California Wildlife Center is excited to announce internship sessions for the upcoming 2024 stranding season!  California Wildlife Center is in Calabasas, California, and responds to reports of stranded marine mammals 365 days a year along the Malibu Coastline.  Our pinniped rehabilitation facility is active during the region’s period of highest strandings.   

Winter Session – one position                          December 18^th, 2023, through February 4^th, 2024 

Spring Session – three positions                      March 3^rd through May 25^th, 2024 

Summer Session – one position                       May 26^th through August 10^th, 2024 

 

Time Commitment:            28-32 hours per week  

Summary/Program Description

The California Wildlife Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured, orphaned, and sick native wildlife.  CWC provides hands-on training to prepare interns for the intensely rewarding experience of Marine Mammal Rescue & Rehabilitation.  Marine Program interns assist in the response and rescue of seals, sea lions, dolphins, whales, and sea birds. Interns also assist in the rehabilitation of Northern Elephant Seal and California Sea Lion pups. 

Intern Responsibilities 

Under supervision of Marine Mammal staff, experiences will include:  

• Assessing stranded marine mammals on the beach 
• Assisting or leading responder teams in the capture and handling of stranded marine mammals requiring rescue 
• Providing appropriate transport conditions for stranded marine mammals to the rehabilitation facility 
• Maintaining detailed records of daily activity reports of stranding, human interaction, and patient health status  
• Performing daily husbandry tasks for pinniped patients admitted to the rehabilitation facility 
• Working closely with Marine Mammal department staff to provide patient-specific rehabilitative care 
• Adhering to all safety guidelines set forth by California Wildlife Center and the Marine Mammal Department 
• Participating in releases of healthy marine mammal patients back to their Pacific Ocean home 
• Maintaining good rapport with representatives of various public agencies, as well as members of the public 
• Learning to identify native species of Marine Mammals / Marine Birds and exploring their life history  
• Assisting with marine mammal necropsy and sample collection 
  

  
  

The internship is open to all applicants at least 18 years of age or older. Undergraduate students and non-students alike are encouraged to apply.  If an intern intends to receive academic credit, they will be responsible for making all arrangements with their educational institutions.  Due to the unpredictable nature of marine mammal stranding response, interns may be requested to work beyond their normal scheduled hours.   Interns must be able and willing to work flexible hours including weekends and holidays.  Interns will be required to have good physical strength and the ability to lift/carry 50 lbs. Interns need to have the ability to multitask and work in a fast-paced environment.  Animal care and/or marine mammal experience is not required.   

Heather Henderson Marine Program Manager California Wildlife Center P.O. Box 2022 Malibu CA 90265 310/458-WILD (9453) cawildlife.org ||