Volunteer
We are currently accepting volunteers of all ages and abilities. We choose jobs that are best suited to your age and skills. Jr. Volunteers (under age 16) will be limited to mostly cleaning and will always be supervised by an experienced volunteer. As an uncertified volunteer, you will not have a lot of direct contact with the wildlife as the DEC requires all volunteers that handle and feed wildlife to be certified. You can take the DEC Class I Wildlife License test when you are 16. All volunteers are eligible to work closely with our rescue Kitties, Pups and Livestock.
There are a variety of volunteer positions available including:
Fiona the woodchuck was rescued as a 2 week old orphan after her burrow was bulldozed. She was released this past Summer.
DEC Class I Certified Volunteers
If you are certified or would like to get certified, you can work as a volunteer rehabber at our barn or rehab animals in your home under the supervision of Stay Wild. A DEC Class I License authorizes a New York resident to rehabilitate or care for injured or young orphaned wildlife for their return back to the wild.
Learn more about the Wildlife Rehabilitation Exam
Fundraising/ Outreach Volunteers
We are looking for experienced volunteers to hold fundraising events for Stay Wild. Rehab work is very expensive and is paid all out of pocket by Jane and Dan and with any donations we receive. We are also very passionate about educating the public about animals and getting them into the right care so we use social media and outreach opportunities as much as possible. Photos and videos are a big part of outreach to the public.
Stay Wild Foster Family
If you are interested in becoming a foster family and providing care for kittens or cats in your home until they are adopted, go to our Foster page. Kittens are fostered in pairs or groups with siblings or other kittens of the same age and cats can be fostered individually or in pairs. All medical treatment will be provided by Stay Wild.
All of our rescue kittens and cats are raised in homes with families where they receive lots of love and learn to co-exist with other pets, children and lots of activity.
Facility Volunteers
If you volunteer at our facility there are many jobs that you will be asked to do. These jobs may include but are not limited to: -Cleaning and washing -collecting browse, nuts and seeds, and other wild foods -assisting with facility development work including building, scraping, painting, etc. -socializing and spending time with the cats and kittens in our care
All of our fawns were rescued by our volunteers who drive out to safely take them into rehab or meet the kind people who rescue them and call us for help. Our drivers also bring fawns to the wildlife hospital when they need treatment.
Drivers
We rely on responsible licensed drivers over the age of 18 to meet people at safe public meeting places to pick up wildlife in need of rehabilitation or take wildlife to Cornell Wildlife Hospital for treatment or bring wildlife that they have treated back to our facility. We also need drivers to pick up feed and other supplies.
Rules & Guidelines
ALWAYS ask permission before doing anything around or near any animal.
Speak very quietly and calmly in any area where there are animals being cared for.
Do not feed anything to the animals unless directly instructed by Jane or Dan
Do not take any photos or videos unless you have been given permission or asked to by Jane or Dan.
Always wash your hands before going near the animals, between the animals and after working anywhere around the animal areas, and before eating anything yourself.
Always wear gloves when working around or near certain animals as instructed by Jane or Dan
Sign the volunteer log before leaving after your volunteer shift.