Careers & Internships

Internship Dates: March-November 2026

Time Commitment: 40 hours/week

Compensation: $7.25/hr (grant-funded) – free on-site housing may also be available

This internship position will focus on our bird collection that mostly involves the endangered whooping crane and Mississippi sandhill crane recovery programs. The crane programs work closely with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to help reintroduce these species back into their former ranges. This position is a learning opportunity that encompasses the entire crane rearing program from hatching to release in the wild.

This is an 8-month long, grant-funded position (March-Nov) that offers an hourly compensation and optional onsite housing. In addition to animal care and daily management of the 16-acre recovery facility, interns will also get experience with saddle-billed storks and blue-billed curassows.

For more information about this position, or to apply, head to our job openings at the top of the page or click this link here: Apply for the FMASSC Crane Internship

Bird Intern (3 months, FMASSC)

The Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center (FMASSC) is looking for bird interns for our Spring intern session beginning in January 2026!

FMASSC is one of several facilities run by the Audubon Nature Institute. It is a unique piece of property that expands approximately 1,000 acres in an area just south of the city of New Orleans. The FMASSC facility is not open to the public and is dedicated to the population sustainability and conservation of hoofstock, bird, and aquatic species. The goal is to manage herds of hoofstock or flocks of birds in large, naturalistic enclosures, to encourage breeding and the expression of natural behaviors.

What You’ll Do:

Reporting directly to the Assistant Curator, this Bird Internship position will focus on our bird collection that includes involvement in endangered whooping crane and Mississippi sandhill crane recovery programs. The crane programs work closely with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to help reintroduce these species back into their former ranges. In addition to the two large crane flocks maintained on a 16-acre crane complex, highlighted species are saddle-billed storks and blue-billed curassows.

This position is a learning opportunity that showcases the crane rearing process from hatching to release, pending which session the internship is in. All interns will have the opportunity to visit the Audubon Zoo, Aquarium, and Insectarium.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide daily husbandry of the captive birds, as assigned.
• Participate in egg handling and incubation practices.
• Participate in the "costume-rearing" of five to twenty-five crane chicks per year.
• Provide everything necessary to ensure successful breeding environments for the birds.
• Maintain records, including using ZIMS record software, and conduct behavioral observations.
• Assist veterinary and supervisory staff in treating animals as assigned.
• Prepare and follow prescribed diets and feeding procedures.
• Observe strict crane costume protocol, including not speaking for long periods of time.
• Work safely in costume with accompanying visual obstruction around small, mobile chicks.
• Basic horticultural maintenance (i.e. Mowing, weed eating, scything, pruning, tree trimming/cutting, enclosure landscaping
• General exhibit/enclosure maintenance, including pool and flight netting maintenance.
• With training, be able to safely manage (including handling) tall, aggressive birds.
• Follow Audubon and local gov’t agency’s nuisance wildlife & pest protocols.
• Pleasantly receive and follow directions, follow protocols, and follow safety & security requirements.
• Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Audubon Nature Institute’s standards, as required by scheduling which may vary according to the needs of the organization.

Time Commitment:

Interns will work up to 40 hours/week for 12 weeks.

Compensation:

This internship is unpaid, but free housing may be available.

What We’re Looking For:

Must Haves:

• High School diploma and preferably working towards/or completed a Bachelor’s degree in Biology (or related field)
• Be able to receive and follow direction well.
• Work well both independently and in a small group.
• Identify and perform routine maintenance issues. Often conducting many projects at one time.
• Understanding of professional animal care and welfare standards.
• Ability to work independently and on a team.
• Ability to work around and make adjustments for large animals, small animals, aggressive species, and flighty species.
• Ability to learn and read animal behavior, especially birds.
• Must be able to communicate effectively, professionally, and with emotional maturity.
• Sincere interest in animal care, welfare, and conservation.
• Must possess basic arithmetic skills, including solving percentage questions and using conversions.
• Ability to anticipate, identify, prevent, and solve problems.
• Must have good common sense, the ability to think constructively, and able to take constructive criticism and direction.
• Possess a good attitude and able to produce quality work in fast paced, high pressure situations.
• Proficient in basic computer processing.
• Updated Tetanus vaccination.
• Proof of a negative TB test in the last 12 months.
• Possess a valid driver’s license.
• Must pass a background check and drug test.
• Must be able to write accurately and professionally

