Andrew McCoy has been volunteering with WRL for about three years, taking helpline shifts and helping new volunteers get comfortable with the system. His journey began after completing the Virginia Master Naturalist course, which led him to seek opportunities with environmental organizations to gain experience with wildlife and plants. He eventually stumbled upon WRL while looking at opportunities at Blue Ridge Wildlife Center.
Andrew loves the variety of calls he receives, from the memorable “baby heron” that turned out to be an adult mourning dove, to conversations where he’s able to give advice that sparks callers’ interest in the wildlife around them. What he finds most rewarding are calls from people who are familiar with an animal and genuinely want to help.
Beyond WRL, Andrew volunteers with the wildlife sanctuary program to help people build wildlife habitat in residential yards, works with his local government on environmental issues, and enjoys exploring how different societies throughout history have related to animals. He highly recommends the book “Being Salmon, Being Human” for those interested in the topic.
Wildlife Rescue League offers thanks to the dedicated volunteers who give their time, energy, and hearts to helping injured and orphaned wildlife. The spotlight will feature exceptional individuals whose diverse skills and unwavering commitment exemplify the spirit of WRL.
Volunteer Spotlight is brought to you by Andres Soria. Andres joined WRL’s Marketing Committee in 2022 and is one of our go-to photographers. In his time off, he enjoys wildlife photography, hiking, and biking.
