Roanoke Wildlife Rescue

Volunteer Information

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Roanoke Wildlife Rescue.

Wildlife Volunteers have a rare and unique opportunity to work directly with and handle a variety of wild animals. Job duties vary, depending on the number and species of wildlife currently housed at Roanoke Wildlife Rescue. Duties include basic husbandry (feeding animals, cleaning cages, washing dishes, doing laundry, and general housekeeping), as well as handling animals under direct supervision, assisting with wildlife-related emergencies, and releasing successfully rehabilitated animals.

We are currently accepting applications for volunteers ages 16 or older. Younger volunteers will be considered if accompanied by an adult and on a case by case basis.

Roanoke Wildlife Rescue is open seven days a week and has 3 shifts per day.

Morning Shift: 9:00AM - 1:00PM

Afternoon Shift: 3:00PM - 7:00PM

Evening Shift: 6:00PM - close (ranging from 8:00PM to 11:00PM depending on the number of animals)

Our volunteers are trained on site and work with the animals daily. You will be trained in feeding, cleaning, and general upkeep of the facility. We require our volunteers to commit to working at least one 4 hour shift a week. The needs of the animals are always changing and therefore we need our volunteers to be with us on a regular basis to stay informed.

If you are interested in volunteering with us, please fill out the application online or print it out and mail it to

Roanoke Wildlife Rescue – Volunteer Coordinator

5931 Cotton Hill Road

Roanoke, VA 24018

Once your application has been reviewed someone will call you to let you know if you have been accepted and to set up a training schedule.

Thank you!

DeeDee Hartson

Volunteer Coordinator

Roanoke Wildlife Rescue

Did you know if you are interest in becoming a Veterinarian, we can help?
As a volunteer at Roanoke Wildlife Rescue, high school and college students can:

Learn proper techniques of animal handling & restraint.
Learn to triage (evaluate) incoming patients.
Learn how to stabilize trauma patients.
Observe surgeries on in-house wildlife.
Become part of the Veterinary Team.

Our Volunteer Application
We need your help! Don't pass up a chance to learn while helping the wildlife in our area.

As a volunteer you can expect to:

Feel a sense of pride and accomplishment from helping injured and orpaned wildlife
Learn about wildlife and caring for wildlife.
Be a member of a team of people with similar interests and concerns.
Have FUN!
Give something back to nature and make a difference!

A human being is part of a whole, called by us the Universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feelings, as something separated from the rest a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”
Albert Einstein