Wildlife Center Volunteer

Animal Rescue League of Western PA
Wildlife Center
Volunteering at the Center

412-793-6900
412-793-6283 (fax)
Volunteer Coordinator: Maria Pyrdek
mpyrdek@animalrescue.org


The ARL Wildlife Center is a clinic for the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned wildlife. The Educational Programs provided to regional residents help to foster an appreciation for conservation and a harmonious existence between individuals and wildlife. The Volunteer Association of the ARL Wildlife Center includes all active volunteers and meets on the second Saturday of every month. These meetings provide the knowledge required to volunteer and help care for Pennsylvania's native injured and orphaned wildlife. The Volunteer Association also offers leadership opportunities. Officer positions are voted on yearly. The President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary are voted for by active volunteers. Volunteers receive hands on experience working with Pennsylvania's Native Wildlife and have the satisfaction of knowing you're helping injured and orphaned wildlife who probably would not survive without your help.

What Does it Take to Be a Volunteer at the ARL Wildlife Center? Before you begin volunteering at the Wildlife Center you must:
		Be 18 years or older to work with all wildlife; volunteers age 16-18 will not be permitted to work with raptors or adult mammals Attend orientation and mandatory training; the next volunteer orientation will be March 6, 2010 at 10:00am; to confirm the date of the next orientation or for more information, email the volunteer coordiantor at: mpyrdek@animalrescue.org Give documentation of a current tetanus shot; documentation of the rabies pre-exposure vaccination series and rabies certification by the PA Game Commission is required before working with Rabies Vector Species (RVS) animals Be able to provide your own transportation. Be able to commit to one 4 hour shift a week
All volunteers will be asked to participate in activities other than animal care. Volunteers are expected to help at public appearances, fundraisers, and other daily projects.

Internships Available at the ARL Wildlife Center
The ARL Wildlife Center is seeking students who are interested in working as rehabilitation assistants. We are a fully licensed wildlife rehabilitation center that treats nearly 2000 animals per year. Our mission is to release healthy animals back into the wild.

		Internships include learning to give comprehensive physical exams, prescribe treatments, provide daily husbandry and nutrition for the various native species. Interns are taught to properly handle wild animals such as hawks, owls, and various mammals.



A commitment of 15-20 hours per week is required. The center is open 7 days a week, so scheduling is very flexible. Candidates must have excellent communications skills, basic computer skills, and be able to work alone and in groups.

		Students in the biological and environmental sciences are preferred. For more information on our internship opportunities, please contact: Maria Pyrdek, 412-793-6900 or send resume and cover letter to: mpyrdek@animalrescue.org. Application deadline date: Summer semester - March 5, 2010 We are a PHEAA approved work study site.