Volunteer With Us

Two people wearing gloves crouching near the ground with an injured opossum contained
Person in a Wisconsin WildCare T-shirt and orange winter cap smiling near squirrel enclosure
Two UW-Madison students on library mall standing near a pet carrier
person sitting on ground wearing gloves with a baby gray squirrel in their hand near a tree and construction site
infant raccoon drinking formula from a bottle from a licensed wildlife rehabilitator

Wisconsin WildCare (WWC) is a unique organization, made up of independent licensed wildlife rehabilitators and volunteers who work together to rescue and rehabilitate orphaned and injured wildlife. Whether you are interested in working directly with wildlife as a foster or rescuer or have other skills you’re willing to share, we’d love to hear from you. Opportunities include:

  • wildlife fostering

  • wildlife rescue

  • transporting injured, ill, and orphaned wildlife or supplies

  • cage or nestbox building

  • providing land for wildlife releases

  • fundraising

  • whatever your skill, profession, or talent brings

  • Fostering orphaned wildlife is very rewarding. Wildlife babies typically become orphans as a result of a negative interaction between humans and the infants’ mothers: car collisions, live trapping, shooting, felling of trees, or conflicts with pets. As a foster, you give these unfortunate little ones a second chance.

    You will have the satisfaction of watching them grow into healthy, well-adjusted young adults by providing sound nutrition, a safe environment and enrichment that teaches them how to thrive in the wild.

    As a foster, you will learn more about the species you care for than you could ever imagine.

  • WWC is different from a typical wildlife center, where volunteers come and go day to day. We believe that orphaned mammals do better with the consistency of a primary caretaker.

    Our volunteer fosters provide the stable care and regular routine that orphaned mammals need to thrive. Our volunteer fosters are wildlife super heroes! If you live within a 60-mile radius of Lodi or Windsor (per DNR rules), please consider joining us.

  • How much formula should I feed? What does normal infant raccoon poop look like (yes, you will ask that)? What kind of enrichment does a juvenile raccoon need? There’s so much to learn, but WWC provides training and ongoing support.

  • Wisconsin WildCare rehabilitators are licensed by the WI Department of Natural Resources and, thus, are required to follow the rehabilitation rules established by the WDNR. In order to stay licensed, we need our volunteer fosters to do the same. Per DNR rules, we can work only with volunteer fosters who live within a 60-mile radius of our advanced wildlife rehabilitators. That means that you must live within 60 miles of either Lodi or DeForest. If you live outside that area but are interested in becoming a licensed rehabilitator yourself, let us know and we’ll do what we can to help you.

  • Wild mammal infants form bonds with their primary caretakers. (This is not to be confused with imprinting.) It is extremely stressful to them to have that bond broken before they are ready for release.

    WWC understands that life sometimes throws a curveball and drastic changes in plans may have to be made. In such a case, we will work to place the animals in your care with another foster volunteer. However, we can only do so rarely and for good reason. Therefore, be sure to check with your spouse or partner, review your calendar, and check with your neighbors or landlord (if you have one) before committing to be a wildlife foster.

  • Some wildlife rehabilitators and fosters live in urban environments. A few care for younger orphans until they are old enough for outdoor caging, then transfer the juveniles to a foster who can accommodate outdoor caging. Others raise orphans to release, building outdoor pre-release caging that is sheltered from everyday human activity.

  • All of our wildlife rehabilitators, and the vast majority of fosters, have domestic animals. Of course, we keep wildlife strictly separate from our pets for safety and so they don’t become accustomed to being around domestic animals. It’s also a legal requirement. If you have a spare room, space in your enclosed garage, or an outbuilding or other sheltered space, you could be a wildlife foster.

  • Many of our volunteer fosters have children. Raising orphaned wildlife is a wonderful way to teach your kids to understand and respect wildlife and to have compassion for animals in need.

  • As an all-volunteer organization, nearly all of us have paid work and other responsibilities outside of rehabilitation.

  • If you have a trip planned, that’s OK…enjoy your vacation. We have experienced fosters who can “babysit” (as long as you promise to come back).

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