Position Overview: Join the IERC team for research focused on the conservation of the Northern Spotted Owl, a species threatened by the locally invasive Barred Owl and the dangers associated with illegal cannabis cultivation. This internship offers unique experience in cutting-edge fieldwork focused on these two species. As part of this project, the intern will assist with capture, tagging, and tracking of Barred Owls. The data collected will help determine if and how illegal cannabis cultivation contributes to rodenticide or other pesticide exposure. This is an exciting opportunity to get hands-on experience and contribute to important research that could shape the future of owl conservation in the Pacific Northwest.

Skill Sets You Will Learn and be Required to Perform:

• General field skills: ability to navigate outdoors using GPS, carrying loads of up to 50 lbs over short distances, driving in forest road settings
• Broadcast bird vocalizations with speakers and the ability to hear responses
• Owl tag harness construction and fitting
• Owl capture, handling, banding, and tagging
• Morphometric measurements and age and sex determination
• Radio-telemetry and remote GPS tag data download
• Data entry, management, and quality control

Required Qualifications:

Communicate effectively with supervisors and work collaboratively with organizational staff. Currently enrolled in, or a recent graduate of, a biology, wildlife, or natural resources program. Position will require 8-12 hrs per week (primarily at night), on weekdays, with minimum blocks of time (see Work Schedule on the full position announcement). Some daytime work will be also required. The position will require commitment from early/mid October through early/mid February.