Get Started
WildCare is now accepting applications for new adult volunteers (age 18+) to work with our animal patients hands-on in the Wildlife Hospital. Under 18? Learn more about our Youth Volunteer Program for high school students!
If you are interested in applying for our 2025 adult Wildlife Hospital Volunteer recruitment, please carefully read this page to learn more about how to apply and the upcoming in-person orientation.
Important note: All Wildlife Hospital volunteer positions will take place at our transition site off North San Pedro Rd in San Rafael for 2025. This is an exciting opportunity to get your foot in the door as a volunteer at our brand new facility when it opens!
Anyone wanting to become a Wildlife Hospital volunteer must be able to meet the following requirements (no exceptions):
- Register for and attend the mandatory in-person orientation on Saturday, March 1, 2025 1pm - 4pm (San Rafael location to be announced)
- If you decide to onboard as a volunteer after attending the orientation presentation, a $75 nonrefundable training fee is also required, which can be paid here. You may also request a scholarship if this is a hardship for you by sending an email to volunteer@discoverwildcare.org.
- Complete all online and in-person trainings
- Commit to a 4-hour weekly shift in WildCare's Wildlife Hospital
- Commit to a minimum of nine months on the weekly shift (though we hope you’ll stay for many years to come!)
Important: Email is our primary form of communication. You must regularly check and respond to your email to be considered for a volunteer position. Please also note that WildCare has a limited number of volunteer positions available, so not all applicants will be accepted.
Please complete an application here and mark your calendar for the in-person orientation, which will take place on Saturday, March 1st 1pm - 4pm in San Rafael (location TBA).
Other volunteer opportunities at WildCare:
Youth Volunteer Opportunities (for high school students under 18)
Wildlife Ambassador Volunteers (volunteer to care for WildCare's resident educational animals)
Internships: Wildlife Hospital Internships and Volunteer and Events Internships
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Volunteering in WildCare's Wildlife Hospital
Our Wildlife Hospital cares for over 3,500 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 250 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.