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BEFORE submitting your application, please read the information on this page so you are familiar with what it is our volunteers do. Be aware that most volunteers never enter an animal enclosure when animals are present, so if petting a wolf is your goal, we ask that you do not apply. Special consideration however, will be given to those possessing outstanding knowledge, dedication to the Center, and experience in working with wild animals (though this too, takes time).
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Volunteer or Intern with Wolf Mountain!
Volunteers are defined as those who help at the Center on a regular basis, over a long period of time, such as months or even years. All volunteers are expected to work at least 12 hours a month; however, volunteering more time is greatly appreciated. See below for typical volunteer duties. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and have reliable transportation.
Intern candidates should be currently enrolled in a college program such as biology, pre-veterinarian, wildlife management, environmental conservation, or other related course of study. This program is a multi-faceted experience which covers various aspects of running a licensed wildlife facility. Comprised of both hands-on and classroom/field instruction, interns will acquire skills in captive wildlife husbandry, public relations, observation & documentation of animal behaviors (ethology), and basic non-profit office/operations management skills. A more inclusive list of responsibilities/duties can be found by clicking the internship application link below. Successful interns possess the ability to work with the public, are comfortable with public speaking, are a team player, yet also able to work independently, are capable of performing physical labor, and have the mandatory attributes of being reliable, friendly, flexible, and trustworthy. A minimum commitment of 20 hours per week for ten consecutive weeks is expected for interns. Internship opportunities are available between the months of May - August only and include some weekend hours.
Interested persons who wish to be considered to become a part of either our Volunteer and Intern Program must complete and submit an application. Please note: incomplete applications will not be honored.
Volunteers and Interns accepted into our program will be required to complete a mandatory training program provided by center staff.
Volunteers are defined as those who help at the Center on a regular basis, over a long period of time, such as months or even years. All volunteers are expected to work at least 12 hours a month; however, volunteering more time is greatly appreciated. See below for typical volunteer duties. Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and have reliable transportation.
Intern candidates should be currently enrolled in a college program such as biology, pre-veterinarian, wildlife management, environmental conservation, or other related course of study. This program is a multi-faceted experience which covers various aspects of running a licensed wildlife facility. Comprised of both hands-on and classroom/field instruction, interns will acquire skills in captive wildlife husbandry, public relations, observation & documentation of animal behaviors (ethology), and basic non-profit office/operations management skills. A more inclusive list of responsibilities/duties can be found by clicking the internship application link below. Successful interns possess the ability to work with the public, are comfortable with public speaking, are a team player, yet also able to work independently, are capable of performing physical labor, and have the mandatory attributes of being reliable, friendly, flexible, and trustworthy. A minimum commitment of 20 hours per week for ten consecutive weeks is expected for interns. Internship opportunities are available between the months of May - August only and include some weekend hours.
Interested persons who wish to be considered to become a part of either our Volunteer and Intern Program must complete and submit an application. Please note: incomplete applications will not be honored.
Volunteers and Interns accepted into our program will be required to complete a mandatory training program provided by center staff.
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Typical volunteer duties include:
(please note that many volunteers often assist in several of the following categories as needed; so, it is not necessary to choose just one!) > admissions/gift shop: welcome guests, collect admission fees, provide basic park info to guests, ring up sales, maintain organized inventory > construction/maintenance: assist with erection & maintenance of fencing & enclosures, building benches, picnic tables, animal shelters & platforms, maintain current structures > grounds keeping/landscaping: mow, weed, plant, haul brush and stone, stack wood, spread wood chips and maintain trails > educational guides: greet and provide educational information to public, give tours, share information about the center, its animals, and the environment, create educational supplements such as power points, bulletin boards, & activities Please note: While we can certainly appreciate the desire many folks have to be able to touch and have physical contact with a wolf, animal interaction is a responsibility given only with time and experience. Staff who interact with the animals have many hours (literally hundreds!) of experience and training and have proven their dedication & dependability at our center prior to entering any animal enclosures. Gaining a thorough knowledge of the animals is important before interacting with them. Our wolves are socialized, but we must follow very strict guidelines for both human safety and that of the animals. We are not a petting zoo; when staff enter enclosures it is for a direct purpose and not for entertainment or personal satisfaction. New volunteers will need to complete training, listen to the lectures, and learn as much about the animals as possible. Only those with experience gained at our center, approved by our Head Animal Caretaker, and listed on our DEC license can enter wolf enclosures. This process typically takes many, many months. 
guided tours
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prepping for special events
construction/maintenance projects
educational programs
team building and fun!
