Ava Smith

Rehabilitation Intern

Ava is a current zoology student at North Carolina State University and will be graduating in the fall. In 2021 she started volunteering with the Carolina Raptor Center, first in education then in wildlife rehabilitation. Following that she has worked as a veterinary assistant intern with the Turtle Rescue Team at NC State’s veterinary school, and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. She has also been involved in research, having helped with nest box monitoring projects, studying antibiotic resistant bacteria on/around bird feeders, and most recently coauthoring a paper about snake parasites!

Outside of work, Ava enjoys birding (with a side of photography), hiking, drawing, reading, and occasionally backpacking. She is excited to explore the islands and learn more about the PNW and wildlife rehabilitation!