Careers - Internships

Location: Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center (FMASSC) New Orleans, LA

Department: Husbandry

Sessions:
Summer:
May (or June) - Aug 2023 (applications due Jan 31, 2023)

Fall: Aug - Nov 2023
(applications due May 31, 2023)

Winter:
Nov 2023 - Feb 2024
(applications due July 31, 2023)

Spring:
March - May 2024
(applications due Oct 1, 2023)

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 a breeding and conservation facility run by Audubon Nature Institute. It is a unique piece of property that expands approximately 1,000 acres in an area south of downtown New Orleans and is closed to the general public. The FMASSC is known for its endangered Crane Recovery Center and ungulate sustainability programs. The ungulate habitats are natural and include a variety of species, such as giraffe, okapi, eland, bongo, sitatunga, duiker, and barasingha. 

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 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 if needed.

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, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 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.