Volunteer
Job Description
FROM: https://www.volunteer.gov/s/volunteer-opportunity/a093d000000obQSAAY/2023-wildlife-plant-surveying-housing-provided
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ADDRESS: St. Catherine Creek National Wildlife Refuge; 21 PINTAIL LN; NATCHEZ, Mississippi 39120
DATES: 7/5/2023 – 2/3/2024
DESCRIPTION:
Volunteer opportunity for a student of wildlife biology.
Calling all college students studying wildlife biology, botany, natural resources management, or related disciplines. Now is your chance to get some field experience doing something meaningful for conservation and wildlife management. We are recruiting for one volunteer to assist a biological sciences technician in conducting wildlife surveys (birds, freshwater mussels, and deer) and vegetation surveys for a fantastic refuge in the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley. Work will include miscellaneous tasks as assigned. HOUSING IS PROVIDED TO VOLUNTEERS AT NO CHARGE with minimum weekly work hours and commitment in accordance with volunteer services agreement.
Main projects:
Deer census: setting out and collecting wildlife cameras, analyzing photos to identify unique bucks and other wildlife.
Wildlife surveys: setting non-lethal traps and processing of collected specimen.
Bird surveys: Early morning bird counts by species, cataloguing and analyzing data. No bird banding or mist netting is involved in this position.
Beaver and nutria dam management: Excavation, removal, hut detection and reporting to manager.
Vegetation surveys: bending, stooping, examining, drawing, recording data, reporting.
Mussel surveys: collection of live specimen, relict shells, and identification/data recording.
Fish surveys: as assigned.
Use of kayak and lifejacket. Must know how to swim and pass swim test.
Driving and relaying refuge vehicles, assisting staff in miscellaneous tasks including maintenance, mowing using a zero-turn, cleaning signs, posting or removing signs/posts, stocking kiosks with brochures, greeting visitors and providing information, and miscellaneous duties as assigned.
Must have evident sincere interest and some experience in wildlife biology and/or botany. Indigenous or traditional knowledge counts! Must be capable of successful completion of the required defensive driving course and have a valid driver license. Must be able to able to repeatedly lift and carry 25-50 lbs, walk long distances in non-trailed terrain through dense vegetation. Must be capable of repeatedly bending, stooping, crouching, jumping, walking, swimming, and balancing. Work may involve using small power tools such as drills, leafblowers, and weedeaters. Housing is provided if needed; it is a private bedroom in house with shared bathroom. RV pad with hookups can be made available if appropriate.
- Backpacking/Camping
- Biology
- Drivers License
- First Aid Certificate
- Fish/Wildlife
- General Assistance
- Hand Power Tools
- Landscaping/Reforestation
- Visitor Information
- Working with People
- Writing/Editing
Non-trailed terrain, dense vegetation, dense tree canopy, high summer temperatures, high humidity, mud, deep water, slippery roads and trails, thorns/stickers, fire ants, biting/stinging insects, exposure to plant toxins, lack of cellular reception at times, working in the dark, working solo, exposure to the elements, sun exposure, uneven terrain, other. Friendly, caring staff, passionate about conservation.
- General housekeeping
- Slip, trip, and fall hazards
- Equipment operation
- Equipment maintenance
- Work organization and process flow (including staffing and scheduling)
- Ergonomic problems
- Biting insects/dangerous wildlife, plant toxins, exposure to the elements, sun exposure, uneven terrain, high humidity.