We are currently recruiting for new animal care volunteers! Please email kristencfw@yahoo.com to sign up for our next volunteer tour/orientation. Space is limited! Please sign up only if you are ready to commit a minimum of 4 hours per week for 3 months.

volunteervolunteersinternBonnie

Wildlife Rehab Internship or Volunteer Opportunities at the Center for Wildlife

Each year at the Center for Wildlife we admit more and more animals, almost 1600 last year.  Yet with our limited budget we are still short-staffed, and rely heavily on our volunteers and interns.  We couldn't manage the number of cases and diversity of species we treat without them!  Because of this fact, we take the roles of Animal Care Volunteers and Wildlife Care Intern very seriously and hope you will too.  We need volunteers and interns that we can depend on, and who can take instruction easily.  Our goal is to give each animal a clean, comfortable, stress-free environment, with as much intensive care from experienced staff as necessary.  When a volunteer or intern calls out or doesn't show up, leaving coverage thin or non-existent, we are not able to do this as well as we should.   Please be sure that you are ready to make this commitment before you apply!  We look forward to working with new volunteers and interns and feel that the Center can be a fun and fulfilling place when everyone does their part and the animals are well cared for. 

Wildlife Rehab Volunteering at the Center for Wildlife

Volunteers are an integral part of the Center for Wildlife. Each year, the Center treats over 1,500 birds, mammals and reptiles. The role of a Wildlife Care Assistant is to help create a healing environment to maximize the animals' release potential. Some of the volunteer opportunities are feeding nestling birds and young mammals, monitoring animals' conditions and preparing foods, cage cleaning and outdoor cage habitat maintenance, and assisting the public with questions concerning wildlife. General cleaning and some administrative tasks may also be included. As one volunteer has said, "The Center gives me a chance to do something positive, I am able to see the results of all our hard work. Releasing an animal back to the wild, giving it a second chance, is the greatest thrill I have ever experienced."

A real compassion for animals and a willingness to learn are the main requirements for volunteers. We do, however, require that you are at least sixteen years old. We provide detailed training for new volunteers.

Animal Care Volunteer Application Process - Please read below and follow steps given
Because of the large number of animals and species that come through the our door and the varying species' needs, we have a structured application and training process that volunteers go through before they are put up on the schedule by themselves.  Training involves many hours of Staff and Volunteer Trainers time.  We realize this is an investment however, and we are happy to take the time to train serious volunteers.  We are all working towards the common goal of providing the best care for our patients until release.  If you feel you are ready to make the commitment of 4 hours per week for a minimum of three months, then please follow the instructions below.  We look forward to welcoming you!
Step 1: Download the volunteer application, fill it out and mail it in. Download our Volunteer Information/Application
Step 2:  Once we receive the application, we will review and get back to you with a couple of orientation date options.  Orientation is a two hour introduction to the Center for Wildlife and our needs and expectations. 
Step 3:  Once you have attended an orientation, you will need to sign up for a four-hour workshop.  This is a hands-on introduction to animal care, cleaning, and food preparation, as well as an orientation to our 34 outdoor enclosures. 
Step 4:  After the orientation and workshop have been completed, volunteers generally shadow with a seasoned volunteer for two shifts. 
Step 5:  Dig in!  After shadowing and the workshop volunteers are generally able to be on their own, helping to care for some of our up to 200 patients during the busy season!

Please note:  Our staff members wear many hats.  Upon mailing in the application, please allow up to two weeks for a response.  We appreciate the interest and your patience!  We also have a volunteer capacity and may not be accepting new volunteers.  In this event we will hold on to the application until the next available opening. 

Meet some of our Volunteers in action:

If you would like to volunteer your services or learn more about opportunities at The Center for Wildlife, please contact us.

Download our Volunteer Information/Application

Wildlife Rehab Internships at the Center for Wildlife

The Internship Program at the Center for Wildlife is a work/learning experience for students interested in the native (and some non-native) wildlife of our region. We hope that our internship can serve as an exciting introduction for students to wildlife career opportunities. Typically, our interns are majoring in one or more of the following areas of study: Biology, Zoology, Marine Biology, Psychobiology, Wildlife Management, Environmental Science, Animal Husbandry or Veterinary Science. The large number of animals and diversity of species admitted to CFW give our interns the unique opportunity to become familiar with many different species' diets, habitats, and conservation needs. Due to the hands-on and sometimes veterinary nature of rehabilitation, interns will also have an opportunity to focus on physiological, behavioral and some pathological aspects of the animals admitted.

Download our Intern Program Information/Application

If you have any questions please contact us


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