Volunteer as a Transporter
What Does a Transporter Volunteer Do?
Transporters drive wildlife and related supplies to and from local veterinarians, animal control officers, animal shelters and wildlife rehabilitators. The animals are always contained in advance, and your job as a transporter is to deliver them safely. By law, wildlife transporters are not authorized to handle wildlife. Transporters either sign up for specific shifts or make themselves available “on call” to transport when available. You schedule your desired shifts in advance of each month. Shifts are available 7 days a week. Transporters must be at least 18 years of age.
How Far are the Transports?
Daily Transport
At the request of a helpline volunteer, transporters pick up wildlife from locations listed above, and drive to various rehabilitators around the area. Typically, these transports are under three hours.
Long Distance Transport
Occasionally, we need to deliver wildlife to rehabilitators and wildlife centers further from the Northern Virginia area. These trips can be to Fredericksburg, Charlottesville, Richmond, the Northern Neck, and other areas around the state. Transporters can volunteer for these trips when the call goes out for a long-distance transport.
What Will I Transport?
The most frequently transported wildlife are birds, baby mammals, and turtles in small boxes or pet carriers. Occasionally we transport larger mammals, such as orphan fawns, typically in a medium-sized pet carrier. Transporters drive their own vehicles, and most transports can be made in any size vehicle. Sometimes we need a volunteer with a larger vehicle for cages and other supplies.
Will I Receive Training?
New transporters receive training from an experienced volunteer, usually in a one-on-one video call. WRL provides additional learning materials and resources to help trainees understand how to safely transport wildlife. WRL also schedules additional online wildlife lectures throughout the year.
Is There a Commitment Required from Me?
Because of the time invested in training volunteers, we ask transporter volunteers to make an effort to work at least two transporter shifts each month for at least 6 months. Many of our volunteers have been with WRL for several years, as it is a unique and rewarding opportunity to directly help our wildlife.
Interested in becoming a Transporter?
To get started, complete our Volunteer Questionnaire or contact us at volunteercoordinator@wildiferescueleague.org.
