CROW Feathers: Teilil Garcia-Gonzalez, Wildlife Rehabilitation Intern

August 24, 2026

CROW logo is blue and green with white animals.

A woman with dark hair in green medical scrubs looks down at the burrowing owl in her hands. The owl is wrapped in a white towel and is being fed with metal tongs.
Teilil holds a burrowing owl while it is tong fed during treatment.

Where are you from?

I’m from Miami, Florida.

What’s your position at CROW and how long are you here for?

I was a 6-month Wildlife Rehabilitation Intern. Also, I previously completed an 8-week Wildlife Care Externship here and was a First Responder volunteer in the summer of 2023.

What’s your favorite part of your internship?

My favorite part of the internship was definitely the time spent with fellow interns. It was great to be around others who are just as passionate as I am, and equally as excited to learn. Many lifelong friends were made here!

Favorite animal and why?

My favorite animal has been the Tasmanian devil since I was little, but my favorite animal that I have worked with has to be either the pelicans or ospreys! They have so much personality; every time you work with one, you never know what you’re going to get.

What’s your most memorable CROW moment so far?

One of my most memorable moments at CROW was probably when I had to round up 9 mottled ducklings for release. They were very quick and slippery, so it was quite the challenge! I got to do it with another intern — shoutout Shannon — so it ended up being something we laugh about to this day.

A woman in green scrubs holds a chuck-will's-widow in blue-gloved hands, smiling down at the bird.
Teilil restrains a chuck-will’s-widow during designated feeding time.

What activities or hobbies do you enjoy outside of CROW?

I love walking the trails in Sanibel and Fort Myers to birdwatch with my friends and little cousins. It’s so fun to be able to say I’ve worked with this or that species.

What has been the most surprising thing during your time here?

The most surprising thing during my internship was seeing the amount of knowledge all of the staff have about so many different species of animals, and how much there is still to learn. It will forever be a growing field and that makes me excited for a lifetime of learning!

What are some goals or aspirations for the future?

I’m currently working towards becoming a wildlife/zoo veterinarian in the future. I will be applying to vet school this coming cycle, and in the meantime, I’m hoping to obtain my Associate Wildlife Rehabilitator certification to continue doing my part in wildlife conservation.

CROW Feathers are ongoing features of our student interns and externs. Interested in applying to CROW? Click here to learn more.