Volunteer Opportunities & Internships

Volunteer

We offer a variety of volunteer roles for people with different skills, schedules, and interests. Whether you prefer working remotely, outdoors, or directly with wildlife, there’s a place for you on our team.

 

Helpline Volunteer (Remote)

Support wildlife in need from anywhere by responding to calls and messages from the public. Helpline volunteers answer wildlife-related questions, coordinate animal admissions, and document calls. This role requires reliable phone service, a weekly shift commitment, and completion of our Wildlife First Responders Course.

 

Capture & Transport Volunteer (Mobile / As Needed)

Help rescue wildlife by capturing and/or transporting animals from your local area to our center. Volunteers are contacted on a sporadic basis and ideally are willing to respond when called. Our Wildlife First Responders Course is required for capture activities.

 

Facility Maintenance & Construction (Onsite)

Put your hands-on skills to use by assisting with building projects, repairs, and general maintenance. Volunteers with experience in construction, plumbing, electrical, HVAC, tree work, or similar trades are especially needed. Opportunities range from project-based to regular maintenance support.

 

Landscaping & Gardening (Onsite)

Help maintain a welcoming, wildlife-friendly environment through gardening and landscaping tasks such as planting, pruning, mulching, and lawn care. Volunteers can participate on an as-needed basis or on a more regular schedule.

 

Animal Care Volunteer (Onsite)

Work closely with rehabilitators and wildlife patients by assisting with feeding, diet preparation, cleaning, and daily care. With time and training, volunteers may learn basic wildlife handling and medical techniques. This role requires a minimum weekly commitment, good health, a current tetanus vaccine, and adherence to all safety protocols.

 

If interested in volunteering, fill out this form to share your interests and availability. If you prefer hardcopy, you can download the volunteer application form here and mail to Tamarack Wildlife Center, 21601 Stull Road, Saegertown, PA 16433.

Questions about volunteering can be directed to our Volunteer Coordinator Madison at madison@tamarackwildlife.org.

*Applicants are not guaranteed a volunteer position with Tamarack. Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

Internships

An internship at the center exposes you to the day to day work of wildlife rehabilitation and to the dynamic opportunities of educating the public with the help of non-releasable raptors. Interns interested in potential careers in veterinary medicine, animal husbandry, environmental education, environmental science, wildlife management, or wildlife conservation have found this internship particularly helpful. 

Daily responsibilities include preparing meals, feeding, cleaning, documenting care, and assisting with medical treatment for injured wildlife including birds of prey, songbirds, opossums, turtles, and possibly other species. Previous experience handling wildlife is not required. There will be opportunities to learn handling techniques, assist with restraint of wildlife needing examination or medical treatment, and to administer medications. Time permitting, interns will be introduced to handling non-releasable education raptors “on the glove”. Interested interns can also assist with education programs. 

Reliability, attention to detail, willingness to work hard, working well with other people, ability to communicate, and comfort around animals are very important. Computer, photography, or carpentry skills may be helpful but are not required. The center is located outside of Saegertown, Pennsylvania, and interns must provide their own transportation. The Center is not able to provide a stipend at this time, but some interns are able to arrange for a salary through their college if the school has Community Program funding available through PHEAA. Additionally, interns may choose to arrange for college credit for their internship through their home institution.

At Tamarack, we work hard but also become a supportive family for each other and have the privilege of seeing beautiful and amazing wildlife up close and helping them return to their life in the wild.

All applicants must be at least 18 years old.

Summer Internships - We are accepting applications for Summer 2026

Dates: Flexible start and end dates between May 1, 2026 to September 1, 2026 for a total of 10-12 weeks

Schedule: 25 hours per week (Standard: Sun-Thurs 9am to 2pm / Tues-Sat 9am to 2pm; some scheduling accommodations can be made based on students’ needs)

Deadline: Applications accepted on a rolling basis and will be considered as received with priority given to those received before March 1st

Benefits:

  • Immersive, hands-on experience with an assortment of Pennsylvania native wildlife
  • Former interns have been able to move on into careers in fields such as: wildlife conservation and management, wildlife rehabilitation, veterinary medicine, zookeeping, and more
  • May be used for academic credit (Intern is responsible for making arrangements to receive necessary credits)
  • Unpaid (However, some interns are able to arrange for a salary through their college if the school has Community Program funding available through PHEAA)
  • Onsite housing is not currently available

Qualifications:

  • No previous animal handling experience required
  • Must be have reliable transportation to get to and from the center
  • Must be capable of lifting 25 pounds and be able to stand, bend, lift, reach, and work in all types of conditions, including outdoors
  • Must be comfortable handling animal feces, blood, etc. (with appropriate PPE)
  • Must be up-to-date on tetanus vaccinations
  • Up-to-date COVID-19 vaccinations preferred

Responsibilities:

All duties and responsibilities needed for this internship are trained on the job by staff members or highly experienced volunteers. At a minimum, summer internships will include:

  • Learn basic anatomy of native birds, small mammals, and reptiles; symptoms of illness and injury in wildlife; appropriate restraint methods for assorted species
  • Learn to proper set up and clean enclosures for wildlife patients
  • Learn the basics of caring for infant mammals
  • Learn to hold a trained bird of prey on the glove
  • Maintain accurate health records and documentation of weights, medications, injuries, and other health indicators
  • Create species-specific diets for patients and ambassador animals
  • Provide care to feeder colonies (domestic mice and insects)
  • Cleaning! Laundry, dishes, and patient enclosure cleaning are daily responsibilities
  • Optional opportunities to participate/build skills in wildlife education programming

How to Apply: Send resume, cover letter, and a letter of recommendation to jess@tamarackwildlife.org

Fall & Spring Semester Internships

Fall and spring semester internships (mid August through April) are dependent on the needs of the center at that time. If interested in completing an internship during the fall and/or spring semester, please send an email to jess@tamarackwildlife.org. Be sure to include your availability and internship requirements if applicable.