Canada – Wildlife Care and Rehabilitation – Images

Please Note: This program is temporarily unavailable. Check out our alternative programs in North America or schedule a one-on-one call with one of our expert volunteer advisors.

 

Experience living in Canada as you volunteer with native wildlife species. Work with injured animals to provide care and rehabilitate them!

Program Highlights:

  • Work with Canadian wildlife species such as bears, beavers and racoons (Vancouver placement)
  • Gain experience in wildlife rehabilitation
  • Ethical wildlife volunteer tasks and interactions
  • Live outside of Canadian metropolitan areas and enjoy the more quiet lifestyle
  • Participate in education programs and events (Toronto placement)
  • Help with fieldwork and ecosystem conservation research projects (Toronto placement)

 

Your Schedule at a Glance (Minimum two-week commitment)*:

Arrival Day, Sunday: Depending on your placement choice, you will arrive at Toronto Pearson International
Airport (YYZ) or Vancouver International Airport (YVR). You will be picked up at the airport and transferred to a hostel for an overnight stay.

Days 1-7, Monday-Sunday: Make your way to your project placement on Monday. Your days will be spent assisting at the local, non-profit wildlife rehabilitation center or nature park with their day-to-day operations. Tasks can include preparing wildlife housing and habitats, feeding onsite animals, providing animal care, cleaning wildlife enclosures and more. Volunteers will choose one of three placement options – two are in Vancouver and one is located in Toronto. Please see “Volunteer Work” section below for a description of each.

Remaining Weeks: The following weeks will have similar tasks and are dependent on the needs of the project. You will most likely have to do some work during the weekends as animals require constant care, however you can organise with your host if you wish to take some time to travel and explore. Departures are on a Sunday.

*Only one of three placement options (Toronto) has a minimum duration of two weeks. The first Vancouver placement has a minimum four-week commitment, and the second Vancouver option has a minimum eight-week commitment.

Please note: All volunteers must apply at least 8 weeks in advance for this project. Only volunteers who can enter Canada without a tourist visa are eligible to apply. Please check your eligibility status online before registering.

 

Location icon Location of the Project: Vancouver or Toronto, Canada

Project length Project length: Min 2 – Max 12 weeks

Arrival Airport Arrival Airport: Varies by placement

Volunteer Work Volunteer Work:  Animal care, animal center maintenance

Age Age:  Min age of 18

Number of Volunteers Number of Volunteers: Varies by placement

Important Note Important Note: All volunteers must apply at least 8 weeks in advance for this project. Only volunteers who can enter Canada without a tourist visa are eligible to apply. Please check your eligibility status online before registering.

 

What’s Included

Accommodations Accommodations: Varies by location of placement

Food Food: Meals are not included in project cost. Volunteers must be able to cook for themselves.

Airport Transfers Airport Transfers:  Airport pickup is provided on arrival day as well as an overnight stay in your arrival city on the first night.

Orientation Orientation: Skype orientation prior to departure.

Support Support: Comprehensive and professional pre-departure travel guidance, 24/7 GoEco emergency hotline, experienced local field team.

 

What’s not Included

Flights, visas (mandatory), travel health insurance, meals, personal expenses, departure transfer back to the airport upon completion of your project.

Placement Options:
Volunteers will choose their preferred location.

Vancouver, Option 1:
Volunteers at this small rescue center can work with birds, opossums and squirrels. Participants must join a for minimum duration of four weeks. This project is located in the mountains, and is approximately two hours away from the city area of Metro Vancouver. Accommodations for this program are in a homestay.

Vancouver, Option 2:
Volunteers can work with a center that works mostly with raccoons, bears and occasionally with deer. Volunteers must join for a minimum duration of eight weeks.

Toronto Option:
Volunteers can here can work with a local reptile center to care for snakes, turtles and more. Volunteers must join for a minimum duration of at least two weeks. This program is located an hour and a half north of Toronto.

Volunteer work at all varieties of our animal rescue centers is hands-on and may range from enclosure maintenance to feedings to data collection and observations. Other tasks may include promotion of the organization and maintaining the centers.

Some of your tasks may include:

  • Animal feedings
  • Cleaning of enclosures
  • Data collection on animals behaviors
  • Maintaining visitor centers
  • Public promotion of organization
  • Some administrative work

 

Volunteers are also responsible for shared communal living duties, such as cooking, cleaning bathrooms and laundry.

A typical day: Schedules will vary depending on placement, but generally volunteers work between 25- 40 hours per week depending on the project and the season.

Please note: Specific tasks may vary depending on placement.

Holidays: For placements during the holidays listed below, volunteer work will begin on a Tuesday, not a Monday:

  • Easter
  • Canada Day
  • Labour Day
  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Remembrance Day

 

For more volunteering with wildlife projects, click here.

Internet icon Internet: Internet availability may not always be available due to the remote location of the placements and accommodations.

Laundry icon Laundry: Laundry machines and/or laundromats may or may not be available depending on placement. Some placements may require extra fees for laundry service or may require the hand washing of clothes.

Accommodations icon Accommodations: Accommodations vary by placement. Volunteers in Vancouver will either stay in on-site, dorm-style accommodations or in a homestay. Volunteers in Toronto will stay in hostel-style accommodations.

Food icon Food: Meals are not included. Volunteers must be able to prepare their own meals. There are shops in which food can be bought close to all accommodations.

 

 

Please take note of this project’s minimum requirements:

  • Basic level of English
  • Application completed at least 8 weeks before selected start date
  • Eligible to enter Canada without a tourist visa
  • Good physical and mental health
  • Volunteers must be able to lift at least 15 kg
  • Volunteers must be able to maneuver over rough terrain, where there are sometimes no roads or walkways
  • Volunteers cannot not have a medical condition that requires frequent care (as placements are far from cities or emergency treatment)
  • Willingness to live in a remote location without regular access to facilities such as internet or shops

Travel highlights depend on placement location.

Volunteer Experiences

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