Wildlife Assistant

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About

A career as a Wildlife Assistant

Wildlife Assistants look after wild animals that are sick or injured and admitted to a wildlife centre for treatment. They carry out tasks and procedures to care and rehabilitate the animals, preparing them for release.

Working in an animal sanctuary or wildlife centre, the animals can be injured or distressed when they arrive. Wildlife Assistants need to be able to calm them down and keep them that way, which can be very difficult. They keep records and perform health checks on in their care, preparing them to be released.

Also known as: Wildlife Care Assistant, Wildlife Centre Assistant

Skills/Knowledge

You’ll need:

  • to love and have a real interest in animals

  • to be gentle, handling animals with care, patience, and confidence during treatments

  • to keep steady in distressing circumstances and work well under pressure

  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail

  • to be reliable, flexible and open to change

  • to work well alone or with others, with excellent verbal communication and customer service skills

  • to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

  • to be prepared to get dirty and not be squeamish

Volunteering experience working with animals in sanctuaries, charities or rescue centres can lead to paid positions.

Salary

NB These figures are only a guide, as actual rates of pay may vary depending on the employer and the skills/qualifications and experience of the employee.

£14,000
Typical salaries
range from
£24,000
Typical Hours

Around 35-40 hours per week - animals must be cared for seven days a week, so you might be doing shift work. This could include early starts, evenings and weekends.

Day to Day
  • Admit, care for, monitor and prepare wildlife for release

  • Carry out rehabilitation procedures to the benefit of injured wildlife. This requires different approaches for all sorts of creatures

  • Administer medications prescribed by the Veterinarian where appropriately trained

  • Assist with the releases of wildlife including identifying and the transportation of the animal to the release sites.

  • Accurately record information and assist in the collation of statistics

  • Maintain and clean out enclosures, cages and treatment rooms

Working Environment

Caring for animals can be physically demanding, the working environment may be dirty, and you might be spending time outdoors in all weathers. It can also be emotionally difficult at times.

Training Available

Training is an essential part of any job, giving you the skills and knowledge you need to do your job safely and correctly. It also helps to strengthen your current skill set and prepares you for the next stage in your career.

Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships help you build the experience and skills that employers want to see. No matter what stage you’re at, they’ll help set you up for a bright future. There are lots of ways to get involved.

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