Intern Testimonials

Allanah Tayler – UK (2023)

I interned at Critter Care Wildlife Society for two months in the summer of 2023 (July and

August). At this time of year it was still baby season so the majority of animals in my care were

young and required round the clock feeds. It was all worth it though as it was a real pleasure to

watch them grow and learn. I had the privilege of working with a variety of animals including

fawns, racoons, skunks, opossum, mink, and bunnies.

For the second half of my internship I was appointed as one of the intern team leaders. For this

role I was required to lead intern morning meetings appointing tasks for the day, welcome new

interns, and keep moral up. I really enjoyed that CCWS managed their interns this way as when

I first arrived it was reassuring knowing their was an intern I could go to for advice and

guidance, and when I became one myself it helped improve my confidence.

Working with the animals at CCWS was a dream come true. I frequently look back on photos of

the animals I raised and videos of their releases fondly. While I can't stress enough that it is

hard work and the early mornings can be difficult, the experience is beyond worth it.

Besides working with the animals, one thing I take away from my time at CCWS is the friends I

made. I now have very close friends from various countries which I intend to visit one day. I

have so many amazing memories with these people which I will always cherish.

Margaux Saelens – Belgium

I was an intern at CCWS from February 10 to April 19, 2024. I did the internship as part of my

studies in Animal Care, so I couldn’t stay that long. Still, I got to work with raccoons, beavers,

and squirrels, which was wonderful! I became co-parent to the first baby squirrel of the year,

and he stole my heart. Towards the end, more baby squirrels joined, and I enjoyed taking care

of them and giving them milk. Besides taking care of the animals, I loved participating in rescues

and releases.

What I found so special about CCWS is that they quickly give you a lot of trust and responsibilities. You learn a lot that way. The staff members are friendly and patient; they were always ready to answer my questions and took the time to teach the interns new things. My time at CCWS was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I was part of a team of like-minded souls, I was able to do meaningful work every day, I met great people who felt like family after a while, my language skills improved, and I learned a lot about diseases, injuries, treatments, and nutrition of different species. I couldn't have wished for a better internship!

Cara Birkert - Germany

I had the incredible opportunity to intern at Critter Care Wildlife Society from April 4th, 2024 to August 7th, 2024. This experience has been nothing short of life-changing, offering me the chance to work closely with a wide variety of animals, including otters, raccoons, skunks, bunnies, opossums, squirrels and goats. During my time at Critter Care, I was deeply involved in the day-to-day care and rehabilitation of these animals, from feeding and cleaning to assisting with medical treatments.

One memorable experience was helping to examine a beaver that we had rescued after it was found poisoned by saltwater. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, the beaver did not survive. This experience underscored the challenges of wildlife rehabilitation, but also the importance of the work done in Critter Care.

In addition to my work with the animals, I frequently interacted with members of the public who brought in injured or orphaned wildlife. I handled the intake process, including the necessary paperwork, and took the time to explain to the public the rehabilitation process that we go through with each animal. This aspect of the internship was incredibly rewarding, as it allowed me to educate others about the importance of wildlife conservation.

Additionally, I was given the responsibility of being a team leader. In this role, I coordinated the daily tasks for all the interns, helped manage any personal issues that arose within the team, and ensured that everything ran smoothly. This leadership experience was both challenging and fulfilling, allowing me to develop important skills in team management and communication.

I also had the opportunity to join several rescue missions in the surrounding areas. These rescues were not only exciting but also a testament to the vital work being done by Critter Care to protect and rehabilitate wildlife in British Columbia.

Working at Critter Care has solidified my passion for wildlife rehabilitation and has given me invaluable skills and experiences that I will carry with me throughout my life. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and for the chance to contribute to the vital work being done at Critter Care. I leave with a wealth of memories, new friendships, and a strengthened commitment to animal welfare.”

