Coastal North Carolina National Wildlife Refuge Summer Internships

Are you hardworking, adventurous, and fascinated by the outdoors? Would you like to use a school break to explore job paths, gain field experience, or add some career traction? Are you looking to establish relationships with professionals in wildlife management, environmental education, or wildlife biology?

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers summer internships on refuges in eastern North Carolina. Housing and a living allowance are provided. Internships run from May 18th through August 7th, 2026. Interns will be expected to commit for the full 12 weeks.

Internships rotate through different program areas, exposing interns to many aspects of managing a refuge. Projects include refuge maintenance, biological work, and educational programming. 

Alligator River and Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge interns present public outreach programs such as guided canoe tours and open-air tram tours; perform biological duties such as installing beach nesting bird protection areas, mapping and treating invasive plant species, sea turtle monitoring, shorebird surveys and water level monitoring; and assist with refuge maintenance duties, including mowing, trimming, trail work, sign maintenance, stocking refuge brochures, trash and recycling collection and assisting other staff with a variety of projects.

Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge interns work with refuge maintenance, including mowing, trimming, trail work, sign maintenance, light carpentry, trash collection and pickup. Biological work could include amphibian, mammal, and pollinator surveying, conducting community science projects, and habitat monitoring. Pocosin wetland restoration work includes clearing, monitoring, and measuring water control structures to record water levels within a habitat management unit. Educational programming assignments include leading/assisting with interpretive black bear tours on the refuge, Red Wolf programs at the Red Wolf Center, preschool wildlife programs, and restocking brochures across the refuge. 

Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge interns work with refuge maintenance, including mowing, trimming, trial work, sign maintenance, light carpentry, and assisting other staff with a variety of projects. Biological work could include water quality sampling, submerged aquatic vegetation monitoring, and assisting with ongoing research on the refuge. Less frequent assignments may include greeting visitors, answering questions, presenting/assisting with educational programs, restocking brochures across the refuge and occasionally assisting in the visitor center. 

Summer 2026 applications are currently being accepted. Applications will be accepted until January 6, 2026, or until 100 applications are received, whichever occurs first. 

To apply, please read the instructions on the refuge website and send a resume, cover letter, and three references to the email listed on the website.