We are now recruiting for the 2023 Season!

If you have an interest in helping native wildlife, please read through all the details below, including the Volunteer Manual, before signing up to attend the Volunteer Information Session.

First:  Read the Job Description Thoroughly!

Job Title:  Volunteer Wildlife Care Assistant

Time Commitment:  Because work in animal care requires a significant amount of training, we ask for a minimum 6-month commitment, 4 hours/week.  Volunteers are scheduled to work the same shift every week.  Wildlife Care Assistants begin volunteering at the Wildlife Center at the beginning of one of two sessions per year, which are based on the seasonal cycles of wildlife and have different duties (see below):

  • Spring/Summer Baby Season (March – September)
  • Fall/Winter Season (October – February)

Volunteers must sign up for a regular, weekly shift and attend these for the entirety of that session.  Please be aware that some shifts have a greater need, and placement will be where the need is greatest within the volunteer’s availability.

Duties During the Fall/Winter Season (October – February): 

Year round, volunteers will spend much of their time doing chores – cleaning and setting up cages (e.g. hauling large branches), doing laundry and dishes, general cleaning and sanitizing, sweeping, mopping, and maintaining a clean hospital environment. Volunteers also complete maintenance, husbandry, and special cleaning/organizing projects (e.g. shoveling new sand and gravel into enclosures, etc.).

During this season, there are very few direct animal care tasks, as patient load can be very sparse throughout the fall and winter.  In many cases, the patients being admitted during this time are staff-only due to either species or medical situations.  Direct animal care training for new volunteers takes place during the Spring/Summer Baby Season.

Fall/Winter Season Shifts:

Shifts are available seven days a week at the following times:

  • 9am – 12pm
  • 1pm – 4pm

Duties During Spring/Summer Season (March – September): 

During this season, Wildlife Care Assistants perform the chores listed above, as well as the following: Work alongside our expert staff rehabilitators at the Wildlife Center to assist with the daily cleaning, weighing, charting, feeding, and care of injured, ill, and orphaned wildlife patients. Volunteers prepare and deliver diets (which can include live insects and dead prey) for patients, and assist-feed young mammals and nestling/juvenile songbirds by hand. Exact tasks will vary throughout the year, coinciding with the seasonal cycles of our local wildlife.  Volunteers who complete their 6-month commitment during this season and who meet set criteria may be given the opportunity to learn more advanced animal handling and medical skills if they choose to stay on.

Shifts:

Shifts are available seven days a week at the following times:

  • 8am – 12pm
  • 4pm – 8pm (generally available April – August; exact start/end date varies each year)

Requirements: 

  • Must be at least 18 years of age
  • Completion of Volunteer Information Session, onsite Wildlife Center orientation, and basic skills training with Wildlife Center staff
  • Able to bend, lift, carry 30 pounds, and stand/walk while doing strenuous activities for most of the volunteer shift
  • Ability to work outdoors in all weather conditions
  • Be able to work cooperatively with a diverse group of staff, volunteers, and interns of all ages and backgrounds
  • Reliable and prompt for shifts
  • Can successfully work in an extremely busy, ever-changing, and fast-paced environment
  • Capable of working under limited supervision after fully trained
  • Comfortable approaching staff with questions and asking for direction when needed
  • Open to learning from coaching and on-the-job training
  • Understanding the first priority at all times is the patients’ health and quality of life
  • A superior attention to detail
  • Good judgment

Second:  Read the Volunteer Manual

If this position sounds like a great fit, please read the Wildlife Care Volunteer Manual for additional information.

Finally:  Register for a Wildlife Volunteer Information Session

This two-hour session, presented by our lead Wildlife Center Staff, will provide you with great detail about the kinds of animals we care for, what each season looks like, the requirements and expectations set for our volunteers, and what a typical day at the center looks like during baby season. If you are considering joining our team, this will give you an in-depth look behind the scenes and prepare you for what to expect!

The next information session is currently Saturday, September 9th 10am to 2pm. Sign up using the link below and staff will be in contact if there are any changes.

Sign Up