Position Description:
You too can make a difference in our world. The work of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is meaningful and varied. In this internship position, you will have the unique opportunity to support two programs of the Service: the Rhode Island National Wildlife Refuge Complex and the Southern New England Coastal Program. These program offices are co-located at the Kettle Pond Visitor Center in Charlestown, RI. Staff from these programs regularly work together to support the conservation priorities of the agency. Duties will vary, but will likely include the following:
- Assist wildlife biologists with the captive breeding and release program for the at-risk New England cottontail (Slyvilagus transitionalis). Activities may include transporting rabbits from a captive breeding facility to an acclimation pen, monitoring rabbits in the acclimation pen via trail cameras and trapping, providing food and water during the acclimation period, and tracking rabbits using radiotelemetry upon their release into the wild. Training will be provided and all handling of rabbits will be supervised, but experience with trapping and handling mammals is a plus.
- Conduct bat surveys using acoustic detectors. These surveys are done in the evening, beginning around dusk and take approximately 3-4 hours to complete. Using an ANABAT detector affixed to a vehicle, transects are driven at a slow pace to detect and record nearby bats. The data collected during these surveys is later analyzed to determine the species and abundance of bats present in the surveyed area and track population trends over time.
- Support staff as needed with education and outreach efforts related, but not limited to, the above-listed projects. Opportunities to support environmental education programs such as the Schoolyard Habitat Program and Urban Refuge Partnerships may also be available. For more information, visit https://www.fws.gov/northeast/cpwn/schoolyardhabitat.html
- Assisting with various other tasks as needed such as vegetation surveys, invasive plant removal, trail maintenance, filing, and data entry.
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Location: Charlestown, RI
Dates of the internship: June – September (exact dates are flexible)
Contact information: Cindy Corsair, Fish and Wildlife Biologist
USFWS Southern New England Coastal Program
50 Bend Rd. Charlestown, RI 02813
401-213-4416
Housing/transportation situation: Housing is not provided. A government vehicle will be available for use while on official duty, but personal transportation will likely be necessary to commute to and from the office. A valid driver’s license is required.
Details about how to apply: Please send a cover letter and resume to [email protected].
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