Volunteer with animals in some unparalleled locations and see some incredible sites on one of our Great Projects or Signature Tours! Explore intrepid destinations, make some amazing friends and contribute to integral conservation schemes on a range of projects and tours through various types of volunteer work in order to help save some of the most endangered species of wildlife on the planet.

Whether you dream of following tiger trails in India, engaging in underwater ballet with a giant manta ray, travelling deep into the Peruvian Amazon, tracking desert elephants through the vast and inhospitable Kalahari or helping to release infant turtles into the wild in Sri Lanka - the roster of volunteering opportunities and signature tours offered by The Great Projects will not disappoint!

5 types of volunteering with animals programs 1. Wildlife Orphanages Wildlife orphanages are similar to sanctuaries, in that they also take in injured animals. Volunteers will provide care for the animals, clean enclosures and may even get to participate in simple veterinary tasks and assist in releases back to the wild when possible. If you’re the kind who’s always glued to the wildlife shows on the TV, it’s time to get up off your couch and get on a plane, to be a volunteer for a conservation project! Come to take a walk on the wilder side and bring along your zingy energy ’cause you’ll be a.

What is volunteering and why do it?

Volunteering allows travellers the perfect opportunity to travel to some of the world’s most far-flung destinations whilst doing some meaningful conservation work in the process. Volunteer with The Great Projects and you will really have a lasting and sustainable impact on some of the planet's most incredible and endangered species, as well as the local communities with which they co-habituate. Help in a range of tasks including habitat restoration, animal rescue and rehabilitation and much, much more!

Who is it for and when to go?

Volunteering with The Great Projects is an opportunity that anyone over the age of 18 can enjoy – any time and any place! We also offer projects specially designed for families and for students, so whether you’re a single traveller wanting to work alongside the ‘Big Five’ in South Africa or are a university group wanting to explore the wilds of the Amazon Rainforest – get in contact with us and join the trip of a lifetime!

What types of activities are carried out?

A whole host of exciting activities are offered on our extensive range of projects. From coral reef conservation in the stunning waters of Raja Ampat to the creation of enrichment for orangutans in Borneo – the sheer diversity of activities on offer here will ensure that there is something for everyone to enjoy! What’s more, all of our projects are designed to really help towards integral conservation initiatives, meaning that every activity you undertake as a volunteer with us really helps to make a difference to endangered species of wildlife and the local communities living alongside them.

Wildlife Hospital Volunteer

Orientations for Wildlife Hospital Volunteers
(Ages 15 and Over)

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we have not yet scheduled the next orientations for new Wildlife Hospital volunteers. Normally orientations are held in late February, so please check back.

Once registration is available, you will be able to choose either the Saturday or the Sunday orientation when you register. There is a non-refundable $15 registration fee for orientation.There is a non-refundable $15 registration fee for this orientation.

*Please note, if you are between 15 and 17 years old, you must attend the scheduled orientation with your own parent or guardian.

Treat and Release

Our wildlife hospital cares for nearly 4,000 wild animals a year, from as many as 200 different species. We provide ongoing care for our patients seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year with a dedicated team of staff and more than 300 volunteers.

Our goal? To restore our wild patients to full health so that they may be released safely back to their natural habitats.

Volunteers learn species identification, hygiene and safety precautions and protocols, proper diet and food preparation, physical therapy regimens, and proper handling techniques. Hospital staff and volunteers work to provide comprehensive diagnoses and treatments for our patients utilizing x-rays, blood work and more. Everyone works together to accommodate the feeding, cleaning and medication requirements of each patient.

Hospital Volunteer Requirements

• Volunteers must be 15 years or older (see our Young Adult Community Service Program for middle school students ages 12 – 14.)
• Volunteers age 15 – 17 will be part of our WildCare Student Volunteer Program. Learn more here…
• All volunteers must attend a Volunteer Orientation. Please note: There is a non-refundable $15 registration fee for this orientation. If, after attending orientation, you decide to volunteer, you will pay the volunteer training fee of $65, for a total of $80. This fee includes a year’s membership to WildCare and materials for the training classes. Partial scholarships available on a case by case basis. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.
• All volunteers must fill out, sign, and turn in all required documents.
• New incoming volunteers must attend a shadowing day and four required classes (a full 10 hours) of hands-on training for the Wildlife Hospital.
• Volunteers 18 and over must commit to one 4-hour shift a week. Volunteers ages 15-17 must commit to one shift a week between 1.5 to 4-hours long (hours are adjusted during school). The minimum commitment for new hospital volunteers is from March through the end of WildCare’s “Baby Season” (usually ending late October).

We hope you will continue to volunteer past this minimum commitment as our experienced volunteers are our most valuable resource!

• Active volunteers must provide proof of a current tetanus vaccination.
• Volunteers should be prepared to have fun, get dirty, follow instructions for safe and effective animal care, and LEARN A LOT!

