Do you love wildlife? Do you like to drive? Become a WILDLIFE COURIER and help transport injured wildlife to wildlife rehabilitation centers.
Wildlife in Need is a non-profit volunteer wildlife rescue organization that captures injured and orphaned wildlife and transports those animals to a licensed wildlife rehabilitation center.
There are two levels of volunteering: Wildlife Couriers and Wildlife Capture volunteers.
A Wildlife Courier is exactly as it sounds….you receive a phone call that a transport is needed. If you are available, you arrive at necessary location. You will be handed a proper container that has been secured appropriately which you place in your car and drive to the location accepting the animal. There is NO CONTACT with the animal. On average the drive is an hour away.
Training is available online and all the necessary information needed will be provided while on the job. Training costs $20.00 and is reimbursed after 12 months of active volunteering.
Requirements:
driver’s license
insured reliable vehicle.
Capture/Transport is also like it sounds, but with this position, you will be the specialist arriving on scene to orchestrate the capture and containment of the animal. Sometimes this is as easy as sliding a piece of cardboard under a box that has been placed on top of the animal by the finder. Other times it’s a little more work where you may need to physically capture the animal (owl in a soccer net for instance), then securing the animal in an appropriate container and transporting it to an appropriate rehabilitator OR handing it off to a Wildlife Courier so they can transport it.
There is online training and a period of apprenticeship (in the field or at a wildlife center). This training is $50.00 and you will be certified through the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
Requirements:
driver’s license
insured reliable vehicle
passing C&T online course
obtaining a sponsorship from a PA licensed wildlife rehabilitator (we help with that)
receiving your permit from the PA Game Commission.