For the past six years, students in the Zoo and Conservation Science Major at Otterbein University have learned firsthand the challenges and rewards of wildlife rehabilitation at Ohio Wildlife Center. As academic and intern partners, Otterbein and Ohio Wildlife Center created the sophomore practicum in 2013. It’s a team effort that both staff and students anticipate each fall as their living classroom unfolds.
Sophomores in the program alternate between working at the Wildlife Hospital and at the Education Center with Education Director Stormy Gibson, on projects ranging from animal husbandry to outreach and answering InfoLine calls. The goal is to have every student observe and experience the full range of wildlife rehabilitation roles to better understand career options in animal care and conservation, Gibson said.
“Otterbein interns are a great asset to Ohio Wildlife Center in many ways,” Gibson said. “The students have provided great care for thousands of injured, orphaned, diseased wildlife,” she noted. “They have also educated thousands of Ohioans regarding peaceful coexistence between humans and their wild neighbors.”
“Our Otterbein interns go above and beyond what is expected of them because they know their work here is invaluable,” she said. On Thursday afternoons Gibson, who is also an adjunct professor for the program, co-teaches the Otterbein class for the students in the Bonner Barn.
“I am honored to be able to teach the Otterbein students and have the pleasure of getting to know each of them,” she said. “The best gift is teaching and training a student for 30 weeks and then being able to have some of them continue a relationship with Ohio Wildlife Center in either an internship or paid position,” she added. “I have many favorite memories of Otterbein interns, she noted, “but I think the ones that stand out the most would be when they are first educating the public about wildlife. I love the moment when “firsts” happen for them: first time holding a snake, raptor handling, and being so nervous to talk about a turtle,” she said.
“Dr. Burton (Ohio Wildlife Center’s founder) was a great mentor to me and I strive to be the mentor he was for my Otterbein interns,” she said.
In almost every class of Otterbein students from the sophomore practicum, a handful will return to Ohio Wildlife Center to volunteer, intern, or work. Amberlyn Maxwell graduated from the program in 2018. She continued beyond her sophomore year to become a summer camp counselor, and after graduating accepted a full- time position at the Education Center this year.
Learning By Doing
For Kyle Turner, the Otterbein sophomore practicum was a stepping stone to expand not only his passion for wildlife, but his interest in the business side of running a nonprofit animal organization. Internships at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and the Houston Zoo provided a chance to learn about the necessity of raising funds and leveraging donor dollars to meet the costs of operating large scale zoos.
Currently an intern in the Development Department of Ohio Wildlife Center, Turner founded the Otterbein Animal Conservation Club and also partnered with SCRAM! to create an Otterbein Student Animal Control Team. “Ohio Wildlife Center has been the perfect place to experience new career opportunities,” Turner noted. “My time here has undoubtedly enabled me to grow as a person and as a future conservation hero,” he said.
While Turner’s experiences are unique to his personal career development, he took time recently to talk with three Otterbein students who all interned as sophomores at Ohio Wildlife Center in 2017: Amber Pitsenberger, Claire Sinard, and Destiny Funk.
Turner: What did you learn while interning at Ohio Wildlife Center that you have brought forward in your career?
Amber Pitsenberger: I learned about how to problem solve conflicts that arose with the public through the InfoLine and how to talk to the public when dealing with an injured animal.
Claire Sinard: The things I learned while interning are all built upon what I learned as a volunteer, simply more advanced and with more independence. At OWC I learned how to provide animal husbandry for a variety of native Ohio species including Virginia opossums, woodchucks, coyotes, red foxes, various species of squirrels, chipmunks, snakes, turtles, and an expansive collection of birds.
Destiny Funk: Interning gave me direct and appropriate hands-on experience with local conservation projects and helped me learn how to work as part of a team more than as an individual. It has enabled me to come out of my shell more and learn how to interact better with other people and with the general public through education programs.
Turner: How did your time at Ohio Wildlife Center impact you?
Amber Pitsenberger: It allowed me to realize that I want to work in education. I want to help educate the public about their local wildlife. I enjoyed being able to talk to people of all ages about the animals they could find in their own backyard. OWC gave me the first look into a life of animal care. The passion that many of the staff have inspired me to look for jobs that cause me to feel that same passion. OWC was the first time I ever learned how to work with animals. It allowed me to gain animal handling experience, which allowed me to get into the other internships I was a part of and eventually led to the job I have now at the Columbus Zoo.
Claire Sinard: Ohio Wildlife Center has played a crucial part in my career building. Not only has OWC given me the knowledge and skills to competently and confidently take care of animals that are not domesticated, it has also provided me with opportunities, both within the organization and through other establishments, to discover where my true passion lies and helped guide me as to which path I should follow.
Destiny Funk: Interning at OWC is what helped me discover my love for reptiles and direct conservation, and is what has fueled my future interests and career goals.
Turner: What was a favorite memory from your time as an Otterbein Intern?
Amber Pitsenberger: One of my favorite memories was learning how to handle a bird of prey. I got to practice with Locke, an Eastern Screech-owl. I also really enjoyed participating in OWC’s Howl-O-Ween with the public. It was really cool to see kids get excited about the animals and I loved how they asked you questions that people normally wouldn’t think to ask.
Claire Sinard: Some of the most memorable are the little moments shared between either myself and the staff or the other interns. These little moments, either just conversations we had or an unexpected twist to a simple procedure, are the moments that help not only connect us to one another, but also remind us that what we’re doing, though very important for these animals, is enjoyable and worth doing.
Destiny Funk: My favorite memory as an Otterbein intern was setting up and working the Howl-o-ween event. Getting to decorate and set up with everyone was so much fun, but the best part was getting to teach the public about the box turtles and the Eastern Fox snake.