The Wildlife Aid Brigade Volunteer/Intern Program trains existing or newly-recruited shelter volunteers and interns in academia.  The first portion of training is two 6-hour days of classroom instruction.  The classroom instruction consists of familiarization with local and federal laws, safety, species identification, recognition of emergencies, recognition of orphans, first aid, renesting techniques, capture and handling techniques, and transportation of wild animals.  The second portion of training involves a 4-hour visit to a wildlife rehabilitation center for familiarization with species and hands-on handling. The third portion of training involves a 4-hour shift spent with an animal control officer answering calls from the participating shelter.

The volunteer or intern will then work through the shelter of their choice, serving as a Wildlife Aid Brigade-trained resource for that shelter.  The volunteer or intern will coordinate their work schedule in accordance with the shelter's needs.

Volunteers and interns completing all components will receive a certificate of completion from the Maryland Wildlife Rehabilitators Association.

 

A volunteer in training practices how to safely capture and pick up an adult opossum.