Volunteer

Volunteers are the backbone of our organization. From animal care to data entry, volunteers keep the Wildlife Center and our animals alive! Whatever volunteer opportunity you choose, your contribution of time makes a BIG difference and helps give wildlife a second chance. The Wildlife Center is a great place for people who are passionate about wildlife conservation, and for those interested in gaining experience toward an animal-related career. Even if you’re not working directly with the animals, watching as they are returned back to the wild is a powerful and extremely satisfying experience. Click here for inspirational stories about some of our stellar volunteers! In a variety of ways, volunteers help care for roughly 5,000 sick, injured and orphaned animals that come through our Center each year. Most animals arrive during April through September, the “baby season.” Over 150 volunteers are needed to help with the enormous task of caring for them. During the remainder of the year, we continue to rehabilitate animals that are sick, injured or orphaned.

How do I Volunteer?

Requirements for becoming a WCSV volunteer:

• You are at least 16 years old.
• You attend one orientation and one basic care class (for animal care volunteers)
• You work within the Center’s guidelines.
• You volunteer at least four hours per week for two months (Note: We are not able to offer community service credit for animal care.)
• You begin with the knowledge that WCSV is a wildlife hospital, with the goal of successfully releasing our wild patients.
• You should be willing to work hard, have fun, and learn a lot!

Training you can expect:

• Orientation and Overview Meeting
• Basic Care Class: Basics of wildlife rehabilitation including health and safety
• Other classes throughout the year on specific topics including animal care, diseases, and identification of species.

Volunteer Orientation Classes:

 

 

How You Can Help

Animal Care

In-Center Care

The Wildlife Center is a medical facility and our animal care volunteers are crucial in meeting the needs of the wildlife in temporary residence. Birds and mammals must be fed, medicated and kept in clean surroundings. Volunteers must be willing to do laundry, dishes and a variety of other cleaning jobs. At our busiest, we have 3, 4-hour shifts per day and volunteers sign up for at least one shift per week and make a commitment to remain through October.

Home Care

Do you have room in your home to care for injured and orphaned birds and mammals until they are ready for release? If your living situation and lifestyle allow you to join our home care team, we need you! Different species require different time commitments and housing requirements. You provide the food and some supplies and we provide the training. A truly rewarding experience!

WCSV Internship Program
*Please note that the Internship Program is currently CLOSED for Spring / Summer 2013. We look forward to reviewing your applications next year. Thank you for your interest and please consider getting started with volunteer opportunities today!
Interns are responsible for providing care to the orphaned, sick and injured wildlife admitted to WCSV. Interns will get to experience the examination process of incoming wildlife, learn different treatment techniques, capture and release wildlife, go out in the field to reunite over-rescued animals with their parents, perform basic animal housing, provide enrichment for patients in our enclosures and assist staff in training new and current volunteers. Interns will also learn how to do basic diagnostic techniques such as avian and mammal fecal testing and blood work.

Requirements:

This is an unpaid internship with a minimum commitment of 20 hours per week for two months.

Frist Step: Send a cover letter and current resume with your Internship Application to Ashley Kinney, Wildlife Rehabilitation Supervisor- akinney@wcsv.org, mail it to PO Box 360048, Milpitas, CA 95036, or

Second Step: WCSV will contact you for an interview. Once you are accepted, WCSV will contact you and sign you up for two required training classes.

Final Step: After you have taken our Orientation and Basic Care Class, we will add you to the schedule. You will need to provide us with a start date and end date.

Education and Community Outreach

One of the most important missions of WCSV is to inform and educate the public about wildlife issues and how people can co-exist with the wildlife around them. Do you enjoy talking to and sharing information with small to large groups? Join the team and visit community groups, outreach programs, summer camps and schools in an effort to encourage people to live harmoniously with wildlife. Training provided—all you need is enthusiasm. For more information on the different volunteer opportunities within our Education and Outreach Department Click Here.

Office Support

We often need help in the office with data entry, mailings, filing, and other general office duties. Do you have administrative skills you’d enjoy putting to work for a great cause?

Fundraising/Event Planning

Help us with fundraising events that encourage the community to support WCSV. We need help with mailings and are also looking for volunteers to help with grant writing.

Professional Services

Lend your professional skills or the skills of your firm to one of our events or projects! From legal advice, accounting oversight to catering, we can put your skills to great use!

Newsletter

Share your writing talents. We are looking for volunteers who can provide articles for our Tracks newsletter.

Transport Team

Volunteers with a valid California Driver’s license and a vehicle large enough to hold 1-2 large animal carriers are needed to transport animals. Transportation could be to a vet appointment, or assisting with a pick-up of an injured or orphaned animal.

In addition, The Humane Society of Silicon Valley receives injured, orphaned or trapped animals each day. These animals need to be transported to our Center so that we can provide the medical, rehabilitation and release services that they require. Volunteers sign up for one shift a week (morning or afternoon) to transport the wildlife from the Humane Society to our Center.

Gardening, Center Maintenance, and Repairs

If you prefer the outdoors, we have many new aviaries and enclosures to build as well as existing structures that are in need of repair. If you have a penchant for gardening, we can always use help beautifying our outdoor area.