Wildlife Volunteer Opportunities The team at the von Arx Wildlife Hospital relies on dedicated volunteers to help treat over 3,300 injured, sick or orphaned animals each year. Volunteer opportunities are diverse, challenging and rewarding. Can you help? www.conservancy.org/volunteer or call 239.403.4212.
Protecting Southwest Florida’s unique natural environment and quality of life ... now and forever.
Outdoor Animal Caretaker
Spend time in close quarters outdoors with captive wild animals. Assist rehabilitating wildlife that are housed in outside recovery enclosures at the von Arx Willdife Hospital. Duties include observing animals’ behavior and health; cleaning water pools, perches, cage walls; discarding old food; and raking enclosures. Shift is 8 AM – 11 AM. No prior experience necessary – but must be physically fit, detail oriented, and an independent worker.
Indoor Animal Caretaker
Critter Courier
The Wildlife Hospital team is staffed to care for animals in the Hospital and relies on an elite team of volunteers to work as an emergency rescue and transport system for injured and orphaned wildlife. As a Critter Courier you will be “on call” to help capture and transport injured wildlife found in your area between 8 AM and 9 PM. We provide Critter Couriers with training to safely capture and transport different species of injured birds, mammals, and reptiles. Necessary rescue equipment provided. Once wildlife has recovered, Critter Couriers are often asked to release these animals as well! Perfect for those who want to help wildlife but don’t have time to volunteer on a regular schedule. Must be at least 16 years of age.
Sharon and Dolph
von Arx Wildlife Hospital
239.262.CARE (2273) www.conservancy.org
Naples, FL 34102 www.conservancy.org DONATE! www.conservancy.org/helpwildlife
239.262.CARE
14 simple steps to avoid harming wildlife.
Protecting Wildlife
Work closely with von Arx Willdife Hospital team to care for injured, sick and orphaned wildlife inside the Hospital. Duties include observing animals’ behavior and health, cleaning enclosures, folding laundry, preparing diets, assisting with feedings, and providing medical treatment as directed by the Wildlife Hospital team. Priority given to animal caretakers outside. Must have broad knowledge of animal behavior and diets, and willingness to work under close supervision. Various shifts are available: 8 AM - 12 PM; 1 PM - 5 PM; 5 PM - 9 PM.
Sharon and Dolph
von Arx Wildlife Hospital
Most animals admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at Conservancy of Southwest Florida suffer from injuries or illnesses caused by humans. Since most people seek to avoid causing harm to other living creatures, we put together a list of things to do – or not do - to help wildlife.
1 4 S i m p l e S t e ps t o A v oi d H a r m i n g W i l d l i f e 1. Prevent your pet cats and dogs from attacking and/or playing with wildlife. Don’t allow dogs to run without supervision and raise cats indoors. Many injured animals are brought to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital with fatal wounds from dog or cat attacks. 2. Educate children to respect all wild creatures and their habitats. Wild animals are not playthings and should be allowed to go about their lives undisturbed. Children should not to throw rocks at wildlife or disturb them if they are resting on the beach or roosting in trees. 3. Pick up litter that could harm wildlife, including six-pack rings, plastic bags, fishing tackle, and old pieces of carpet or netting. 4. Do not trap or in any other way cause harm to wildlife. 5. Leave infant wildlife alone, since they are seldom truly orphans. A parent may be nearby foraging for food or will return at dusk. If you find young birds on the ground, attempt to return them to their nest or, if they’re learning to fly, place them in a tree for safety if pets are nearby. 6. Be alert when driving, especially in rural areas, to avoid hitting wildlife. Please stop when possible and move turtles from the roadway or shoulder. Always put them in the direction they were heading. 7. Check trees before trimming or cutting them down to make sure there are no active nests. If dead trees pose no hazard, leave them standing since they provide homes for a variety of wildlife, such as woodpeckers, owls, and squirrels. Try to avoid trimming trees during the spring and summer nesting seasons.
8. Fertilize your lawn and garden and discourage pests by using non-toxic products on your lawn and garden. 9. Plant native trees and shrubs to provide homes and food sources for wildlife. Many migrating species are attracted to areas with native vegetation. 10. Do not attempt to raise or keep wildlife as pets. Not only is it illegal, but wild animals do not make good pets and captivity poses a constant stress to them. Young wild animals raised without contact with their own species fail to develop survival skills and fear of humans, virtually eliminating their chances of surviving in the wild. 11. Alert birds to large expanses of glass in your home by hanging reflective streamers nearby. Reducing the reflection should cut down on the number of birds who collide, often fatally, with doors and windows. 12. Do not leave fishing line or fish hooks unattended and retrieve any kite string left on the ground or entangled in trees. 13. Before mowing your lawn, walk through the area to make sure no rabbits or ground nesting birds are in harm’s way. 14. Do not feed wildlife. Feeding encourages animals to become dependent on handouts, lose their fear of humans, and to congregate in unnaturally large groups, increasing the chances of disease transmission.