Find events happening near you!Get Connected!
Check us out at these online communities:
You can make a difference in your community. We can help!Wildlife Volunteer Corps Projects
Defenders started the Wildlife Volunteer Corps program to provide our activists and members with unique, hands-on opportunities to protect and recover rare species in their own communities.
So far, we’ve successfully collaborated with national and state wildlife agencies on dozens of projects and hope to continue to expand the program.
Visit our events page to look for upcoming projects!
Featured Project: Ribbon Snake Project in Vermont
Our Wildlife Volunteer Corps kayaked Shelburne Pond in search for the elusive, colorfully striped Ribbon Snake. Continue reading...
Past Projects
Look at photos and read about some of our Wildlife Volunteer Corps projects.
Tackling Buckthorn in Michigan
In Summer 2009, Defenders' volunteers worked to tear down invasive Buckthorn at Michigan's Lamberton Lake in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In Summer 2009, Defenders' volunteers worked to tear down invasive Buckthorn at Michigan's Lamberton Lake in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Preparing Poplar Island for Global Warming
In June 2009, the Defenders of Wildlife Volunteer Corps once again braved the elements, muck, and mud -- literal tons of mud -- to do Mother Nature some good, this time teaming up with the National Aquarium to plant grasses on Poplar Island in the Chesapeake Bay to help mitigate the effects of the erosion that will come with sea level rise.
In June 2009, the Defenders of Wildlife Volunteer Corps once again braved the elements, muck, and mud -- literal tons of mud -- to do Mother Nature some good, this time teaming up with the National Aquarium to plant grasses on Poplar Island in the Chesapeake Bay to help mitigate the effects of the erosion that will come with sea level rise.
Invasive Species Removal
Defenders volunteers have teamed up with the National Park Service for several years to remove invasive species such as Oriental bittersweet, garlic mustard, autumn olive, multiflora rose, and Japanese honeysuckle, along the Appalachian Trail in Virginia.
Defenders volunteers have teamed up with the National Park Service for several years to remove invasive species such as Oriental bittersweet, garlic mustard, autumn olive, multiflora rose, and Japanese honeysuckle, along the Appalachian Trail in Virginia.
Habitat Restoration for Endangered Cottontails
Defenders' volunteers have teamed up with Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge for the past three years to restore habitat for the endangered New England Cottontail.
Defenders' volunteers have teamed up with Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge for the past three years to restore habitat for the endangered New England Cottontail.
Ribbon Snake Project in Vermont
Wildlife Volunteer Corps teamed up with the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas Project to search Shelburne Pond near Burlington, Vermont for the elusive, colorfully striped Ribbon Snake.
Wildlife Volunteer Corps teamed up with the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas Project to search Shelburne Pond near Burlington, Vermont for the elusive, colorfully striped Ribbon Snake.
I-90 Wildlife Camera Project
Defenders of Wildlife partnered with Conservation Northwest, I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition, and Wilderness Awareness School to conduct citizen monitoring of wildlife in Washingtons Cascades mountains.
Defenders of Wildlife partnered with Conservation Northwest, I-90 Wildlife Bridges Coalition, and Wilderness Awareness School to conduct citizen monitoring of wildlife in Washingtons Cascades mountains.
Ground Squirrel Monitoring
Idaho wildlife biologists received valuable assistance in April 2007 when volunteers took to the field to "hunt" for squirrels.
Idaho wildlife biologists received valuable assistance in April 2007 when volunteers took to the field to "hunt" for squirrels.
Gold Creek Habitat Restoration
Our Wildlife Volunteer Corps in Washington planted trees and removed invasive plants to prepare a proposed wildlife underpass site in the northern Cascades.
Our Wildlife Volunteer Corps in Washington planted trees and removed invasive plants to prepare a proposed wildlife underpass site in the northern Cascades.
Building Panther-Proof Pens
To help prevent conflicts with Florida panthers, Defenders volunteers teamed up with the Mountain Lion Foundation and the local 4-H to build the first panther-proof enclosures in southern Florida.
To help prevent conflicts with Florida panthers, Defenders volunteers teamed up with the Mountain Lion Foundation and the local 4-H to build the first panther-proof enclosures in southern Florida.
Spotlighting Ferrets
In August and September 2006, Defenders volunteers joined biologists in an overnight spotlight survey to count and "tag" black-footed ferrets.
In August and September 2006, Defenders volunteers joined biologists in an overnight spotlight survey to count and "tag" black-footed ferrets.
