VOLUNTEER POSITIONS

Needed: Waterfowl Rescue Volunteers
Organization: Wildlife Rescue Association of BC
Location: Burnaby & Metro Vancouver BC

Purpose of Position

The vision of Wildlife Rescue Association of British Columbia is to continually improve the welfare of urban wildlife. Our mission is to provide leadership in rehabilitating wildlife and in promoting the welfare of wild animals in the urban environment.

We run a wildlife hospital and Support Centre located on a single site at the edge of Burnaby Lake. We treat over 5,000 wild birds and bats each year and provide public education through 30,000 calls to our Wildlife Helpline. Our Business Operations department plans, coordinates and oversees all our programs including development, communications, resources and volunteering.

Each year, 250 volunteers participate in a range of positions both on and off site. We are currently seeking a volunteer to join the Waterfowl Rescue Program.

The Waterfowl Rescue Program is a seasonal program that operates annually from mid-March to June during the busy Canada Goose and Mallard nesting seasons. The program involves the safe capture and immediate release of waterfowl families that have become trapped on buildings, rooftop gardens, balconies, courtyards and other man-made structures by a specialized team of volunteers.

This program aligns with the Support Centre mission to Prevent, Educate and Respond to Wildlife in Distress.

All volunteers must be 16 years or older and provide a Criminal Record Check, proof of up-to-date tetanus vaccination and full Covid-19 vaccination.

Qualifications

We are looking for:

• On-call availability of 1+ days a week, from mid-March to June, multiple day and weekday availability is an asset;
• Flexibility and ability to commit to long volunteer hours with short notice;
• Use of your own vehicle in good condition and insurance in good standing;
• Physically fit and able to lift upwards of 20lbs - Must be agile and able to move quickly to capture wild animals;
• Reliable, organized and comes prepared to calls for rescue;
• Ability to work in a small team setting and follow directions with special attention to safety;
• Excellent verbal communication skills; and
• Comfortable acting as a representative of Wildlife Rescue to members of the public.

Deliverables

The Waterfowl Rescue Volunteers are accountable to the Support Centre Manager and to the Waterfowl Rescue Team Leads for following direction, Health & Safety protocols, assisting with capture and safely executing the rescue plan as communicated by the Team Leads. All team members are responsible for communicating with the public. Team members represent the organization as a first contact to the public thus volunteers act and communicate in a professional manner when in the field.

Wildlife Rescue volunteers ensure that the highest standards of practice are achieved and maintained in accordance with the mission, vision and values of WRA, and ensure adherence to all policies and legal requirements. All data and information will remain the property of Wildlife Rescue and be treated confidentially.

• Assisting waterfowl families who have nested in areas where the young cannot get to a safe location without intervention, often rooftops and high-rise balconies;
• Providing minimal disturbance and interference to the waterfowl families by providing an immediate release to the nearest water source;
• Educating the public on the challenges faced by urban wildlife, and advocating for the importance of wildlife in the urban environment, and to educate on the work of Wildlife Rescue; and
• Recording and logging all hours on MyImpactPage.

Time Commitment

Participants in this seasonal program will provide a calendar of availability for the duration of the season (mid-March-June). Volunteers will be contacted by Team Leads and/or Helpline staff and volunteers on the days of the week they have communicated availability. Rescues can take place from dawn to dusk (in the summer this can be 7am-9pm). They tend to take approximately 1-3 hours but can often take longer than anticipated so volunteers may need to stay longer to reach a safe outcome for the waterfowl. A team can also complete multiple rescues back-to-back in one day. Team members will need to allow for the time it takes to travel to and between rescue locations.

Recognition & Benefits

We will discuss your specific motivations and learning objectives and keep those in mind throughout your engagement. You will have the opportunity to:

• Make a difference for wildlife, particularly urban geese and ducks;
• Learn a lot about local wildlife and the impact we humans have on local species;
• Contribute to the development and efficient running of our organization and its seasonal rescue program;
• Learn about the non-profit sector and the enormous value of volunteerism;
• While we are unable to reimburse the cost for gas, volunteers do receive a tax receipt for mileage donations totalling $20 or more;
• Use and build on your knowledge, skills and experience; and
• Meet and work with new people.

Upon successful completion of the minimum commitment and at the volunteer’s request, the Volunteer Program team will provide references. At that time volunteers are also encourage to move to a regular rescue or transport volunteer role.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

We welcome and support the treatment of all patients regardless of species, background or malady, and take a similar approach to the people involved with our organisation. We welcome eager volunteers regardless of race, colour, religion or creed, gender, age (providing they meet the minimum requirement of 16 years due to health risks), disability, national origin, language, political belief, criminal record, pregnancy, marital status or sexual orientation. The only requirement – that you care about helping wildlife as much as we do!

Reasonable accommodation will be made for persons with disabilities. Wildlife Rescue is not wheelchair accessible at this time. If you need individualised support in the application process or to conduct the volunteer role, you may contact us at volunteer@wildliferescue.ca in confidence.

How to Apply

Please fill out an application form and watch the recorded Information Session. More information can be found on our website at Wildlife Rescue Association of BC | Volunteering

Please indicate you saw this posting at GoodWork.ca.