Become a Volunteer at WildCat Ridge Sanctuary!

Thank you so much for your interest in becoming a volunteer. On-site volunteers will help our staff as needed. Ongoing projects are building new or updating existing enclosures, cleaning/maintaining sanctuary grounds, creating enrichment items, cleaning prep space and other tasks as needed. Must be at least 21, with no physical limitation, able to work on ladders, can lift at least 30 lbs. and willing to work in all type of inclement weather.

Note: Contact is prohibited between the wildcat residents and interns.

Please download application: WildCat Ridge Sanctuary Volunteer Application
Email to: wildcatridgesanctuary@gmail.com

 

Some of our current needs are:

General Cleaning and Animal Care Shift

Caring for all our cats is a huge responsibility, and our Keepers and Interns work very hard to ensure that each cat is given the best personalized care possible. To help allow our staff to spend more quality time caring for our cats, WCR volunteers can help with general cleaning in our food prep area. This includes washing dishes, laundry, and enrichment toys for our cats. During this General Cleaning and Animal Care shift you will also be able to spend a little quality time with our hybrid and domestic kitties. Our hybrid and domestic houses need to be cleaned daily to ensure a healthy and safe environment for our residents. Cleaning involved in these houses include scooping litter boxes, sweeping, mopping, sanitizing shelves and walkways, refilling water bowls, and switching out beds and blankets as needed. Volunteers will also have the pleasure of being involved when giving approved enrichment items to all the hybrid and domestic cats. 

In addition to caring for our small cats, volunteers will also have the opportunity to care for our livestock animals that call Wildcat Ridge home. This may include refilling and cleaning out water troughs, scooping manure from livestock barns, and giving our livestock some loving attention and enrichment. We currently care for two miniature donkeys, two kuni kuni/pot belly pigs, two roosters, one turkey, two jacobs sheep, and two jersey cows. While this may not be a daily job included in the General Cleaning and Animal Care shift, it may be included in this shift 1-2 times per week and can land on any day of the week depending on availability.

A General Cleaning and Animal Care Shift at Wildcat Ridge will start at 9am and run till about 1pm daily. This shift is a year-round position and is open to 1-2 volunteers per shift, so space is limited. As a volunteer and to ensure that the WCR staff has help caring for all the wildcats here at the sanctuary, it is required that you commit to spending 4 days a month volunteering your time to the sanctuary. Volunteers must be 21yrs or older and must be able to stand continuously for several hours, be comfortable bending, reaching, stooping, lifting up to 20 pounds, etc. 


Mowing and Maintenance Masters!

As you can imagine it takes a lot of land to care for all our wildcats, with all that land needs some major maintenance! Part of being a Mowing and Maintenance Master consists of general lawn maintenance that can include operating lawn mowers, weed whackers and trimming brush and branches away from animal perimeters. This is such an important job here at the sanctuary, it’s important that the sanctuary grounds stay maintained for wildfire season. This job includes volunteers clearing overgrown areas and keeping the grass short and trimmed near enclosures and around perimeters.

Volunteers also have the opportunity to help plant new vegetation on sanctuary grounds that help shade enclosures and keep the cats feeling safe in their environment. Keeping the newly planted trees and shrubbery healthy and well watered throughout the hot summer months is an important part of the WCR team. 

The maintenance shift will start at 11am and go till 3pm. This shift will be available 2-3 times per week with 2-3 volunteers per shift. As a volunteer and to ensure that the WCR staff has help maintaining in and around animal areas here at the sanctuary, it is required that you commit to spending 3 days a month volunteering your time to the sanctuary. Volunteers must be 21 years of age or older, physically able to bend over repeatedly, work outside with minimal shade for much of the day, and manage typical lawn care equipment. Staff at the sanctuary are available to teach volunteers basic equipment operation and maintenance for new volunteers.

 

Specialty Volunteer Opportunities

Skilled volunteers are needed for on-going and project-based needs. If you have a special skill that would help our operations, please feel free to send an email and your resume to wcr.animalcare@gmail.com.

For those who are interested in making an investment of their time and talent, please consider the following volunteer opportunities:

  • Carpentry: Seeking skilled carpenters to build large-scale perch systems, catwalks, and den boxes for our wildcat residents. The ability to follow keeper instruction/direction, use power tools, and follow all safety protocols is imperative.
  • Welders: Experienced welders are needed to help make several different components to enclosures and transport crates. If you have the capacity to complete work in a home workshop and want to put your skills to the test for our wildcat residents, please contact us and let us know how you can help.