Volunteer at WINC
The Wildlife In Need Center admits as many as 3,000 wild animals a year so we need your help! From admissions and answering phones, providing hands-on routine care for injured adults and orphaned babies, to providing a safe place for our patients to start a new life, as a WINC Volunteer you can make a difference in the lives of our wild neighbors everyday. Short on time? Not to worry, [click here] to make a donation to help cover the costs of food, medicine, housing, and outreach.
Read on to find out more about our various volunteer opportunities then visit our public events calendar to see when our next orientations are scheduled.
Volunteer: Help Us Help Wildlife
Baby Bird Feeding and CareWe receive hundreds of hungry orphaned baby birds from May to September that need lots of quality care. If you are at least 14 you can help provide the attention and care that each bird needs to return it to the wild. If you are 12 or 13, you can team up with an adult to help us with our baby birds. You must be committed to working one four and a half hour shift each week for about eight weeks.
For more information read our 2013 Introduction Letter to the Baby Bird Feeding program then download the following documents to sign up!
[Introduction to Baby Bird Feeding and Care]
[Information for Parents or Guardians of Minor Volunteers]
[Application for Minor Volunteers]
Animal Care
If you are interested in helping our staff with routine wildlife care, including food preparation, medical care, and cage cleaning, then Animal Care is the place for you. You must be 18 years of age or older and be able to commit to one four to five hour shift weekly.
Download, complete and return an interest application and release and someone will be in touch within 2 weeks to discuss your goals. Be sure to also check our public events calendar for upcoming orientation dates.
Kids Helping Wildlife
Too young to volunteer or just can't make the time commitment? Consider a tax-deductible donation or visit our WINC Kids page for ideas on how kids of any age can give a helping hand to our wild neighbors!
Office and Phones
If you enjoy talking with people and want to learn a lot about native wildlife, you should consider working in our office. You will be trained to handle calls from the public including “nuisance” animals, sick or injured animals, and natural history questions. Not sure about the phones? There are always administrative duties that help keep the Center running smoothly as well.
Maintenance & Grounds
The facility and the cages that surround it are in constant need of maintenance. Anyone who can swing a hammer, saw a board, or turn a wrench is very welcome. Our grounds also include garden areas that need green thumbs and seasonal maintenance.
Create Homes for Wildlife
Whether you are a gifted carpenter or just learning use a drill, you can help make homes for wildlife. Many of our patients, like woodchucks and squirrels, use nest boxes while they are here at the Center as safe hiding places. Other animals like raccoons and squirrels take their nest boxes with them when they are released. It provides a place of shelter while they are getting used to their new homes. Some can even be used in your own yard to attract wildlife. These homes for wildlife make great scout projects and Moms and Dads alike can lend a helping hand to make a wildlife home. Visit our nest box page for designs!
Fundraising & Marketing
Without money, we would not have the facility, food, or medicine for our patients. Fundraising volunteers work on various projects throughout the year including banquets, sales events, and public presentations.
We also have an ongoing Marketing and Community Outreach Internship opportunity. For more information visit our internship page. Ready to join us? Just download, fill out, and return a Volunteer Registration Form. You can print and mail it to:
Wildlife In Need Center
W349 S1480 S. Waterville Road, Suite B
Oconomowoc, WI 53066
or email it to: volunteer@helpingwildlife.org