanding of wildlife life histories and behaviors.
- Increased awareness of conservation and animal welfare issues.
- Ability to handle emotionally challenging situations in a professional environment.
About the Internship
Interns will:
- Learn about Florida’s native wildlife and wildlife rehabilitation.
- Gain experience conducting diagnostic tests.
- Learn how to prepare and provide nutritious diets for wildlife patients.
- Observe and assist with treatments for animal injuries and illnesses.
- Work alongside a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and veterinary technicians.
- Have opportunities to observe veterinary rounds conducted by Brevard Zoo veterinarians.
Requirements
Applicants should:
- Be currently enrolled in a veterinary technician program, recently graduated from a veterinary technician program, or have prior work experience as a veterinary technician.
- If applying the internship toward school credit, applicants should notify the organization to ensure program requirements are met.
- Must be comfortable with euthanasia as part of wildlife rehabilitation work.
- Must be able to handle emotionally challenging situations involving sick, injured, orphaned, or non-releasable wildlife.
Skills Gained
By the end of the internship, participants will have developed practical experience in:
- Wildlife rehabilitation and animal care techniques.
- Veterinary diagnostic testing skills.
- Animal nutrition and diet preparation.
- Treatment and monitoring of wildlife injuries and illnesses.
- Experience working with veterinary professionals in a clinical setting.
- Understanding of rehabilitation decision-making, including animal welfare and euthanasia considerations.
- Professional experience in wildlife medicine and veterinary technology.
If you are currently enrolled in an AVMA-accredited DVM/VMD program (3rd/4th year) and are interested in completing your vet externship at the Florida Wildlife Hospital, please email your resume, cover letter, and a letter of reference to [email protected].
