Nebraska Wildlife Rehab Wildlife Release Site Volunteer

Release Site Volunteers are those who own/rent large properties (minimum 10 acres, outside city limits) that have suitable living environments for the native Nebraskan wildlife our center rehabilitates, and would be willing to let us release these animals on the property.

These releases could be either Hard Releases, or Soft Releases.

• Hard releases are when the animal is simply set free with no follow-up care required.
• Soft releases involve us setting up a temporary enclosure, possibly up to 8'x8'x6' depending on the animal at the release site, where the Release Site Volunteer will provide fresh food (provided by NWR) and water for the animal(s) while they are in the enclosure. After a predetermined amount of time, set by NWR's Rehab Director, the volunteer will open the enclosure door and start decreasing the amount of food given over the next couple weeks until the animal is fully foraging/eating on its own in their new home environment. Once the release is complete and the animal has fully moved out of the enclosure, either NWR staff will come pick up the enclosure or the Release Site Volunteer will keep it on their property to use again in the future. *Soft Release Volunteers (or at least the individual who will be directly caring for the animals) must be Covid vaccinated with a vaccine/booster that has been received within the last 12 months, and be over the age of 18.

All Release Sites will have an on-site visit by our Volunteer Coordinator and possibly other staff members to ensure proper release habitat. *Animals will only be released in habitats suitable for their specific species.

These Release Sites can be anywhere across the state of Nebraska; however, we are currently primarily looking for properties with a healthy amount of trees and easy water access - to release animals such as raccoons, squirrels, and opossums.

For more information and to apply, please visit: https://nebraskawildliferehab.org/how-to-help/release-site-volunteers.html

If you have any questions, please feel free to email our Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@nebraskawildliferehab.org