Whatcom Humane Society Wildlife Rehab Intern

From March 22nd to June 12th, I interned at the Whatcom Humane Society’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, located off Mission Road in Bellingham, Washington. The center is dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of injured, orphaned, and sick native wildlife. During this 13-week internship, I worked roughly 30 hours per week through three 10-hour shifts, on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. My role was hands-on and physically demanding, involving a wide range of responsibilities that included assisting with animal intakes, triage, daily care routines, medication administration, feeding, enclosure cleaning, and the release of rehabilitated wildlife. Throughout this internship, I was able to gain professional-level experience in wildlife rehabilitation, enhance my ability to work safely and compassionately with wild animals, learn proper animal handling and care techniques, and develop strong communication, organizational, and teamwork skills. This internship prepared me for the physical and emotional demands of working in a fast-paced, high-stress environment dedicated to animal welfare and conservation.