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Meet our Animal Caretakers and assistants:
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Pam Mennis, Animal Caretaker & Volunteer Coordinator
Pam began helping out at the center in April 2012 as a fill-in cashier in our gift shop. Only days later, our four coyote pups were born and Pam immediately took on the role of assisting with bottle-feedings, cleanup, puppy sitting, and socializing the coyotes! She has been a "puppy parent" to various litters of four coyotes, six fox kits, and eleven wolf pups! Now living in a cozy log cabin located at the center, she manages gift shop operations, organizes the volunteer program, coordinates scheduling of field trips to Wolf Mountain, oversees our summer camping programs and other special events, is our office manager, regularly feeds, cleans up after, and socializes with the animals, and assists with enclosure building, landscaping, and providing educational tours to visitors. Retired from several decades of being a Teaching Assistant for Special Education students, Pam now works part time at a local Veterinary Clinic, is an AZA associate, makes annual visits to wolf/fox preserves for idea sharing workshops, and absolutely loves quiet pine forests and the mountains! |
Pam socializing with Dyani
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Peg working with Aurora Borealis (Arctic Fox)
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Peggy Fuller, Head Fox Caretaker
Peg began her volunteer journey with the Center in March 2020; she was here one week and covid hit, forcing us to shut down to visitors. Peg continued to show up, often with husband or friends in tow, to mow, rake, and clear the new Memorial Garden. Once that was complete, she tackled our nature trails, creating new pathways through the forest for visitors to enjoy once we reopened. Having been a long time active volunteer at a nearby Border Collie rescue until they relocated to Virginia, Peg easily transitioned into Wolf Mountain and quickly learned the animal programs, how to put up new fencing, gives guided tours, and has made several six-hour long road trips to secure donated animal food. Definitely not afraid of hard work, she drives to the Center at a moment's notice and does anything/everything to assure the well-being and smooth operations of the Center. A retired Police Captain, Peg currently serves as president of a local hiking club and is on the Board of Directors for the Finger Lakes Trail Conference. She enjoys hiking, photography, the outdoors (except snakes!), and has several of her own canines to care for. |
Dave with Kenai Coyote.
Dave Conner, Head Coyote Caretaker
Dave has been volunteering at the center since 2011. He can often be found giving informational programs at our coyote enclosures and has helped raised coyotes, foxes, and wolf pups. He helps out with class field trips at the center and can identify just about any tree on our wooded hiking trails! Dave assists with enclosure and building construction projects. His latest endeavor is creating carved walking sticks which he donates to the gift shop for sale to visitors. He often shows up at a moment's notice to help with special projects and is willing to do just about anything as long as it helps out the center!
Dave is "retired" from his job, but still has jobs throughout the community. He also is an avid hiker and loves to share his stories and to spend time with his family at his lake house.
Karley getting a wolf smooch from Tamarack
Karley Bush, Animal Caretaker & Intern Coordinator
Karley first began working at the center as a college intern in the summer of 2016. A super quick learner, she mastered tours, information stations, the gift shop register, and many various animal enrichment programs! Karley played a huge role as a wolf puppy parent, driving several hours to get to the Center. Her exuberant personality and never ending energy is truly appreciated and contagious. Karley also leads educational programs for visitors and has been crucial with co-coordinating our summer camp out programs. She has a wonderful knack for getting things done efficiently and is fantastic with the animals. Karley has also taken on the responsibility of Intern Coordinator and Gift Shop Manager. She has had the opportunity to spend several days at Wolf Park in Indiana learning wolf care techniques and receiving ideas and tips for intern recruitment from their staff.
When not at the center, Karley works a full time job and spends time with her own dogs.