Julia Kublick, Germany

“My name is Julia Kublick and I had the opportunity to be a part of the Critter Care Crew from October 1 to December 22nd, 2023. Working as an intern together with people from all over the world will always be one of my most amazing things that I experienced!

During my stay, I was able to take care of a diversity of native animals such as baby and grown raccoons, skunks, opossums, squirrels, eastern cotton tail rabbits, a deer and mice. But also saw and helped with animals you would never see that close up such as coyotes, bears, bobcats and even a porcupine.

Because of our incredibly patient and caring supervisors we quickly learned about our animals and their natural habitats, medical conditions and dangerous infections and viruses. The whole team strongly worked together to keep the rescue centre clean and the animals healthy and ready to be released into the wild. We learned how to handle scared and critically injured animals, how to treat their wounds and give medications and how to bottle and syringe feed the baby‘s that needed constant care during day and night.

I am beyond grateful for the knowledge I gained, the friendships I made and overall working hard with such dedication which paid off with every animal we healed and released. Because of this adventure I found my dream career path since I’m finally accepted for studying veterinary medicine in my home country! Thank you for everything!”

Luke Yeoman McDonough

During my time at Critter Care, I worked with a variety of animals, such as bears, raccoons, otters, squirrels, rabbits, opossums, and a flying squirrel. I also indirectly helped a few others, like Skunks and coyotes, by helping out with their enclosures or having to weigh the skunks.

Some of my responsibilities included keeping the whole site clean and tidy, and for a while I was team leader, so I had to manage the interns, delegate tasks to them, and make sure all the jobs were done for the day. I also had to go around and help vaccinate all the raccoons, which included both pinning down the raccoons and injecting them with the vaccination.

Another big responsibility I was given during my time at Critter Care was to train up all of the new interns and to make sure they knew what they where doing and that they would be able to confidently carry out the tasks on their own. I also helped build the new Bobcat enclosure while I was there.

Critter Care was probably the best experience I have ever had, I met people I loved being around every day and created some of the best memories, but most importantly, I found the career I want to do for the rest of my life thanks to Critter Care. The joy the job gives you I can't find anywhere else, and the rewarding feeling you get when realising an animal is back in the wild is like nothing I have ever felt before and I know this is the job for me. Critter care has changed my life for the better and really showed me what I want to do for the rest of my life.

Fern Farrow

My internship at Critter Care has been an extremely rewarding experience. I have gained valuable insight and understanding as to what working at an animal rehabilitation centre is really like and how much hard work and dedication is needed to help and aid wildlife. The hands-on experience with the animals has been phenomenal - I really liked working with co-parents and individually to care for the animals and I also liked the various animal related lessons the staff taught.

Working at Critter Care was fulfilling but extremely mentally and physically demanding at times – the hours worked were often very long and there was little no to down time to relax and recuperate. I also found working with such a large group of people often challenging.

Whilst at Critter Care, I had the opportunity to work with numerous animals such as Raccoons, Snowshoe hares, Albino mole, Squirrels, Opossum, Skunks, Rabbits and Black bears. I am very grateful for the opportunities the staff have provided me during my time at Critter Care and wish them all the best.”

My my experience at the Critter Care Wildlife Centre from June 19th to August 14th, I had the incredible opportunity to work as an intern at an animal rescue center, an experience that I will cherish forever. 

During my time there, I was entrusted with the care of a diverse group of animals, including baby raccoons, opossums, skunks, mice, squirrels, and rabbits, many of which I nurtured with milk bottles, watching them grow and thrive.

One of the highlights of my internship was the responsibility of overseeing my own baby raccoon group. It was a heartwarming experience to see these tiny creatures develop under my care, and the bond that formed between us was truly special.

Alongside them, I also tended to the needs of other vulnerable animals, ensuring they received the care and attention they deserved.

Halfway through my internship, I was honored to be appointed as a team leader. In this role, I coordinated tasks and worked closely with my fellow volunteers to ensure the smooth operation of the center. This opportunity allowed me to develop valuable leadership skills and reinforced my commitment to the welfare of our animal residents.

