Volunteer
Interested in helping wildlife in the San Francisco Bay Area?
We are a 100% all-volunteer-run grassroots non-profit and we need YOU!
Read about how you can help below, then click a team’s button to apply.
On-Site Volunteer
Work a 3-4 hour shift indoors and outdoors at our San Francisco-based Intake Center. Duties include filling water bottles, cleaning enclosures, feeding animals, washing dishes, and general cleanup.
- Ability to bend and lift at least 25 lbs
- Ability to follow instructions carefully and accurately
- Ability to volunteer on a weekly, regular schedule for at least 2 hours
- Ability to get to San Francisco location
Infant Care Team
Care for small groups of orphaned baby animals (squirrels, opossums, raccoons) in your home with the goal of releasing them back into the wild. YUWR trains you to state-approved protocols.
- Ability to respond to the animal’s needs 24 hours a day
- Feed babies every 2+ hours at first, tapering off as they grow
- Commitment ranges from 3 weeks to 3 months depending on species
- Safe, quiet room free from pets or human traffic
- Ability to cope with the death of animals
- Reliable transportation and ability to handle/capture animals as needed
ReWild Team
Have backyard space for an outdoor enclosure? Care for animals nearly ready for release as they acclimate outdoors for one to two months, and help identify release locations. No experience necessary.
- Space for at least a 4’x8’x8′ cage on a secured area of your property
- Willingness to feed and clean the enclosure daily
- Some out-of-pocket expenses
- Must live in the San Francisco Bay Area
Transport Team
Be a wildlife ambulance! Drive animals between locations, such as from a city animal shelter to our San Francisco hospital or a foster home, plus occasional produce and enrichment-branch pickups.
- Willingness to join Slack for transport requests
- Comfortable driving with animals in your car
- Current CA driver’s license and proof of insurance
- Access to a vehicle and ability to cover fuel/tolls
Emergency Response Team
Go out to help untrained members of the public retrieve wildlife in distress, using nets and traps, and communicate clearly and calmly on-site.
- Ability to drive to various locations with nets and traps
- Clear verbal and written English communication
- Ability to read and convey instructions to others
- Ability to handle conflict and stay calm
Build Team
Help build animal enclosures to be placed at temporary foster homes. Requires comfort building from a provided plan and access to construction tools.
- Experience and comfort building from a provided plan
- Access to construction tools
- Ability to transport or store enclosure components for pickup/drop-off
Public Outreach and Education Team
Educate the public about wildlife and YUWR’s mission: writing, social media, website updates, presentations to school groups, and staffing festival booths.
- Graphic artists, website designers, and social media experts welcome
- Professional photographers and writers welcome
- Comfortable presenting a 25-45 minute slideshow to kids (for school talks)
- Willingness to staff festival booths