ODFW Wildlife Student Internship Program

The ODFW wildlife intern program provides valuable training experiences to college students entering the field of wildlife management, while assisting with a variety of headquarters and district activities. Interns assist wildlife area, habitat crew, headquarters, and district wildlife staff performing daily management activities such as population surveys, wildlife captures, and responding to public inquiries. Interns may also participate in the wolf management program, wildlife research program, and conservation strategy implementation.

Most internships occur during the summer quarter, which in Oregon is mid-June to mid-September. However, depending on need, internships can start as early as May, and they may occasionally be offered in the fall as well. Internships are 400 hours (10 weeks or 2.3 months) in duration. The position is classified as a Student Professional/Technical Worker (0150) with an hourly rate of $12.29 (2017 rate). In some cases, temporary housing is provided.

Based on intern feedback from 2017, the experience has been overwhelmingly positive:

“I feel like I’ve learned as much during a 10 week internship at a wildlife area as I would in at least a full term of school, maybe 2 terms.”

“Gold standard of wildlife internships. There are so many experiences and skills to get a taste of and great people to work with.”

“I just really appreciate this being an option. I hope that the program will continue to exist as a way for other students in the future to get to experience wildlife work without having to compete against others who may have multiple years of experience.”

“I loved this internship, I learned about several aspects of a district biologists duties. I am forever grateful toward everyone from ODFW who mentored me throughout the internship. If I was offered the opportunity again I would not hesitate to accept.”

“Awesome program, and I hope it gets continued for others!”

The ODFW contact for the internship program is Jennifer Ringo, Wildlife Restoration Coordinator, 503-947-6316, Jennifer.B.Ringo@state.or.us.

Program Emphasis Area(s) Location (Watershed) Supervisor Office Season Housing Position Description Status
Conservation Program Species research and writing Headquarters Andrea Hanson Salem Headquarters Summer N HQ OCS Intern 2018.pdf
Conservation Program Turtle surveys and management North Willamette Susan Barnes Clackamas Summer N NW OCS Intern 2018.pdf
Conservation Program Conservation outreach and education North Willamette Andrea Hanson/Kevin Blakely  Oregon Zoo Summer N Zoo OCS Intern 2018.pdf
Conservation Program Turtle surveys Rogue Steve Niemela Central Point Summer N SW OCS Intern 2018.pdf
Conservation Program Turtle surveys and management South Willamette Chris Yee Springfield Summer N Springfield OCS Intern.pdf
GIS/Wildlife Data GIS, collar data animation Headquarters Arty Rodriguez/Travis Shultz Salem Headquarters Summer N HQ GIS Intern 2018.pdf
Research Wildlife research, carnivores Grande Ronde Darren Clark La Grande Summer Y Starkey Research Intern 2018.pdf
Research Black-tailed deer research, black bear density estimation Rogue DeWaine Jackson Central Point Summer N Central Point Research Intern 2018.pdf
Wildlife Area/Habitat Bird banding, habitat projects, infrastructure improvement Grande Ronde Kyle Martin Ladd Marsh WA Summer Y LMWA Intern 2018.pdf
Wildlife Area/Habitat Habitat management, wildlife area maintenance, waterfowl and waterbird banding and surveys, Klamath Marty St. Louis Summer Lake WA Summer Y SLWA Intern 2018.pdf
Wildlife Area/Habitat Biological surveys (pronghorn, upland game bird), habitat restoration, guzzler maintenance Malheur Tom Segal Hines Summer Y Hines Intern 2018.pdf Closed
Wildlife Area/Habitat Habitat restoration, habitat monitoring, biological surveys South Willamette David Speten Fern Ridge WA Summer N FRWA Intern 2018.pdf
Wildlife Management Wildlife surveys, upland bird counts, habitat projects, radio-telemetry Deschutes Jeremy Thompson The Dalles Summer Y The Dalles Intern 2018.pdf
Wildlife Management Guzzler (water development) inventory and maintenance, wildlife surveys Deschutes Corey Heath Bend Summer N Bend Intern 2018.pdf
Wildlife Management Wolf Surveys and Management Grande Ronde Roblyn Brown La Grande Summer Y Wolf Intern 2018.pdf
Wildlife Management Wildlife surveys, upland bird counts, habitat projects, wolf monitoring John Day Ryan Torland John Day Summer N John Day Intern 2018.pdf
Wildlife Management Wolf monitoring and trapping, habitat projects, wildlife surveys John Day Greg Rimbach Pendleton Summer N Pendleton Intern 2018.pdf Closed
Wildlife Management Wildlife inventories, habitat projects, waterfowl and dove banding Klamath Tom Collom Klamath Falls Summer N Klamath Intern 2018.pdf Closed
Wildlife Management Wildlife Capture and Monitoring North Willamette Don Vandeberg Sauvie Island Summer N Sauvie Summer Intern 2018.pdf Closing Feb 7 at 5 pm
Wildlife Management Biological Surveys North Willamette Don Vandeberg Sauvie Island Fall N Sauvie Fall Intern 2018.pdf Closing Feb 7 at 5 pm
Wildlife Management Black-tailed deer capture, habitat management, biological surveys Rogue Steve Niemela Central Point Summer N Central Point Intern 2018.pdf
Wildlife Management Black-tailed deer capture, habitat management, biological surveys Umpqua Stuart Love Charleston Summer Y Charleston Intern 2018.pdf
Wildlife Management Black-tailed deer capture, habitat management, biological surveys Umpqua Tod Lum Roseburg Summer N Roseburg Intern 2018.pdf
Wildlife Management Wildlife surveys, habitat assessment South Willamette Nancy Taylor Corvallis (Adair) Summer N Adair Intern 2018.pdf Closed
Wildlife Management Furbearer, reports, outreach Headquarters Derek Broman Salem Headquarters Spring N Furbearer Intern 2018.pdf Closed