One of the most fulfilling aspects of my time at the rescue center was releasing rehabilitated animals back into their natural habitats. Witnessing these animals return to their homes, healthy and free, was a profoundly rewarding experience.

Additionally, I actively participated in rescue missions, helping to save animals in distress. These moments were not only impactful but also a testament to the vital work being done at the center.

I cannot express enough how incredible this experience was for me. The knowledge gained, the animals I cared for, and the bonds formed have left an indelible mark on my heart. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this vital work, and I will carry the lessons and memories with me throughout my life.

In conclusion, my time at the animal rescue center was an unforgettable journey of compassion, growth, and dedication. I am proud to have been a part of such a noble cause, and I look forward to continuing my advocacy for animal welfare in the future.

This experience has enriched my life in countless ways, and I will forever be grateful for the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of these remarkable creatures.

Charlotte Chavarin

I spent one month at Critter Care, in August-September 2023. I had the chance to work with several animals : a group of 7 racoons and two juveniles (including one that was injured), 2 Douglas squirrels and much more grey squirrels, an opossum, and 7 bunnies.

It was really interesting to get to know the day-to-day life at a wildlife rescue center. During my stay, I had the opportunity to learn the food habits of the animals I was taking care of, bottle feed some tiny babies with closed eyes, assist with some exams, give some oral medication, go on a release... I had many experiences that confirmed my desire to work with animals. 

I came at the end of the baby season and I could see how intense the days can be, mostly when you get to night feed some of the animals. There are a lot of cleaning task, and you will always be busy, but if you like being useful and doing hands-on jobs, you will enjoy your experience.

Seeing your animals grow healthy, play with the enrichment you've put in their cage, definitely makes it worthy, and you can have a lot of fun looking for what could be the best way to make these babies get ready to go back to the wild. There are, of course, difficult moments, when you lack sleep or an animal passes away. It is unfortunately a reality while working with animals, and even if it can be tough at times, seeing other animals grow, observing their hobbits and personalities, and seeing them close to being released is an unforgettable experience.”

I thoroughly enjoyed my experience as an intern for two months at Critter Care. During my internship, I had the opportunity to care and rehabilitate numerous different wildlife species, including racoons, grey squirrels, douglas squirrels, opossums, rabbits, skunks, coyotes, deer mice and a juvenile beaver.

The staff at Critter Care were always kind and helpful teachers. I learned many different husbandry and rehabilitation techniques, which has enhanced my knowledge further within the animal care field and will be very beneficial to my future career goals.

Alongside working with and helping so many different species of wildlife, a big highlight of my internship was connecting and creating friendships with so many different people from around the world who shared the common goal of loving and helping animals in need. I would recommend the Critter Care internship program to anyone who wants to have truly exceptional and hands-on experience rehabilitating wildlife. “

Katherine Caballero

My name is Katherine Caballero, and I had the privilege of completing a Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship from June to August 2023 at Critter Care Wildlife Society.

My time here gave me invaluable experience with a variety of species native to British Columbia. Specifically, I had the opportunity to raise and rehabilitate raccoons, skunks, mice, eastern cottontail rabbits, squirrels, opossums and marmots. Further into my internship, I was given the chance to be a team leader, allowing me to also improve upon my leadership skills.

I am so beyond grateful for the opportunity I was given to intern at Critter Care. I will always hold this period of my life close to my heart, from the community of interns and staff to the unique lessons I took from this position. In an instant, I would go back to do it all over again, and I stand in awe of everything I was able to witness and achieve through this internship.

Kevin Osvaldo Ramirez Espinosa

My experience at Critter Care Wildlife began on July 27th and continued until September 27th. It was one

of the best experiences I have had in my life. I had the opportunity to work with wonderful people and species such as raccoons, skunks, opossums, coyotes, mice, squirrels, rabbits, and mink, which helped me gain a lot of knowledge about what their rehabilitation is like. This was very hard work, but it was worth every second because of the great connection I was able to create with the people and animals.

