2026 Marine Mammal Rescue and Rehabilitation Spring Internship - 1 spot available

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, which is January through July.

Spring Session (window) = March 16th through June 21st [Minimum 10 weeks @ 5 (8 hour) days / week - up to 12 weeks @ 4 (8 hour) days / week]

Time Commitment: 32-40 hours per week

Summary/Program Description

The California Wildlife Center (CWC) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured, orphaned, and sick native wildlife. CWC fulfills this mission through marine mammal rescue and rehabilitation, and treatment of avian and terrestrial wildlife in our rehabilitation hospital. This internship will provide an exciting and challenging educational experience in the marine mammal rehabilitation field. Working closely with the Marine Mammal program staff, individuals are exposed to various aspects of pinniped stranding response and rehabilitation, including logistics, assessment, capture, restraint, transportation, husbandry, data collection, and public relations. On-site we provide care for young California sea lions and Northern elephant seal pups.

Intern Responsibilities

Under supervision of Marine Mammal staff, experiences will include:

Assessing stranded marine mammals on the beach
Assisting or lead 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 and Marine Birds and explore their life history.
Rescue injured native marine birds.
Assisting with marine mammal necropsy and sample collection.

Spring Session focus is primarily on rescue and in-house rehabilitation of Northern elephant seal pups. During the spring months, all rescues above our capacity are stabilized then transported to partner centers for continued care. *Spring stranding months are the busiest and most demanding.

Qualifications

This 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 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. Previous marine mammal experience is not required.

Housing and transportation are the sole responsibility of the intern. The applicant must have their own transportation and current drivers’ license.

To apply - Submit the following items via email to:
Heather Henderson / hhenderson@cawildlife.org

Letter of intent
Resume
Proof of COVID Vaccination

Your letter of intent should include when you are able to start (in March or April) and confirm that you can fulfill a 10-12 week session. Also detail your specific areas of interest.

Please visit our website for more information about the programs at CWC: : http://cawildlife.org/volunteer/internshipsexternshipspreceptorships/

Heather Henderson

Marine Program Manager

California Wildlife Center

P.O. Box 2022

Malibu CA 90265

310/458-WILD (9453)

cawildlife.org ||