Volunteer opportunities

Volunteers are a critically important part of CROW and without them, we would be unable to care for the large number of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife in Southwest Florida.

If you're interested in joining the CROW volunteer team, please download, complete and submit the volunteer application packet and return to us.

Volunteer Opportunities include:

• Daily Patient Care. Our gulls, pelicans, osprey, opossums, squirrels, songbirds and other patients all have cages, laundry and dishes that must be cleaned. Volunteers also assist with grazing gopher tortoises and from early Spring to Fall, with feeding an abundance of orphaned babies.
• Food and Dietary Duties. After assisting with cage cleaning responsibilities, some volunteers train to participate in the food preparation process for CROW patients.
• Patient Transportation. Every day, local citizens take injured patients to greater Lee County veterinary hospitals that serve as CROW drop-off locations. Volunteer drivers use their own vehicles to pick up these animals and transport them to CROW.
• Patient Rescue. Individuals trained by CROW staff and senior volunteer members have the opportunity to rescue and bring in select sick, injured and orphaned birds, mammals and reptiles.
• Patient Release. Individuals trained by CROW staff and senior volunteer members have the opportunity to assist in the release back to the wild selected birds, mammals and reptiles.
• Administrative Duties. Volunteers assist CROW staff with general administration work such as answering phones, filing, inputting data and other operational needs.
• Fundraising Events. CROW hosts a variety of fundraising events each year, and volunteers help with event planning, folding and stuffing invitations, ticket sales, booth staffing, directing parking and more.
• Programs/Education. Experienced volunteers who complete a special training course are eligible to lead visitor outreach here on the CROW grounds and promote the organization at area service club meetings and school education programs.
• CROWbar Repair Team. CROWbar volunteers complete general facilities maintenance projects, such as painting, electrical wiring, plumbing, cage maintenance and carpentry.
• Grounds Maintenance. Volunteers keep CROW's 12.5 acres of grounds tidy by trimming trees, mowing lawns, weeding gardens and completing landscaping projects.

For more information, please contact volunteer services by email or call (239) 472-3644, ext. 229.