Wildlife Care Volunteer
LOCATION: Larry Ellison Conservation Center for Wildlife Care (opening spring 2024)
Located at 24103 Congress Springs Road, Saratoga, California
SUPERVISOR: Wildlife Supervisor and Wildlife Technician
GOAL OF POSITION: Provide the best possible care and rehabilitation for all wild animals sheltered at PHS/SPCA.
TIME COMMITMENT: At least three hours per week for a minimum of one year. Shifts are available 9 am to 6 pm each day and the position is year-round.
DUTIES: Wildlife Volunteers have a rare and unique opportunity to work directly with and handle a variety of wild animals. Job duties vary, depending on the number and variety of wildlife housed at PHS/SPCA. Basic duties include cleaning cages, washing dishes, and doing laundry for the animals, general housekeeping, feeding animals, providing enrichment, setting up enclosures, handling and working with animals (under direct supervision), assisting with wildlife-related emergencies (oil spills, etc.), and releasing successfully rehabilitated animals.
TRAINING: Completion of Volunteer Orientation and Intro to Wildlife Class. On-the-job team training is provided by the Wildlife staff.
QUALIFICATIONS: Must have a keen interest in getting to know and handle a wide variety of wild animals; good physical stamina; the ability to follow exact instructions and work independently; must not be squeamish about preparing meals which may include live grub worms and dead mice. This position is open to those 16 and older.
EMOTIONAL CONSIDERATIONS: You will be responsible for saving many lives, but no matter how well you do your job, many of the animals will simply not make it. You must be able to concentrate on what you can do, and not what you can’t. You must clearly understand that you will have done your job well when a wild animal remains wild, as their very lives depend on it. This is not a department to come into if you want to play with animals. The department operates on the three R’s — Rescue, Rehabilitate and Release. Animals that are too sick or injured to be rehabilitated will be euthanized.