If you are passionate about wild animals and their welfare, want to invest 2-4 hours a week from April to September, and don’t mind cleaning up the odd animal mess, you may be exactly what the BC SPCA’s Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre (Wild ARC) in Metchosin, BC needs.
BC SPCA Wild ARC is looking for 100 volunteers to help care for 2,000 wild animal patients, from hummingbirds to eagles, squirrels to raccoons, deer fawns, and river otters. These are sick, injured, or orphaned animals that could use a helping hand.
“About 80% of the animals that come into our care are because of something related to human activity,” says Ashley Currie, Wild ARC’s manager.
Wild ARC is the only wildlife rehab centre on the South Island. In an average year, 70% of Wild ARC’s patients are birds. The other 30% are mammals, with the occasional reptile and amphibian.
Last year, 150+ volunteers helped the nonprofit’s core rehab staff perform life-saving care to more than 140 different animal species.
“We provide all the training required for our various roles, so we only ask that applicants to our volunteer program are keen to learn, passionate about wild animals, and want to make a difference in their community,” Currie says.
Volunteers must be 19 years old, although keeners aged 16-18 are also welcome, provided their parents or guardians sign off.
Wild ARC was established in 1997 as part of the BC SPCA’s 100th year. It has treated 61K+ animals since.
Here’s where you can apply to volunteer before April 30.