Torchora
Back to Home

Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wildlife Caretaker

💰 $ - $

ConservationAnimal CareWildlife RehabilitationSanctuary Management

🎯 Role Definition

The Wildlife Caretaker is responsible for the humane, professional day-to-day care, rehabilitation, and husbandry of wild animals in captivity and in the field. This role combines hands-on animal care, medical support coordination, habitat maintenance, rescue and transport operations, meticulous recordkeeping, permit compliance, public education, and collaboration with veterinary and conservation teams. The ideal candidate brings strong animal-handling experience, sound knowledge of wildlife behavior and welfare, excellent observational and documentation skills, and a commitment to conservation and ethical rehabilitation practices.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Wildlife Rehabilitation Assistant / Volunteer
  • Animal Care Technician or Kennel Assistant
  • Veterinary Assistant with interest in wildlife

Advancement To:

  • Senior Wildlife Caretaker / Lead Animal Caretaker
  • Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator or Wildlife Rehabilitator Manager
  • Sanctuary/Rescue Manager or Field Operations Supervisor
  • Wildlife Biologist or Conservation Program Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

  • Veterinary Technician (with additional training)
  • Conservation Educator or Outreach Coordinator
  • Field Research Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Provide daily feeding, enrichment, and species-appropriate husbandry for a diverse caseload of wild animals, ensuring diet plans, feeding schedules, and enrichment protocols are followed to promote recovery and minimize stress.
  • Conduct systematic health checks and behavioral assessments on incoming and resident wildlife, carefully documenting wounds, body condition, abnormal behaviors, and signs of disease for veterinarian review and treatment planning.
  • Triage and stabilize injured or sick animals upon intake, administer first aid and basic medical treatments under established protocols, and coordinate emergency veterinary care and transport when advanced treatment is required.
  • Implement and maintain quarantine procedures for new arrivals and sick animals to prevent disease transmission, including disinfection protocols, PPE usage, and isolation enclosure management.
  • Design, build, and modify enclosures and release-ready flight or swim pens to meet species-specific physical, nutritional, and behavioral needs while ensuring safety for animals, staff, and the public.
  • Execute capture, rescue and humane restraint operations in the field using approved techniques and equipment, ensuring compliance with animal welfare guidelines and transport regulations during rescue and transfer.
  • Coordinate and assist with wildlife releases, including pre-release condition assessments, soft-release preparation, post-release monitoring, and release site selection based on habitat suitability and risk factors.
  • Maintain accurate, detailed animal records and case files (intake forms, treatment logs, daily progress notes, medication administration records, and release/transfer documentation) using paper or digital data systems to support care continuity and regulatory reporting.
  • Administer medications, injections, and wound care as directed by licensed veterinarians or senior rehabilitators, and monitor animals for treatment responses and adverse reactions.
  • Develop and implement enrichment programs and behavioral rehabilitation plans to restore natural behaviors necessary for survival in the wild, including predator avoidance, foraging practice, and socialization management when appropriate.
  • Support and participate in species conservation projects, telemetry work, banding/tagging for post-release monitoring, and data collection that contribute to research and population management efforts.
  • Ensure daily sanitation and maintenance of animal housing, food prep areas, medical spaces, and tools, adhering to strict biosecurity and waste disposal procedures to maintain facility cleanliness and disease control.
  • Train, supervise, and mentor volunteers and seasonal staff in safe wildlife handling, facility protocols, cleaning procedures, and accurate recordkeeping to scale operations while maintaining care standards.
  • Manage supply inventories, order specialized foods, medications, and habitat materials, and troubleshoot shortages by coordinating with procurement or partner organizations to ensure uninterrupted animal care.
  • Liaise with veterinarians, wildlife agencies, law enforcement, and partner NGOs to coordinate permits, transfers, forensic evidence handling, and compliance with federal, state, and local wildlife regulations.
  • Educate the public, adopters, and community groups through presentations, facility tours (where permitted), and social media content about wildlife conservation, responsible human-wildlife interactions, and the organization's mission.
  • Participate in multi-disciplinary case reviews to develop rehabilitation and release strategies, contribute observational data to treatment plans, and support decisions about euthanasia when suffering cannot be alleviated in accordance with policy and veterinary guidance.
  • Use telemetry, camera traps, and remote monitoring tools to support post-release tracking and field surveys, and compile monitoring data to inform future release protocols and habitat management.
  • Assist in incident response planning and emergency preparedness for severe weather, disease outbreaks, or mass casualty events, including evacuation procedures and rapid triage workflows.
  • Maintain compliance with all reporting requirements, permit renewals, and inspection standards, preparing facility documentation for audits and helping implement corrective actions as necessary.
  • Foster collaborative relationships with local wildlife rehabilitators, sanctuaries, and research institutions to transfer specialized cases, share best practices, and expand rehabilitation capacity across networks.
  • Contribute to grant proposals, progress reports, and fundraising materials by providing technical input on animal care needs, case outcomes, and program priorities to support operational sustainability.

