About
What Is It?
An urban wildlife emergency and rehabilitative care facility that cares for injured, orphaned, or ill wild animals brought in by the public. TWRC also conducts outreach programs for youths and adult groups to promote living in harmony with nature.
Help Needed:
Assist with education programs, caring for animals, and maintaining the animal care center. Volunteers also feed baby birds, squirrels, and opossums and collect needed items. Please contact TWRC for COVID-related updates.
Details
Minimum Age to Volunteer
14. Volunteers must be at least 12 (with a guardian) for baby bird and baby squirrel programs.
Time Commitment
Varies by position
Training Needed
1 1/2 hour orientation session and registration fee depending on the program. See website for fee schedule. Program t-shirts are provided with each fee.
Help Needed
“ROCKIN’ ROBIN” EDUCATION AIDE
Help with informal education programs (festivals, booths, service project events) and formal education programs (classroom programs, lectures, scout merit programs, center tours, etc.). Must commit to four 2-hour shifts a year. For ages 15 and up.
“LIZARD LOUNGE” ANIMAL CARE AIDE
This entry level position is responsible for the daily feeding and care of all education animals (squirrels, opossum, screech owl, non-venomous snakes, turtles, and a lizard). Must commit to six 4-hour shifts per month. For ages 15 and up.
“BUSY BEE” FACILITY CARE AIDE
Help maintain TWRC’s facility, which must be clean and orderly so that we can operate efficiently to provide quality care to wildlife in need. This entry level position is responsible for washing dishes and crates, doing animal laundry, assembling animal aquaria, doing food prep and other activities to support the center. Must commit to five 4-hour shifts per month. For ages 15 and up.
OPOSSUM AND PALS PROGRAM HELPER
Help care for opossums, ducks, and doves. Tasks include cleaning and food prep. 2.5-hour shifts from from 9 AM to 7 PM, 7 days a week. Must commit to work at least one shift per week for at least 5 weeks. For ages 14 and up.
BABY BIRD PROGRAM HELPER
Each summer, an average of 1,500 baby birds are brought in to TWRC. Since 2001, Baby Bird Volunteers have provided comprehensive onsite care for baby birds. Volunteers help feed and care for the birds until they are old enough to transition to release back into the wild.
All volunteers must register, pay a fee, and complete an Orientation and Feeding Training Session.
For ages 14 and up. Volunteers aged 12 & 13 may volunteer as assistants. Each assistant must be accompanied by a guardian at least 18 years of age. (Only one assistant per guardian.)
BABY SQUIRREL PROGRAM HELPER
In the early spring and early fall TWRC Wildlife Center receives hundreds of baby squirrels from rescuers. Volunteers help feed and care for the animals until they are old enough to transition to release back into the wild. All volunteers must register, pay a fee, and complete an Orientation and Feeding Training session.
For ages 14 and up. Volunteers aged 12 & 13 may volunteer as assistants but will not be allowed to feed. Each assistant must be accompanied by a guardian at least 18 years of age. (Only one assistant per guardian.)
COLLECT NEEDED ITEMS
TWRC maintains a wish list as well as a wish list on Amazon.com.
SCOUT SERVICE PROJECTS
The TWRC welcomes Eagle Scout, Girl Scout Gold Award, and similar project proposals. Past projects have included building rehabilitation cages for birds and mammals, constructing nesting boxes for recovering wildlife, making educational presentations for schools, and holding collection drives for items on the TWRC wish list.
For Eagle Projects, please contact the TWRC Wildlife Center Scout Liaison. Girl Scouts needing projects for their Bronze, Silver, or Gold Awards should email the Executive Director for details.
Contact Details
Contact
Location
TWRC WILDLIFE CENTER
Houston, Texas 77043
Location Details
Houston, Texas 77043
TWRC is in Suite 200 at 10801 Hammerly Boulevard.
Additional Information
TWRC Video (1 minute) (2015):
TWRC Video (5 minutes) (2014):
Examples of past Scout projects
Eagle: Alan C. (Troop 46) and other volunteers built 40 nesting boxes. (2020)
Silver Award: Clover built 30 bird houses, taught a workshop about conserving urban wildlife, and posted a YouTube video about making birdhouses. (2020)
Eagle: Tyler B. made an assortment of nesting boxes for opossums and squirrels. (2020)
Eagle: Nicholas B. built an 8′ x 8’ x 8′ pre-release cage (for opossums and other animals) for a TWRC home rehabber. (2020)
Eagle: Sebastian G. designed and constructed an outdoor cage for one of TWRC’s home-based wildlife rehabbers. (2020)
Gold Award: Mariya made 30 squirrel nest boxes for TWRC’s home rehabbers. (2020)
Girl Scout Troop 42101 made new fleece hammocks for Animal Care Program residents. (2020)
Girl Scout Junior Troop 110043 built 7 wooden hide boxes. (2020)
Eagle: Michael B. built ten raccoon houses. (2019)
Silver Award: Sasha M. made 20 mesh boxes, used for holding baby animals while they are weighed. (2019)
Girl Scout Troop 111005 used money raised through cookie sales to purchase items from TWRC’s wish list. (2019)
Eagle: Conor M. and his team made 16 nesting boxes for TWRC’s home-based rehabbers. (2018)
Gold Award: With help of more than 30 volunteers, Michelle P. (Troop 17443) created 33 mesh boxes for the care of injured and sick infant animals. She also made snake and possum awareness posters and a PowerPoint presentation for young children, and hosted three presentations about caring for wildlife at Memorial Private High School and two education booths at Citizens for Animal Protection animal shelter. (2017)
Girl Scouts: Jalynn J. led a group (20+ girls over 3 sessions) who sewed cloth cage covers. (2016)
Gold Award: Rachel B. (Troop 3081) created brochures educating the community about habitat loss and care of injured animals, held several supply drives, and led a workshop for 30 students, which included making 30 nesting boxes. (2016)
Eagle: Samuel S. (Troop 1852) built large wood/mesh cages for squirrels. (2015)
Eagle: Created 54 birdhouse kits. (2015)
Eagle: Alec P. (Troop 273) built 18 small mammal boxes for infant squirrels, raccoons, and rabbits, to provide a crib-type environment of comfort and security. (2015)
Eagle: Liam M. (Troop 55) constructed a wood/screen aviary release station. (2014)
Built rehabilitation cages for birds and mammals.
Eagle: Ian J. organized a nest-box building project for his troop and donated 15 boxes for pre-release squirrels. (2011)
Made educational presentations for schools.
Held collection drives for needed items.
Gallery
Its so Amazing what you guys do it would be awesome to be able to help and do somthing that could make a change i would love to beable to help you guys