Bat Care Intern
Austin Bat Refuge is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization led by veteran bat rehabilitators Dianne Odegard and Lee Mackenzie. Founded in 2015, our mission is to promote respect for bats and their place in the environment through rehabilitation and release, community education, and conflict resolution. We care for over 400 bats each year, providing them the resources and care they require to recover from injury and be released back to the wild. Bats that cannot be released live out their natural lives without fear or suffering, with the best environment, food, and medicine possible.
In the summer, many of the bats brought to our facility are pups, which require more frequent feedings than adult bats. We’re looking for Bat Care Interns to help us rehabilitate bats during pup season, May through September. Interns will work on-site at our facility in central Austin, two miles east of UT. They must be over 18.
To apply for this position, please send a resume and a cover letter, including your preferred start date, to info@austinbatrefuge.org.
Job Responsibilities:
- Feed pups and adult bats according to feeding procedures and sanitation protocols
- Record the care given to bats in a rehabilitation database
- Examine bats to identify potential health issues, and alert the Refuge Manager of any findings
- Clean bat habitats, including bedding, water, and food bowls
- Wash dishes and laundry as needed
Interns will work part-time for 12 consecutive weeks and receive a $4,320 stipend. We are trying to fill two terms, one with a start date in late May or early June, and the other with a start date in late June or early July. Interns must work at our facility five days a week for a total of 20 hours per week, and they may be required to work some holidays and weekends. Each intern will receive five days of paid time off.
Qualifications:
- Love of animals, particularly bats
- Adherence to established policies and procedures at all times
- Ability to work calmly and efficiently in a fast-paced environment
- Attention to detail, especially physical or behavioral anomalies in the bats
- Documentation skills
- Rabies pre-exposure vaccinations: We are happy to advise the selected candidates on how to acquire this vaccination at the lowest cost to them. Candidates who are already vaccinated will need to provide the results of a rabies titer check done within the last year, unless they received the vaccine less than a year ago.
- Ability to lift and carry 20 pounds and to climb an eight-foot step ladder
Hazards:
Interns will work outside during the Texas summer, so they will be exposed to high temperatures and mosquitoes. We offer many protections against these hazards, including bug-repellent clothing, bug spray, misters, fans, and required breaks during shifts. Climbing an eight-foot ladder is also a regular part of the job.
To apply for this position, please send a resume and a cover letter, including your preferred start date, to info@austinbatrefuge.org.
Timeline
February 22: Post job and reach out to candidates on a rolling basis.
March 15-April 5: Interview Period. Initial screening interview, then one-hour interview with serious candidates.
April 15: Last day to make an offer.
May 1-15: Do a four-hour paid training day with interns. Cover how bat species differ in appearance, preferred hold, ecology, etc. Show them where things are at the facility.
May 22: Interns’ first day
August 18: Interns’ last day
Other Positions
Austin Bat Refuge is a small but mighty nonprofit that does many things: wildlife rehabilitation, public education, and conflict resolution.
No other positions are open at this time. However, there may be other staff positions open in the future. If you are interested in working with us in some other capacity, please go ahead and send a resume and cover letter to info@austinbatrefuge.org. You can also apply to volunteer. Volunteering is a great way to get your foot in the door for future positions.