Black-tailed prairie dog field intern - Grasslands National Park, Canada

We are searching for 2-3 individuals to intern on our black-tailed prairie dog project located in Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan from August 17^th-October 31^st. Individuals will work closely with our M.Sc. student investigating the effects of body condition on black-tailed prairie dog hibernation. Specifically, individuals will assist in conducting supplemental feeding trails during the prairie dog’s pre-hibernation fattening period. Field work will live-trapping and handling of animal as well as supplying the experimental diet to select individuals. Towards the end of the field session interns will assist in the measurement of pre-hibernation body composition and in surgeries to implant temperature-sensitive data loggers. Grasslands National Park represents one of the largest remaining tracts of native prairie in Canada, and prairie dog towns are home to a diversity of iconic grassland species (e.g., burrowing owls, swift fox, bison). Interns will have the opportunity of seeing all of these species, plus the many more resident in the Park. This is an excellent opportunity to gain experience working with a population of wild mammals in a spectacular setting and in collaboration with university, park and zoo researchers.

These positions are volunteer with accommodations, food and travel (between Saskatoon, SK and the field site) provided.

International applicants: If applicants are not Canadians or permanent residents, there is the opportunity to enter Canada and complete the internship as a Visiting Research Student. To be eligible for this program, you must be an undergraduate or graduate student or be in between degrees (e.g., following graduation from a bachelors degree). As part of this program, applicants will be registered at the U of S in a non-credit activity and it is expected that you will gain a demonstrable educational benefit from being involved. We are particularly interested in applicants who wish to use this opportunity to pursue an independent research project. Applicants are eligible for this program for a maximum of 6 months per 12 month period. Application forms and information are available at http://grad.usask.ca/admissions/alternateapplicants/visiting-research-student.php. If you are interested in this program, please contact us (contact details below) and we will guide you through the process.

Skills Required: These positions are best suited to applicants with interests in ecology, evolutionary biology, wildlife, field biology, and/or physiological ecology. As evidence of this, applicants must either be enrolled in, or have graduated from, a relevant discipline. Successful applicants will need to be able to cope under these field conditions, enjoy the outdoors, be upbeat, positive, responsible and work well as a member of a team. Evidence of these abilities (gained, for example, through previous involvement on field projects or extended back-packing trips) is expected.

If you are interested in one of these positions and wish to apply, please send a CV with a cover letter and contact details for three references (with e-mail addresses), by email to Deborah Hawkshaw (uofsbtpdproject@gmail.com) by August 10th.