Internships and Externships
Investing in The Next Generation of Wildlife Conservationists
At the South Florida Wildlife Center, we believe that educating future wildlife professionals is one of the most meaningful ways to protect our natural world. Through hands-on experience, mentorship, and evidence-based training, we strive to inspire the next generation of conservationists, rehabilitators, veterinarians, educators, and environmental leaders. By sharing our knowledge, we hope to leave a lasting legacy that empowers future generations with the skills, compassion, and commitment needed to protect and care for wildlife for years to come.
Our internship program is designed for current college or university students pursuing careers in environmental science, zoology, animal science, wildlife conservation, wildlife biology, pre-veterinary medicine, or related fields. We also welcome recent graduates who have earned their degree within the past six months and are seeking hands-on experience to further develop their professional skills before entering the workforce or continuing their education.
Minimum Age to apply: 18
Time Commitment: Minimum 24 hours per week for 12 weeks.
The Ambassador Animal Care Internship provides students with hands-on experience in the daily husbandry, training support, enrichment, behavioral observation, and educational use of non-releasable ambassador animals. Interns develop practical skills in animal care while learning how ambassador animals contribute to wildlife conservation and public education.
This internship is ideal for students pursuing degrees in Wildlife Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Veterinary, Wildlife Conservation, or related fields.
Minimum Age to apply: 18
Time Commitment: Minimum 24 hours per week for 12 weeks.
COMING SOON!
This internship is ideal for students pursuing degrees in Environmental Education, Environmental Science, Wildlife Conservation, Biology, Ecology, Zoology, Animal Science, Communications, Sustainability, or related fields who are passionate about connecting people with nature through education and outreach.
Minimum Age to apply: 18
Time Commitment: Minimum 24 hours per week for 12 weeks.
This internship is ideal for veterinary technician students seeking wildlife experience, recent vet tech graduates, and wildlife rehabilitators looking to expand their medical knowledge. Interns will work alongside the veterinary team, spending some time with the veterinarian but primarily training with vet assistants. Key learning areas include animal handling, medication administration, patient care, laboratory procedures such as CBCs and fecal exams, and triage of injured, sick, and orphaned wildlife.
This internship is intended for undergraduate students pursuing degrees in Veterinary Medicine.
Minimum Age to apply: 18
Time Commitment: Minimum 24 hours per week for 12 weeks.
The Wildlife Nursery Internship focuses on the care of orphaned wildlife requiring specialized feeding, developmental monitoring, and husbandry. Interns learn age-specific care techniques and the unique challenges associated with raising wildlife for eventual release.
This internship is designed for students pursuing degrees in Wildlife Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife Rehabilitation, Biology, or related fields who are passionate about the hands-on care, husbandry, and rehabilitation of orphaned native wildlife.
Minimum Age to apply: 18
Time Commitment: Minimum 24 hours per week for 12 weeks.
The Public Relations & Development Internship provides hands-on experience in nonprofit communications, public relations, fundraising, donor stewardship, and community engagement. Interns work closely with the Executive Director and Development Department to support organizational messaging, fundraising campaigns, donor communications, media relations, special events, and conservation storytelling.
This internship is designed for students interested in careers in public relations, communications, nonprofit management, fundraising, marketing, community relations, and environmental advocacy.
Minimum Age to apply: 18
Time Commitment: Minimum 24 hours per week for 12 weeks.
The Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship provides hands-on experience in the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of native Florida wildlife. Interns work alongside licensed wildlife rehabilitators to develop practical skills in animal care, husbandry, species identification, nutrition, enclosure management, and rehabilitation techniques.
This internship is ideal for students pursuing degrees in Wildlife Biology, Zoology, Animal Science, Wildlife Conservation, Biology, or related fields who are interested in gaining hands-on experience in wildlife rehabilitation, animal husbandry, patient care, and conservation medicine.
Are you ready to join our team? Click below to apply today!
Veterinary Medicine Externship Program
The South Florida Wildlife Center is proud to host veterinary externs from universities not only in the United States but also from around the world, providing an immersive clinical experience in one of the nation’s busiest wildlife rehabilitation hospitals. Under the mentorship of our Medical Director, Dr. Molly Horgan, and her experienced team, externs gain hands-on training in wildlife medicine, surgery, diagnostics, anesthesia, triage, and rehabilitation while working with a diverse range of native Florida wildlife.
Unlike our internship program, the Veterinary Medicine Externship is specifically designed for students in the final two years of a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program or recent veterinary medicine graduates seeking advanced clinical experience in wildlife medicine. This rigorous rotation allows participants to apply their veterinary knowledge in a high-volume wildlife hospital while learning from experienced wildlife veterinarians dedicated to advancing the field of conservation medicine.
Duties: See position descriptionĀ here.
Minimum Age to apply: 18
Time Commitment: Minimum 40 hours per week for 3 weeks.
Questions can be sent to our Medical Director, Dr. Horgan at mhorgan@southfloridawildlifecenter.org.Ā