Hoofstock Intern (Species Survival Center)
Location: Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center (FMASSC) New Orleans, LA
Department: Husbandry
Dates of Position:
Spring: Jan/Feb - April
Summer: May/June - August
Fall: August/Sept - October
Winter: Oct/Nov- January
Application due dates:
Spring 2022 Session: Due October 1, 2021
Summer 2022 Session: Due February 1, 2022
Fall 2022 Session: Due June 1, 2022
Winter 2022 Session: Due August 1, 2022
Time Commitment:
12 Weeks (3 months): Works 5 days per week (40 hrs). Including weekends and holidays.
About the Species Survival Center:
The Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center (FMASSC) is one of the facilities run by the Audubon Nature Institute. It is a unique piece of property that expands approximately 1,000 acres in an area south of downtown New Orleans. The FMASSC is historically known for its innovative research in exotic feline reproduction at its research facility, the “Audubon Center for Research of Endangered Species (ACRES),” and its endangered Crane Recovery Programs. Currently FMASSC runs several programs, including; the Coastal Wildlife Network, which rehabilitates sea turtles and marine mammals; the Crane Recovery Programs, which breeds and releases endangered whooping crane and Mississippi sandhill cranes; the G.U.L.F. Program, which works with sustainable fishery projects in the Gulf of Mexico; and the most recent, the Alliance for Sustainable Wildlife (ASW). The Alliance for Sustainable Wildlife is the new partnership between Audubon Nature Institute and San Diego Zoo Global; its mission to become a large breeding center for endangered species of hoofstock and birds.
Summary of Position:
Interns will gain valuable hands-on experience working with a variety of exotic hoofstock species at this AZA certified facility. The internship will emphasize husbandry of hoofstock, but may also include experience with exotic carnivores and bird species. Interns will gain experience in husbandry, enrichment, record keeping, diet preparation, monitoring animal behavior, pen design and maintenance, and veterinary procedures as they relate to general animal care. Interns will spend the internship rotating through different animal areas and working on project pertaining to animal husbandry. All interns will also have the opportunity to visit the Audubon Zoo, Aquarium, Insectarium and occasionally the Mississippi Sandhill Crane Refuge. This internship is unpaid and free housing is available upon a limited basis.
Duties and Responsibilities:
Daily tasks include:
- Diet preparation
- Feeding
- Cleaning enclosures (raking, sweeping, mopping, hosing etc.)
- Behavioral observations
- Facility maintenance (fence repair, mowing, weed eating, painting, etc.)
- Preparation and administering of enrichment items
- Assist staff with veterinary procedures when required
- Record keeping
Requirements:
- Must be over 18 years of age
- Strong interest in animal care, husbandry and conservation
- Capable of accurately following written and verbal directions, policies and protocols
- Good attitude
- Ability to work alone or as part of a team
- Ability to work outdoors in physically demanding adverse conditions (heat, humidity, rain, mosquitoes, poison ivy, etc.)
- Up-to-date tetanus vaccination.
- Proof of negative TB skin test prior to beginning work.
- Must be able to pass a background check and drug test.
How to Apply:
Send the following to Michelle Hatwood, MHatwood@auduboninstitute.org, by the application deadlines listed at the top of the page.
- Cover letter- State which internship session you are applying for in your cover letter
- Resumé
- 3 Reference contacts
In the event their preferred placement has been filled, qualified applicants may be referred to other Audubon departments. By submitting application materials, the candidate agrees to release their information to our internship staff.
