Volunteer
Volunteer Cleaning Magpie
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 through October (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.
Examining injured Brandt’s Cormorant
Photo by Elizabeth Kricfalusi
2012 Volunteer Orientation Classes
Thursday, February 9, 3-5pm (Class Full)
Friday, February 10, 3-5pm
Saturday, February 11, 9-11am
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.
I’m interested. How do I volunteer?
How You Can Help
Sleeping squirrels
Photo by Elizabeth Kricfalusi
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!
Scouts troop visit
Photo by Jen Constantin
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.
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!
Jewels in Flight 2008
Photo by Dave Constantin
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.