Physical Requirements:

• Continuous standing, walking, lifting, bending, and twisting.
• Ability to lift, push, pull, and carry objects weighing 50 pounds.
• Regularly climbing ladders and operating heavy machinery.
• Sustained manual dexterity and coordination.
• Physical stamina for long shifts involving repetitive or strenuous tasks.
• Primarily outdoor environments or industrial settings.
• Frequent exposure to heat, cold, dust, fumes, or loud noises.
• Exposure to potential hazards such as heavy machinery, moving vehicles, or electrical equipment.

Apply Here: https://audubon.wufoo.com/forms/pf85xm500o3yee/

Be prepared to provide the following documents and information:

• Cover letter & resume
• 3 personal or professional references

If you have questions about this internship, please reach out to [email protected] or [email protected].

Hoofstock Intern (3 months, FMASSC)

The Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center (FMASSC) is looking for hoofstock interns for our Spring intern session beginning in January 2026! Internships will last for 3 months (12 weeks).

What You’ll Do

Interns will gain valuable hands-on experience working with a variety of exotic animal species at this AZA-accredited facility. The internship will emphasize husbandry of hoofstock, but will also include experience with various bird species. Interns will gain experience in husbandry, enrichment, record keeping, diet preparation, monitoring animal behaviors, pen design and maintenance, and veterinary procedures as they relate to general animal care.

Interns will rotate through different hoofstock areas and work on projects pertaining to animal husbandry. All interns will have the opportunity to visit the Audubon Zoo, Aquarium, and Insectarium.

This internship is unpaid, but free housing may be available.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Provide daily husbandry of the captive hoofstock, as assigned, including cleaning, feeding, medicating, observing, and enclosure maintenance.
• Maintain records, including using ZIMS record software, and conduct behavioral observations.
• Assist veterinary and supervisory staff in treating animals as assigned.
• Prepare and follow prescribed diets and feeding procedures.
• Basic horticultural maintenance (mowing, weed eating, scything, pruning, tree trimming/cutting, enclosure landscaping).
• General exhibit/enclosure maintenance, including pool and fence maintenance.
• Follow Audubon and local government agencies’ nuisance wildlife and pest protocols.
• Pleasantly receive and follow directions, follow protocols, and comply with safety and security requirements.
• Maintain regular attendance in compliance with Audubon Nature Institute’s standards, as required by scheduling which may vary according to organizational needs.

Time Commitment:

Interns will work up to 40 hours/week for 12 weeks.

Compensation:

This internship is unpaid, but free housing may be available. 

What We’re Looking For

Must Haves:

• High school diploma.
• Ability to receive and follow direction well.
• Work well both independently and in a small group.
• Identify and perform routine maintenance issues, often conducting multiple projects at one time.
• Understanding of professional animal care and welfare standards.
• Ability to work independently and on a team.
• Ability to work around and make adjustments for large animals, small animals, aggressive species, and flighty species.
• Ability to learn and read animal behavior, especially birds.
• Must be able to communicate effectively, professionally, and with emotional maturity.
• Sincere interest in animal care, welfare, and conservation.
• Basic arithmetic skills, including solving percentage questions and using conversions.
• Ability to anticipate, identify, prevent, and solve problems.
• Good common sense and ability to take constructive criticism and direction.
• Positive attitude and ability to produce quality work in fast-paced, high-pressure situations.
• Proficient in basic computer processing.
• Updated Tetanus vaccination.
• Proof of a negative TB test within the last 12 months.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Must pass a background check and drug test.
• Ability to write accurately and professionally.

Physical Requirements:

• Continuous standing, walking, lifting, bending, and twisting.
• Ability to lift, push, pull, and carry objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• Regularly climbing ladders and operating machinery.
• Sustained manual dexterity and coordination.
• Physical stamina for long shifts involving repetitive or strenuous tasks.

Apply Here: https://audubon.wufoo.com/forms/pafqrhu1ajvynr/

Be prepared to provide the following documents and information:

• Cover letter & resume
• 3 personal or professional references

If you have any questions about the internship, please reach out to: [email protected] or [email protected]