Serious Commitment

We always ask potential volunteers to seriously evaluate their schedules and other commitments before they join our volunteer team, because WildCare’s hospital is 95% volunteer driven and our wildlife patients depend on the volunteers for their food, caging and medical needs. Volunteers are expected to attend their scheduled shift every week, and missing a scheduled shift can impact our patients’ well being!

We ask all incoming volunteers to make a commitment to a regular volunteer shift from the date of their first training class through our “Baby Season” which usually ends in late October. Due to the extensive training needed, this is the minimum requirement and most volunteers continue to volunteer beyond this original commitment. Each trained volunteer must commit to one 4-hour shift in the hospital per week. You will volunteer on the same shift every week.

Shifts are scheduled 7 days a week at 9am – 1pm or 1pm – 5pm year-round. During the summer, shifts are also needed in the songbird room from 5pm – 9pm. These shifts are available to volunteers in their second year. At any given time some shifts may be full and not taking new volunteers.

New Volunteer Orientations

All upcoming orientations require pre-registration. If you have any remaining questions, contact Kelle Kacmarcik, Director of Volunteer Services at volunteer@discoverwildcare.org or call 415-453-1000 x21 for more information.

Health and Safety

Volunteering with wild animals involves some inherent health risks and WildCare is committed to minimizing or eliminating these risks. The health and safety of our volunteers is our top priority. Protective clothing such as gloves, eye protection and face masks is required when handling many of our patients. Volunteers who do not follow proper safety precautions in the hospital will be asked to leave WildCare.

• It is recommended that people with compromised immune systems DO NOT volunteer in wildlife rehabilitation.
• We recommend that anyone volunteering at WildCare inform their regular doctor that they are working with wildlife.
• Pregnant women are not allowed to volunteer with the animals at WildCare.
• Proper safety and hygiene precautions must be followed at all times.
• Volunteers are required to have a current tetanus vaccine, but no other vaccinations are required.

Zoonotic Diseases

All animals can carry, contract and spread various diseases, and the wildlife we handle is no exception. Although many diseases are species-specific, some may be transferred between species and to us. Diseases we can contract from animals are called zoonotic diseases or zoonoses.

Zoonoses are a concern in wildlife rehabilitation. However, proper hygiene (washing hands before and after handling animals, eating, or using the washroom) and proper safety techniques (wearing gloves or masks as required) greatly minimize risk.

Volunteers with Pets

Wildlife Volunteer Programs

Some diseases that are not transmittable to us may be a danger to our pets. These are called epizoonotic diseases. Potentially sick wild animals must never come in contact with domestic animals. The following precautions should be considered:

• Be careful to change out of your volunteer clothing and wash well before going into pet-occupied areas of your home.
• A special pair of shoes should be set aside for exclusive use in the Wildlife Hospital.
• Volunteers with pet birds should take additional precautions as some avian conditions may be more easily transmitted between WildCare’s patients and pet birds. Wash hands frequently and well, change clothes before handling pet birds, and inform your supervisor and Medical Staff that you have birds so that your contact with contagious patients may be minimized.

With these precautions, the risks to you and your pets will be kept to a minimum. Everyone at WildCare loves animals, and most of us share our lives with domestic animals. With the precautions taken above, your pets (and ours!) will remain healthy and safe while you volunteer at WildCare.

Volunteer Training

All incoming volunteers attending annualorientations will be required to attend a shadowing day and complete our 4-class New Hospital Volunteer Training Series, a full 10 hours of in-depth instruction in animal care and wildlife hospital operations.

Wildlife Volunteer In California

Once working in the Wildlife Hospital, volunteers progress through 3 training levels (click for WildCare’s Training Level System) learning increasingly advanced skills in medical treatment and animal handling. Volunteers are expected to master the skills of one level before progressing to the next, however volunteers are encouraged to ask questions and observe procedures at any level in order to increase their training and experience.

A Sombre Experience As A Wildlife Volunteer In Tsavo Filjeac Season

WildCare’s rehabilitation hospital is a teaching hospital and staff and senior volunteers are always available for questions and help.

In addition, volunteers are required to attend at least one California Department of Fish & Wildlife-approved educational class per year, participate in safety training and successfully pass an annual safety quiz. Classes are held frequently at WildCare and volunteers are encouraged to attend as many classes as they wish.

Clothing

Volunteers are required to wear closed-toe shoes at all times. Other clothing guidelines are at the volunteer’s discretion, but we recommend comfortable long sleeves and pants. Always wear something you do not mind getting dirty! Work at WildCare is very hard on clothing. Most volunteers have separate clothing they change into when they arrive. Medical scrubs are always a good choice.

A Sombre Experience As A Wildlife Volunteer In Tsavo Filjeac National Park

Register online now!

Wildlife Volunteer Work

Questions? Email volunteer@discoverwildcare.org or call 415-453-1000 x21.