About our Program

What do rehab interns do at Wolf Hollow? Watch the video below to find out!

Seasons at Wolf Hollow

Although we care for injured animals throughout the year, our busiest time is “Baby Season”, which usually begins in about May and runs through October. This is the period when we receive considerable numbers of orphaned and separated young wild creatures in addition to a steady stream of injured animals. Interns who come to Wolf Hollow during different parts of this season will gain different types of experience. It can be highly variable from year to year.

Length of Internships

Internships at Wolf Hollow are for a period of approximately 9 weeks each, during the May to October period. The timing of internships is staggered and each begins and ends on specific dates to ensure that we have adequate coverage at all times throughout the season. We ask applicants to provide their dates of availability so we know which of the 8 internship positions they can be considered for.

Working Hours

Working hours at Wolf Hollow are variable. The actual working day ranges from approximately 9 am-4 pm in winter to 7 am-10 pm (worked in shifts) in summer. Shifts and schedules are worked out to take into account the animal care requirements and the number of trained people available at any particular time. We rely heavily on interns and volunteers to help care for the large volume of animals we receive during the busy summer months. We work long hours and take turns covering different shifts and doing night feeds.

We respond to emergency calls 24 hours a day, so a staff member is always on duty during the day and on call during the night. Once they have learned the basic skills, interns are expected to carry out routine animal care tasks by themselves during evening shifts and night feeds. Whenever possible, schedules are arranged to provide each intern with 2 days off each week.

Accommodation

Our on-site housing for interns is a double-wide mobile home, which provides accommodation for up to 5 interns at one time. The housing consists of 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, a living room, a kitchen and laundry facilities. As this is a wildlife facility, pets are not allowed. We are unable to provide accommodation for guests.

Transportation

Wolf Hollow is located in a rural area, 4 miles from the town of Friday Harbor. There is no public transportation system on the San Juan Islands, We provide bicycles for our interns to use and they may borrow a Wolf Hollow vehicle for essential errands. However, we suggest that interns bring a car if possible, so that they can more easily travel to town for supplies and explore the islands on days off. It is also essential for interns to have a current drivers license for work purposes, as they will be required to collect animals from the airport or ferry when these have been transported from other parts of our service area.

Health and Insurance

All applicants must answer the questions concerning health on the application form, and those who are selected for our internships must provide proof of an up-to-date tetanus vaccination. While at work, all interns will be covered by Washington State Labor and Industries insurance.

Course Credits

Some colleges and universities allow summer internships to count towards course credits, but each has slightly different requirements. Please indicate on the application form if you wish to complete the internship for course credits, so that we can discuss this further with those who are selected for the positions.

Educational Content

These are working internship where you will learn most through actual hands-on experience, but we feel it is important that interns put this rehabilitation knowledge into context by learning  about the ecology of the San Juan Islands and threats to wildlife in the area. We will provide educational opportunities, and information on other organizations that are working in associated fields within the local area.

Costs

Wolf Hollow is a non-profit organization, so our internships are unpaid positions, but we provide on-site accommodation and a stipend to help cover living costs.