Wait!
This American White Pelican wants to make sure you've read the previous page in its entirety, and that you understand what WWCC is looking for in our volunteers before continuing. If so, please click below to fill out an application. 

"Hi!  This  is  the  Wetlands  and  Wildlife  Care  Center.  How  can  we  help  you?"
WWCC’s admin Volunteers are often the first point of contact for our organization, answering phones and assisting members of the public with questions or animals in need. They help greet new patients, ensure accurate intake information, and enter important data into our online database.

​If you’d like to support wildlife rehabilitation behind the scenes—but not work directly with animals—this is the role for you! Please read all the information on this page about our admin role before deciding whether or not to fill out an application at the bottom of this page.

General  volunteering  information 

(Same across all volunteering pages on this website; admin specific information below. Please read everything.)
What do you get for being a part of the WWCC team?
At the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center, you get to be part of a diverse group of people who share one core value: the desire to help wildlife. We work with thousands of animals and hundreds of unique species each year, so no two days are ever the same! As a WWCC volunteer, you get to help care for these animals from the the time they come in the door, until the moment they are released.
What do we look for in a volunteer?
An ideal volunteer at WWCC will have the following traits:
  • The ability to commit to at least one shift at the same time each week for a minimum of one year. Consistency in care for animals is of the utmost importance, and we need volunteers who are reliable above all else. If you foresee having to miss shifts regularly for any reason, please reconsider applying at this time
  • Excellent time management skills
  • The ability to follow directions from WWCC staff or any of our regulating agencies, which include:
    • ​The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS)
    • The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)
    • The California Veterinary Medical Board (CVMB)
    • ​The Oiled Wildlife Care Network (OWCN)
  • The ability to ask questions if a task or procedure is unclear
  • Excellent collaboration and communication skills
  • The ability to adapt and to keep a level head when a situation may be stressful or sad​
When can you volunteer at WWCC?

At this time, WWCC has applications open to volunteer with us on any shift, but some times of the week will need volunteers more than others. In your application, please select all times when you could make a shift. No matter how much availability you indicate, you'd still only be assigned one shift.

WWCC has the following orientation classes scheduled. One of these classes, which always run from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm, must be attended prior to beginning a volunteer position. If the dates below do not reflect your own availability, please check back in the future!
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  • ​Saturday, April 4th, 2026
  • ​Sunday, April 26th, 2026
  • Sunday, May 17th
  • Saturday, June 6th
  • Sunday, June 21st
  • Sunday, July 19th
  • Saturday, August 29th
What should you know about WWCC before signing up to volunteer?

It  is  not  a  petting  zoo  or  shelter.

We care for wildlife that will hopefully be returned to a safe location as soon they are able. The animal’s survival depends upon them not becoming imprinted by/or attached to the humans caring for them. We don't talk to, cuddle with, or pet our animals. 

It  is  not  glamorous.

We are a wildlife hospital. Therefore, many of our tasks revolve around the daily care and maintenance of the facility, which can often be dirty, smelly, mucky, and slippery. However dirty you are imagining the center in your head, it's probably worse!

It  is  a  commitment.

Volunteers need to be willing to commit to at least one shift at the same time each week for a minimum of one year. While our requirement is that volunteers only commit for one year, we are more likely to accept your application if you're in it for the long run!

It  is  emotional,  but  rewarding.

Despite WWCC's best efforts, there are times when animals don't survive. Throughout the course of your volunteer journey, you will experience many cases where an animal doesn't make it through care, but also many cases when they do! You must be able to recognize that working in wildlife rehab can be an emotional rollercoaster. However, at the end of the day, getting to hold a cage door open for a rehabilitated bird going back to the wild is a special feeling, and that is what we always strive for.

Admin  specific  volunteering  information 
Our admin volunteers work one of two shifts:
  • an AM shift from 8:00 am - 12:30 pm, or
  • a PM shift from 12:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Admin volunteers need to be able to commit to a shift in this timeframe on a consistent day of the week for at least one year.

Additionally, we ask that our admin volunteers are comfortable interfacing with members of the public. The ability to juggle phone calls, input data, and maintain composure with occasionally difficult people is a must.  If you are not strong in public-facing, customer service-type roles, the admin position may not be the best for you.
​Please keep in mind before starting the application below that:
  • the application may take up to 30 minutes to complete
  • WWCC requests a $25 donation from each applicant (more info in the application itself). If you are unable to make this donation, please reach out and let us know