Field Wildlife Recovery Specialist – Birds & Canids

White Oak Conservation; Yulee (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

White Oak Conservation is seeking a dedicated Conservation and Recovery Specialist in Florida to support avian and canid recovery programs and contribute to habitat management, data analysis, and staff training.

The role involves daily animal care, research support, breeding documentation, and collaboration with veterinary staff, with occasional field activities and training in conservation techniques.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Animal Science, Wildlife Management or related field preferred.
• Minimum of one year of animal/wildlife experience.
• Species conservation or recovery program experience preferred.
• Experience with animal husbandry practices such as feeding, cleaning, medicating, and enrichment.
• Canid experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Participates in the daily care of the animals to promote a naturally enriching environment; including diet preparation, feeding, cleaning, medicating, observing, and training.
• Participates in animal restraint, incubation/hatching, animal transfers, introductions, operant conditioning, assisted-reproduction in cranes, and passerine mist-netting.
• Participates in and assists with area research projects.
• Maintains and cares for surrounding areas to ensure a natural environment and ecological health.
• Fosters department delivery of guest engagement programs featuring wildlife populations.
• Assists veterinarian staff with animal care procedures, treatments and sample collection, as directed by area supervisor.
• Keeps Florida grasshopper sparrow breeding documents up to date throughout breeding season.
• Creates hatch, nest fail and other breeding related calendar alerts to help monitor diet changes and consumption, as well as to monitor breeding behavior.
• Notifies supervisor of facility maintenance, equipment, supplies, and animal feed needs.
• Assists with minor animal care facilities maintenance including: mowing, weed eating, netting, pressure washing, dirt and substrate work, limb pick up, and minor repairs.
• Organizes, preps, and conducts controlled burns on property.
• Prepares burn plans for controlled burns conducted on property; documents action reports.
• Maintains records and reports related to wildlife.
• Collects, maintains, organizes, and assembles data and spreadsheets for accurate analysis.
• Assists Leads with program data and statistical analysis for scientific publications.
• Maintains, cleans and organizes work and break areas, food storage, food prep, vehicles and equipment.
• Conducts camera trapping operation, maintenance, and review.
• Conducts the daily care of several invertebrate prey species and collection of wild invertebrate prey species.
• Observes and ensures area safety protocol, safe vehicle and equipment operation.
• Applies herbicide application and performs other needed pest management activities.
• Assists with intern training and mentoring.
• Participates in trainings including animal husbandry and management, ZIMS record keeping, research, conservation and recovery projects, chainsaw operation, venomous snake handling, and other education projects.

Skills

Communication

Data entry

Record keeping

Teamwork

Outdoor work

Flexibility

Education

High School Diploma

Bachelor’s degree or related field

Job description

White Oak Conservation is seeking a dedicated Conservation and Recovery Specialist in Florida to support avian and canid recovery programs and contribute to habitat management, data analysis, and staff training.

The role involves daily animal care, research support, breeding documentation, and collaboration with veterinary staff, with occasional field activities and training in conservation techniques.