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Ways You Can Volunteer

No matter what interests you or how much time you can spare, with so many different volunteer opportunities at Wildlife Rescue there’s bound to be one that suits you. Volunteers are a critical element to the success of Wildlife Rescue! Here are just some of the details on what these volunteers do.

Clinic Volunteer

Time Commitment: Varies (4 1/2 to 5 1/2 hrs per week depending on shift)
Duration: March through October
Minimum Age: 18 or on completion of Junior Volunteer Program
Supervisor: Animal Care Coordinator

The Job: The Clinic Volunteer works hands on with our wildlife patients. They are responsible for their day to day care which involves food preparation, weighing, medicating and feeding animals as well as cleaning and other general tasks. Clinic volunteers also have the opportunity to learn more advanced wildlife rehabilitation skills as they master the skills mentioned above. Training will be provided.

Clinic Volunteers are required to commit to one shift per week. Shifts are available 7 days a week as follows:

Morning: 8:00am - 1:30pm
Afternoon: 1:00pm - 6:30pm
Evening 6:00pm up to 10:30pm

Evening Hotline Volunteer

Time Commitment: 3 hrs per week
Duration: Year Round
Minimum Age: 18
Supervisor: Animal Care Coordinator

The Job: The Evening Hotline Volunteer assists the public by answering calls from our Wildlife Hotline between the hours of 5pm and 8pm. Incoming phone calls to our hotline, (650) 494-SAVE, after 5pm are referred to your home or cellular telephone number. Training will be provided.

Hotline Volunteers are required to commit to one shift per week. Shifts are available 7 days a week from 5pm to 8pm and are done from your home.

Reception & Animal Intake Volunteer

Time Commitment: 3 1/2 hrs per week
Duration: March - October
Minimum Age: 18
Supervisor: Animal Care Coordinator
Required Training: Hotline & Reception Class

The Job: The Reception and Animal Intake Volunteer is responsible for interfacing with the public. General duties include greeting the public, transferring incoming animals to the clinic, answering our Wildlife Hotline, fielding questions about wildlife as well as other administrative tasks.

Reception & Animal Intake Volunteers are required to commit to one shift per week. Shifts are available 7 days a week as follows:

Morning: 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
Afternoon: 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Junior Volunteer

Time Commitment: 3 hours per week
Duration: March through August
Minimum Age: 15
Supervisor: Animal Care Coordinator

The Job: The Junior Volunteer Program is a three month long program for volunteers aged 15-17. Primary duties involve food preparation, cleaning and sanitizing items used in the clinic and various other tasks as needed. Junior Volunteers do not handle animals. At the completion of the Junior Volunteer program the Junior Volunteer may be promoted to clinic volunteer with the approval of our Animal Care Coordinators. Training will be provided. Please note: Junior Volunteers can wait to begin volunteering until they are out of school for the year.

Junior Volunteers are required to commit to one shift per week. Shifts are available 7 days a week as follows, and can be flexible.

Shifts Available:
Morning 11am - 2pm
Afternoon 3pm - 6pm

Wildlife Education Volunteer

Time Commitment: 3 hours per month
Duration: Year Round
Minimum Age: 18
Supervisor: Wildlife Education Team Manager

The Job: The Wildlife Education Team Volunteers are members of our Community Education Program and conduct wildlife presentations for the community. Presentations may include one or more of our educational animals. There are a variety of opportunities available within the Education Team; please contact us for more details.

Training involves shadowing an experienced volunteer at Wildlife Education presentations and 5 hours of clinic observation.

Wildlife Education Team Volunteers are required to commit to one presentation per month. Times vary.

Animal Home Care Volunteer

The Job: Animal Home Care Volunteers complete the last phase of the rehabilitation process, by providing outdoor enclosures for our wildlife patients in order to prepare them for release. Enclosure sizes vary by species and can range from 2’ × 2’ x 2’ to 10’ × 20’ × 12’. All materials will be provided by WRI.

The time commitment for this volunteer position is minimal; feeding and watering once a day and cleaning enclosures in between releases is all that is required. We are currently in need of volunteers who can care for adult doves, ducks, hummingbirds, insectivores (the most common being cedar waxwings, robins and wrens) as well as squirrels. Contact the Animal Care Coordinator fro more information about these opportunities.