Secondary Functions

  • Support public outreach and volunteer coordination by creating training materials, scheduling shifts, and monitoring volunteer performance.
  • Assist with basic facility maintenance, groundskeeping, and habitat restoration projects to preserve release-site quality and on-site biosecurity.
  • Participate in data entry, basic analysis, and the generation of impact metrics for program reporting and stakeholder updates.
  • Help develop and refine standard operating procedures (SOPs) for intake, quarantine, treatment, and release to improve operational efficiency and animal welfare outcomes.
  • Contribute to educational content for social media, newsletters, and community events to increase awareness and donor engagement.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficient in humane capture and restraint techniques for a wide range of taxa (mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians) following industry best practices and legal requirements.
  • Experience administering oral and injectable medications, wound care, and basic veterinary nursing tasks under veterinary direction.
  • Strong species-specific husbandry knowledge: diet formulation, thermoregulation needs, enrichment design, and breeding season behaviors.
  • Competence in telemetry, radio-tracking, PIT-tagging, banding, and use of GPS/GIS tools for post-release monitoring and field surveys.
  • Skilled in quarantine protocols, infectious disease prevention, and disinfection procedures (chemical handling and PPE use).
  • Familiarity with wildlife laws, permitting processes, and regulatory compliance (state wildlife agencies, USFWS, CITES where relevant).
  • Solid recordkeeping and case management skills, including proficiency with animal management software or databases and accurate medication and treatment logs.
  • Ability to perform safe animal transport including vehicle handling, crate/containment design, and interpreting transport regulations.
  • Facility maintenance skills including basic carpentry, enclosure repair, irrigation, and mechanical upkeep of life-support systems (pools, heating, ventilation).
  • Comfortable operating and maintaining capture and rescue field equipment such as nets, stretchers, crates, and hoists.
  • Data collection and basic analysis skills for contributing to monitoring reports, release success metrics, and research collaborations.

Soft Skills

  • Strong observational skills and attention to detail to detect subtle changes in animal health and behavior.
  • Compassionate, patient, and resilient demeanor for working with stressed or injured wildlife and emotionally challenging cases.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication to liaise with veterinarians, agencies, volunteers, and the public, and to produce clear case notes.
  • Problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities to make timely decisions during rescues, triage, and release planning.
  • Teamwork and collaborative mindset to work across multi-disciplinary teams, volunteers, and external partners.
  • Time management and the ability to prioritize high-acuity cases during periods of high intake.
  • Adaptability to work irregular hours, weekends, and be on-call for emergency rescues or wildlife incidents.
  • Leadership and training skills to supervise volunteers and junior staff while modeling safe, ethical care practices.
  • Cultural sensitivity and community engagement skills for educational outreach and stakeholder relationships.
  • Stress tolerance and good judgment in high-pressure situations that may require euthanasia decisions in consultation with veterinarians.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or equivalent with relevant certifications (e.g., wildlife handling, basic veterinary assistance, first aid for wildlife).

Preferred Education:

  • Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Wildlife Biology, Zoology, Ecology, Animal Science, Veterinary Technology, or related field.
  • Professional certifications such as Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator designation (where applicable), euthanasia certification, or wildlife capture certifications.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Wildlife Biology
  • Zoology
  • Ecology
  • Animal Behavior
  • Conservation Biology
  • Veterinary Technology

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • Entry: 0–2 years (animal care or volunteer experience expected)
  • Mid: 2–5 years (hands-on wildlife rehabilitation and field rescue experience)
  • Senior: 5+ years (lead caretaker, case management, permit-holding experience)

Preferred:

  • Proven experience in wildlife rescue, rehabilitation, or sanctuary animal care with documented cases and references.
  • Experience coordinating with veterinary teams, emergency responders, and state wildlife agencies.
  • Demonstrated track record in enrichment program design, release planning, and post-release monitoring.
Explore More Careers