Looking to learn more about raccoon rehabilitation?

Gordon Wildlife is pleased to offer an immersive, hands-on basic training program, designed to share our knowledge with other raccoon enthusiasts contemplating joining the field.

Baby Bootcamp at Gordon Wildlife consists of 3-week blocks of time during baby raccoon busy season. One student will be accepted per block (two can be considered to work together if you’re willing to share housing & the stipend).  Participants will work one-on-one with licensed RVS rehabilitators specializing in raccoons. You will learn the ins and outs of basic daily care and will be tasked with treating orphaned raccoon kits spanning in developmental stages from neonate to weaned (depending on who is on site at the time).

Students will experience the intensity of raccoon rehabilitation and will be expected to work approximately 8-hours per day, Monday through Friday for 3 weeks.

The work is messy, emotional, boring, exciting, repetitive, and intense. It is also rewarding in a way that is impossible to explain. Expect lots of bottle feeding, poop, cleaning, grunt work, cuteness and love. And then repeat. Time permitting, students may also participate in other aspects of the nonprofit’s work.

Positive attitude and good work ethic required.

Target launch: Spring 2024.

Available blocks:

April 29-May 17, 2024

May 20 - June 7, 2024 (full, accepting waitlist)

June 10 - June 28, 2024

July 1 - July 19 2024

July 22 - August 9 2024

Application deadline: 15 January 2024.

The fine print: Rabies pre-exposure vaccinations are required to work with raccoons in New York State. If you are selected for the program and are not vaccinated, Gordon Wildlife will help to arrange & pay for your vaccination series.  All necessary materials and training will be supplied. Students will receive a stipend of $250 per week. Location: the Charles N. Gordon Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Earlville, NY, 13332. Housing options are available if needed.  Baby Bootcamp qualifies as a 3 credit summer internship for Jefferson Community College’s Zoo Technology Program.