Herpetofauna Technician Internship

Location and Schedule

Location:

Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society, Maya Mountains, Belize.

Open Period:
June 15th - November 30th, 2026.

Duration:
Sessions range from 2 to 5 weeks; 4 weeks recommended.

Hours per Week: 35-40.

Cost: $289 USD per week.

The Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society operates a research and education center in the Maya Mountains of Belize. This small grassroots not‑for‑profit organization conserves Belize’s natural and cultural heritage through education, conservation, and research. We host interns to train international and local students in environmental and wildlife management, field research techniques, and data collection protocols. The knowledge gained is compiled into peer‑reviewed publications, government reports, field guides, and other materials that increase the global visibility of Belizean fauna, aid in their management, and ultimately support conservation.

The goal of this internship is to give students varied experience in tropical herpetofauna studies, developing skills that support future education and employment opportunities. The main component involves establishing long‑term herpetofauna monitoring projects—habitat characterization, observational surveys, and mark‑recapture of frogs and turtles—under the guidance of Ecorana tutors and T.R.E.E.S staff. Baseline data will contribute to future ecological studies of frog and turtle populations on T.R.E.E.S property and adjacent protected areas.

This training focuses on herpetofauna (reptile and amphibian) census techniques such as acoustic and visual encounter surveys, turtle radio‑telemetry, and amphibian habitat creation, among other research projects. For the turtle radio telemetry project interns will be trained in telemetry equipment, tracking movements of tagged turtles in aquatic and terrestrial environments, and studying their responses to sudden flooding conditions.

• Learn tropical herps by sight and sound in the Maya Mountains.
• Perform herpetological surveys—including habitat characterization, visual‑acoustic encounter surveys along transects, and capture‑mark‑recapture—for project objectives.
• Handle reptiles and amphibians caught; collect field data on size, sex, breeding status, species identification; conduct fungal swabbing and tagging for mark‑recapture.
• Lead the White‑Lipped Mud Turtle movement, habitat use, and flooding response study using radio‑telemetry.
• Monitor created amphibian breeding habitat; conduct population assessments of hatchling mud turtles using funnel traps; maintain habitat by removing invasive plants and monitoring water levels.
• Maintain a captive breeding and head‑starting Blue‑Spotted Treefrog population under biosecurity protocols.
• Collaborate with T.R.E.E.S researchers, international collaborators, and other interns on protocol development and write protocols for ongoing field work and data collection.
• Implement field protocols with T.R.E.E.S staff and Ecorana tutors to establish optimal long‑term monitoring locations.
• Use GPS to navigate to and mark survey locations.
• Possibly map frog/turtle habitat using ArcGIS, if proficient in the software.
• Share knowledge with local community and collaborators.
• Complete a 4–5 page summary report outlining future research protocols.
• Assist in creating captions for social media posts to update the public on station activities.
• Depending on project involvement, collaborate on future publications, learning systematic data entry and scientific report preparation.

The internship fee covers room and board (meals Monday‑Friday), full access to lab equipment, and training by professional on‑site biologists. Food is a combination of self‑catering in a communal kitchen with provided ingredients and prepared meals, depending on other groups present. Lodging is in dormitory‑style rustic cabins shared with same‑sex interns, with access to showers, restrooms, and a kitchen. The program allows interns to work independently after the initial training period.

Citizens from Latin America and the Caribbean are eligible for a 50% discount, and Belizeans receive an additional discount. For…