Jul 11, 2022

Intern Q&A: Why Apply for a Wildlife Internship?

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We asked DCHS's Wildlife Center interns: What inspired you to apply for this wildlife internship and what are you hoping to learn? Below are their answers.

“I was inspired to apply for this internship because of the great opportunity it presents its interns. When I was in high school, I wanted to be a veterinarian, but then looked at what a wildlife major presented instead – I fell in love. I knew I didn’t want to work in a zoo, but I was not sure what else I wanted to do. Then I saw an email from my advisor for a DCHS wildlife rehabilitation internship and looked it up. I was so excited to apply because everything I had done in the past was research-based and I wanted to try something different. Something that was still hands on, kept me busy, and allowed me to work with wildlife. I hope that I am able to incorporate this internship into my possible future career. I hope to gain skills in handling and treating wildlife, to eventually get my rehabilitation license.”

– Kursha Baier

Top photo: Summer wildlife rehabilitation interns Allie, Kursha, and Maddie (left to right) learn from licensed staff Logan how to extract turtle eggs. Above: Summer wildlife rehabilitation intern Macy gives subcutaneous fluids to a hatchling songbird.

“There are numerous reasons why I wanted to be an Intern at Dane County Humane Society’s Wildlife Center. I have dreamed of being a veterinarian since I was in kindergarten. So, I joined UW-Madison’s Pre-Vet Club, where I heard about this opportunity. Although I knew I wanted to be a veterinarian, I was still unsure what kind of medicine I wanted to go into. I have had lots of experience in small animal medicine, which I loved, but I was eager to learn about working with different types of animals. Wild animals are something I have hardly any knowledge about, and I feel it is essential to learn about multiple types of vet medicine in order to be able to make a decision regarding my future specialty. I also want to help animals in every way I can and give them the voice they don’t have themselves. These wild animals most often fall into the care of wildlife rehab facilities due to human-made causes. This has never sat right with me, and I wanted to be a part of something that works to make this issue right. Additionally, I have always been very passionate about community education, even when working in small animal medicine. So, after looking further into DCHS, I was really excited to be able to be a part of providing
community members with a greater knowledge of how to help animals.”

– Macy Shaul

Summer wildlife rehabilitation intern Sagarika gives subcutaneous fluids to a hatchling wood duck.

“Through this internship, I would like to learn how to treat and rehabilitate a large variety of animals. At the moment, I have the most experience with mammals. I have two rabbits at home, and because of this, I have some experience giving medication like meloxicam. I don’t have much experience with reptiles and raptors, but I would love to learn more about these groups. I would also like to learn how to handle fast-paced working environments, since I know this will probably be something I will be facing in my future as a veterinarian. I am also looking forward to working in a big team! I know that teamwork and communication are important in this field, and since we have such a great team here, I know I can learn how to be a great team member.”

– Sagarika Pal

Are you interested in sponsoring a future internship with DCHS's Wildlife Center? If so, either click the button below or contact Amy Good, DCHS Director of Development, at agood@giveshelter.org.

Sponsor an Internship

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