Main Office: 541-230-1220 | Wildlife Hotline: 541-745-5324
Wildlife Hospital very busy: please call hotline before bringing in an animal
Intern at Chintimini Wildlife Center
We are excited to offer several internship opportunities in our education and animal care programs. Our internships are an exciting opportunity for students and emerging wildlife professionals to build important skills and make connections in the realm of wildlife rehabilitation and education.
Unfortunately, we are not able to accommodate requests for specialized internships at this time. Please apply for only one internship program per term. For full consideration, all interns must attend a mandatory orientation. Must be 18 years of age or older to apply.
Wildlife Care Internship
We are seeking multiple Wildlife Care Interns to join our wildlife rehabilitation team for the summer term. Our Wildlife Hospital operates on about 5 acres and admits around 2,000 injured and orphaned wild animals each year from Benton County and the surrounding area. Interns work with our Wildlife Rehabilitation Staff to provide care to rehabilitation patients in our clinic. Duties include many aspects animal husbandry such as diet preparation, cleaning enclosures, assisting staff with patient treatments and other procedures, and more.
Schedule: Our Wildlife Hospital is open seven day a week, 365 days a year. Interns will report to work at Chintimini Wildlife Center for two or more of our scheduled 6-hour shifts per week and perform animal care activities onsite. Our morning shift runs from 8am – 2pm, and our afternoon shift runs from 3pm – 9pm. Internships last approximately 12 weeks and closely follow the Oregon State University academic calendar.
Anticipated start date: Spring term begins April 3, 2023
Mandatory orientation date: Thursday, March 30th, 2023
Reports to: Wildlife Rehabilitation Staff
Compensation: These are unpaid volunteer positions
Application Accepted: January 23rd, 2023 – February 10th, 2023
Birds of Prey Internship
We are seeking 1-2 Birds of Prey Interns to join our raptor education team for the summer term. Our Raptor Education Program operates on a 5-acre nature center and is home to a dozen non-releasable avian species, or “Raptor Ambassadors.” Intern will work with our Raptor Education team to provide care, training, and enrichment to our avian ambassadors. Duties include many aspects animal husbandry such as diet preparation, cleaning enclosures, assisting staff with educational outreach, and more.
Schedule: Our Wildlife Center is open seven day a week, 365 days a year. Intern will report to work at Chintimini Wildlife Center for three or more of our scheduled 4-hour shifts per week and perform animal care activities onsite. Shift times are flexible but are typically 10am – 2pm. Internships last approximately 12 weeks and closely follow the Oregon State University academic calendar.
Anticipated start date: Winter term begins January 9th, 2023
Mandatory orientation date: Friday, January 6th, 2023
Reports to: Program Director
Compensation: These are unpaid volunteer positions
Applications accepted: November 7th, 2022- November 21st, 2022
Communications & Development Internship
We are seeking a Communications & Development Intern to support our development, marketing, and communications efforts. This internship is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in various aspects of running a nonprofit organization. You will have the opportunity to observe the many facets of what make our wildlife center special, and work alongside a team of passionate and friendly people. This is a NEW position (and we are so excited)!
Schedule: Intern is required to work 12 hours per week (typically Mon-Fri) with some scheduling flexibility to accommodate school and/or work schedules. This is a 6-month, unpaid internship.
Intern duties will be performed at Chintimini’s 9.4-acre property located in Corvallis, OR. Reliable daily transportation is required.
Anticipated start date: Fall term begins September 12, 2022
Mandatory orientation date: Thursday, September 8th
Reports to: Director of Development & Communications
Compensation: These are unpaid volunteer positions
Applications accepted: July 18th – July 31st
2022 Hiring Schedule
Dates are approximate and subject to change
Winter 2022:
Application accepted Nov 7th – Nov 21st
Available for Birds of Prey positions only
Mandatory orientation: January 6th, 2023
Spring 2023: April 3 – June 18
Applications accepted Jan 23rd – Feb 10th
Mandatory orientation: March 30, 2022
Summer 2023: June 10 – Sept 3
Applications accepted Apr 10th – April 28th
Mandatory orientation: June 15, 2022
Fall 2023: TBD
Wildlife Care Internship
Bird of Prey Internship
Wildlife Care interns assist Rehab Staff in our wildlife hospital. Interns will help to provide care to our more critical patients and young orphans. Diet prep, cage cleaning & setup, administering medications, and assisting with patient admissions/evaluations are at the forefront of the internship experience.
Animal admissions fluctuate with the seasons, which helps to create a unique experience with every term we offer. In the spring we receive an influx of young orphans, such as baby raccoons, squirrels, and songbirds. In the fall or winter, we have a much lower patient load and tend to admit emaciated raptors or collision with vehicle mammals. While there are plenty of basics to master, there is always something new to learn and experience.
Wildlife Care Internships last approximately 12 weeks and can occasionally be accommodated for up to one year. Interns will report to work at Chintimini Wildlife Center for two or more 4-6 hour shifts per week (depending on the season) and perform animal care activities on-site.
Bird of Prey (BOP) interns work directly with our avian ambassadors, tending to their daily care, training, and enrichment. Interns conduct educational programs both on- and off-site, providing engaging presentations to diverse groups within our county and surrounding areas. You’ll gain valuable skills in animal husbandry, raptor training, and public speaking, and will assist the Raptor Education Program Director as needed. Using positive reinforcement, interns help staff build and maintain a trusting relationship that empowers the birds, increases their confidence, and keeps them healthy.
Interns may include a self-directed project at the discretion of the Program Director.
Birds of Prey internships last approximately 12 weeks and can occasionally be extended one additional term. Interns will report to work at Chintimini Wildlife Center for three or more 4-hour shifts per week and perform animal care activities on-site. Some travel will be required if interns are performing off-site programming.
“This internship is a perfect fit for me and is accommodating enough for anyone else I can imagine participating in it in the future. I am learning skills that I will use in my future veterinary career and learning about the everyday and special efforts required to interact with and help wild animals. I’ve been so lucky to spend one on one time with the experts and passionate volunteers at Chintimini. I know this internship will become more and more competitive as word is spread. I feel really lucky to participate in it.”
Annabelle Geisler, Winter 2019 Wildlife Care Intern
“I just really love working for the center. I love all the people I work with and I feel so fulfilled being able to care for all of our animals in their most vulnerable states. Thank you for giving me this opportunity.”
Kira Burkett, Summer & Fall 2019 Wildlife Care Intern
“Going into the Birds of Prey internship was one of the best decisions of my life. It provided me with amazing hands-on experience with the daily care, training, and education around raptor ambassadors. Additionally, Bree and Kathleen are exceptional supervisors, and their continuous support of my intern goals helped me grow as a both zoologist and a person. Even without that though, getting to know the unique birds housed at this facility is worth it by itself (Pip the one-eyed Red-tailed Hawk is definitely the bestest boy in the whole world). I would definitely recommend anyone wanting to have a career in wildlife to apply for this internship! It has absolutely changed my life!”
Rachel Martin, 2021 Birds of Prey Intern