Every day I learn something new, not only about animals, but also about the culture of other countries and their languages, I was able to perfect my English and start practicing other languages. every day, I had fun.

I had the opportunity to return some animals to free life and it was an experience that

motivated me a lot to continue with wildlife rehabilitation. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to have been part of this vital work, and I hope to return next year to improve and be able to contribute much more knowledge and adventures. Anyone who needs help, be it a person or an animal, I will always be there to help.

Iris Ollivier

I was an intern volunteer for several months at Critter Care Wildife Society, and it was an incredible human experience that gave me a lot of knowledge and respect for wildlife. I'm very passionate about animals and it enabled me to learn how best to provide for their needs, care for them and enable animal rehabilitation. I came during the birthing season, so I had the chance to work with lots of babies, but also with injured animals. Everyone was very caring and educational during my stay. I really enjoyed the experience and hope that the association will continue for as long as possible.

I've seen so many lives saved since I was here, and I hope it will continue in the future. I've grown so much from it, full of beautiful memories, experiences, friends and an even greater passion for our animal friends! Their trust has opened the door to other animal volunteer missions, and I'm more than grateful. Thank you for everything!

Viviane Vogel

I was an intern at Critter Care from July 2023 until December 2023. I enjoyed working with small critters like deer mice, bunnies, squirrels, and chipmunks, with the classic North American poster animals such as raccoons, skunks, and opossums, and I was a bear intern, which allowed me to get insights into the protocols with big animals that require you to behave correctly to avoid risky situations.

Our supervisors were very patient, genuinely interested in us learning the correct handling of animals and they were most compassionate and responsible. My time at Critter Care taught me so many things on so many levels. In addition, I was trusted with the team leader position, in which I was able to take responsibility for my fellow interns, mediate in conflicts, and gain valuable experience in leading a group of people.

Personally, I chose Critter Care to fill my gap year abroad and it was the best choice I could have made. Not only because of the above mentioned learning opportunities but because I felt like part of a huge family, we had many funny moments together, and the place almost seems magical with so many animals and a very young team to make it work. It was exactly what I wanted for my gap year: it kept me very busy with a lot of work that is very meaningful because it is for beautiful animals, it allowed me to gain wonderful friends and it provided me with extraordinary lessons and knowledge.”

 

Charlotte Denly

I interned at Critter Care from June 25 to August 25. On my first day, the staff were very kind and easy to talk to, which made me feel at home. The staff is incredibly dedicated to ensuring that every animal has their needs met. This increases their chances at being released back into the wild. I cared for baby and adult raccoons, bunnies, skunks, squirrels, and a mink.

The hands-on experience was incredible. I learned how to bottle and syringe feed, handle the adult raccoons, and give medication. We had a responsibility to keep on top of our chore list for the animals as well as keeping Critter Care clean and presentable. This included, caring for the lawns, cleaning out the fridges, and sweeping and mopping throughout the day. My time at Critter Care was memorable, and I made friends for life.

Eli Vera

I started my internship at Critter Care in April and stayed until August. I had the chance to work with beautiful baby raccoons, baby skunks, a lovely red squirrel, bunnies, and gorgeous coyotes. I even had the opportunity to be part of the bear capture for their release. My experience there was definitely hard but incredibly fulfilling. It was an experience I'll never forget.

I had lots of fun and also a lot of stress, sleep deprivation, and exhaustion, but it was so worth it when you realize that you are holding in your hands animals that, without your help, wouldn’t be alive. The excitement of seeing your animals being released into the wild is something indescribable. The amount of love that I gave to each animal is huge, and I was definitely rewarded with lots of learning and new skills.

Staff members were so helpful and willing to teach and guide you to provide the best care for all the animals. So, it was very hard work, but incredibly fun and fulfilling; it definitely also helped me grow as an individual and to get a clear vision of what I want in my life.”