Audubon Needs Animal Care Volunteers; Info Session Is Aug. 2

The Audubon Community Nature Center is looking for volunteers to help care for its outreach animals.

"We call our resident animals 'ambassadors,'" said Kim Turner, Audubon Community Nature Center animal care specialist "because they are so important in our education and outreach programs. And they require a lot of care!"

Audubon depends on a corps of volunteers to provide that care--and with moves and summer unavailability, that corps needs strengthened. On Wednesday, Aug. 2, from 11 a.m. to noon, Turner is presenting "Join the Critter Crew--Volunteer Info Session," an opportunity for prospective animal care volunteers to discover if they are up to these tasks and to learn of the potential rewards. Turner will describe what tasks are available and the type of training that is involved, with time for questions and a brief visit to the Discovery Room to meet the animals. If volunteering to care for the animals might not be a good fit, Emily Nelson, Audubon's volunteer coordinator, will share information on other ways to volunteer at the Nature Center.

"Volunteering your time, skills, and resources is one of the most powerful ways to make a difference, to help others, meet new people, learn new skills, and enhance your own wellbeing," Nelson said.

Animal care volunteer positions include animal care cleaners, animal feeders, and hellbender keeper. Responsibilities and obligations vary by position. For instance, animal feeders are responsible for providing proper care and nutrition to the animals that live in the Nature Center and commit to helping care for them at least once a week on a regular schedule for at least six months.

Qualifications vary somewhat with different positions but include being at least 16 years of age (or having an active adult willing to volunteer with you) and having reliable transportation, and generally being able to lift 50 pounds, stand on a stepladder, comfortable handling reptiles and amphibians, self-directed, and highly dependable.

Specific job descriptions can be found under Animal Care at AudubonCNC.org/Volunteer.

The program is free for interested volunteers, but reservations are required by Tuesday, Aug. 1. For more information and to make reservations, call 716-569-2345 or click through Programs and Events at AudubonCNC.org.