Make a Difference for Wildlife
At South Florida Wildlife Center our volunteers are an essential part of every animal’s journey back to the wild. From helping with daily care and rehabilitation support to educating the community, every volunteer plays a meaningful role in protecting native wildlife.
Whether you’re preparing diets, cleaning habitats, assisting with rescues, or helping visitors understand the importance of wildlife rehabilitation, your time and dedication truly make an impact.
The purpose of this volunteer program is to offer a wide variety of opportunities to interested people and to provide useful and meaningful service. This will assist Center staff in furthering the goals of The South Florida Wildlife Center, and provide support that would otherwise be impossible due to budget limitations. Not only will you be helping Florida’s wildlife, you’ll enjoy meeting new friends who share similar environmental concerns and gain personal satisfaction that comes from preserving Florida’s native animals.
What You’ll Learn
Our volunteer program is designed to be educational, rewarding, and hands-on. Volunteers have the opportunity to develop valuable skills in:
- Safe wildlife handling and restraint techniques
- Cleaning, sanitation, and biosecurity procedures
- Habitat maintenance and animal husbandry
- Diet preparation and feeding protocols
- Patient intake and rehabilitation support
- Human-wildlife conflict resolution
- Conservation education and public outreach
No matter your experience level, we provide the training and support needed to help you succeed.
Volunteer Requirements
To ensure the best experience for both our volunteers and the animals in our care, applicants must:
- Commit to a minimum of 6 hours per month (each shift is approximately 3 hours)
- Be at least 16 years of age
- High school students may request community service hour documentation
- Carry active health insurance
- Complete a volunteer application
- Attend a required orientation and site visit
- Sign all volunteer agreements and safety forms
- Provide a non-refundable $35 volunteer donation, which helps cover:
- Volunteer T-shirt
- Name badge
- Training materials
- Access to our volunteer scheduling platform (Volgistics)
Volunteer Shift Opportunities
Volunteer shifts are available daily Monday through Sunday:
Morning Shift:
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Afternoon Shifts:
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM | 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM | 2:30PM – 5:30 PM
Flexible scheduling options may be available depending on departmental needs.
What to Expect
Wildlife rehabilitation can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be physically demanding, messy, and emotionally challenging.
Volunteer responsibilities may include:
- Cleaning enclosures, cages, and treatment areas
- Washing dishes and laundry
- Mopping floors and sanitizing workspaces
- Stocking supplies and organizing materials
- Caring/feeding animals
- Assisting with nature center upkeep
- Supporting animal care staff with daily tasks
Every responsibility, big or small, plays a critical role in helping wildlife recover and return home.
We encourage volunteers to ask questions, stay engaged, and embrace each shift as a valuable learning experience.
What We Look For
Our most successful volunteers are passionate, dependable, and eager to learn. Ideal volunteers are:
- Strong communicators
- Team-oriented, while also comfortable working independently
- Flexible and adaptable in a fast-paced environment
- Respectful toward both people and wildlife
- Reliable and committed to their scheduled shifts
- Positive, curious, and ready to learn
Ready to Join Our Team?
If you’re passionate about wildlife conservation and want to make a real difference in the lives of wild animals, we’d love to welcome you to our volunteer family.
Apply today and become part of the mission to rescue, rehabilitate, and release wildlife back to where they belong.
Group - Day of Giving
Is your corporate team, business, or organization looking for a meaningful way to give back to the local community? Partner with us to make a direct impact on South Florida’s native wildlife through a customized Day of Giving at our wildlife center!
Your team can support wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation efforts while participating in a unique hands-on experience that inspires teamwork, community engagement, and environmental stewardship. Whether you’re interested in volunteering, sponsoring supplies, hosting a donation drive, or creating a special service project, we would love to work with you to create a memorable and impactful day.
Email us here to coordinate your company’s Day of Giving and help make a difference for the thousands of injured and orphaned wild animals we care for each year!
Career Opportunities
Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume to HR@southfloridawildlifecenter.org. Only qualified applicants will be contacted for further consideration.