Dean getting slobbered by Tamarack
Dean Barney, Animal Caretaker
Dean joined our team in December 2016 by serving hot cocoa to visitors at our winter festival. He was new to the area and looking for cool things to do and ended up at Wolf Mountain! A rather quiet guy, he has a very contagious smile and is willing to do any and everything asked of him. Dean was one of our puppy parents to Cypress and Tauriel and continues that bond today. He had the honor of wiggling into a wolf den to retrieve a litter of five wolf pups and assisted with the care & feeding of the pups. With a minor in environmental studies, Dean easily runs educational programs at all of our exhibits, leads wolf photography sessions and has assisted with the construction of several of the animal habitats. When he doesn't feel like working out at the gym, he comes to the center and fills/hauls gravel buckets for enclosures--a grueling task to be sure!
When he's not helping at the center, Dean teaches Special Education classes, works out, loves painting, and spends lots of time hiking mountains!
Shen working with Aurora (Arctic Fox)
Shenequa Perry, Caretaker Assistant
Shen started volunteering with us in May of 2018 as a Junior in High School. With completion of courses in Honors Biology and Animal Science, experience working directly with animals at a veterinarian's office, and an active member of her local Environmental Club, Shen was a perfect match for the center! As an added bonus, she has hands-on experience with agricultural fence construction which definitely comes in handy when we are installing new fencing for our wolf enclosures! A hard worker, Shenequa has proven herself to be dedicated, responsible, and willing to learn. She is also completing her college field learning requirements with us by identifying and cataloging the Center's indigenous birds, trees, fungi, and herbaceous plants. One of her most recent achievements is as a youth leader and coordinator to help her community become a NYS DEC certified Climate Smart Community!
Shen is a recent graduate of the college of Environmental Science & Forestry with aspirations to continue her education with a focus on biology/wildlife and environmental science.
Shen started volunteering with us in May of 2018 as a Junior in High School. With completion of courses in Honors Biology and Animal Science, experience working directly with animals at a veterinarian's office, and an active member of her local Environmental Club, Shen was a perfect match for the center! As an added bonus, she has hands-on experience with agricultural fence construction which definitely comes in handy when we are installing new fencing for our wolf enclosures! A hard worker, Shenequa has proven herself to be dedicated, responsible, and willing to learn. She is also completing her college field learning requirements with us by identifying and cataloging the Center's indigenous birds, trees, fungi, and herbaceous plants. One of her most recent achievements is as a youth leader and coordinator to help her community become a NYS DEC certified Climate Smart Community!
Shen is a recent graduate of the college of Environmental Science & Forestry with aspirations to continue her education with a focus on biology/wildlife and environmental science.
Devin and Seneca
Devin Fortman, Caretaker Assistant
Devin joined our team in summer of 2017, Devin showed up with amazing credentials and started as a volunteer almost immediately! With experience in field ecology, environmental education, trail maintenance, and degrees in Biology and Wildlife Management (he even spent time in South Africa as a Research Assistant assessing the impact of elephant and rhinoceros ranges!), Devin has become a valuable member of our staff! His first experience here was at one of our summer camp out programs where he shared some apples baked right in the campfire. He loves bones and dead things and manages our display of various bones, skulls, teeth, and pelts. Another of our long distance travelers, he often volunteers two days in a row and spends the night in our tipis. Devin often provides information at our fox and coyote stations and will assist wherever else is needed; including those exhausting enclosure building projects. In October 2017, Devin headed deep into Canada for a conference on top predators and was accepted as a guest speaker!
Devin joined our team in summer of 2017, Devin showed up with amazing credentials and started as a volunteer almost immediately! With experience in field ecology, environmental education, trail maintenance, and degrees in Biology and Wildlife Management (he even spent time in South Africa as a Research Assistant assessing the impact of elephant and rhinoceros ranges!), Devin has become a valuable member of our staff! His first experience here was at one of our summer camp out programs where he shared some apples baked right in the campfire. He loves bones and dead things and manages our display of various bones, skulls, teeth, and pelts. Another of our long distance travelers, he often volunteers two days in a row and spends the night in our tipis. Devin often provides information at our fox and coyote stations and will assist wherever else is needed; including those exhausting enclosure building projects. In October 2017, Devin headed deep into Canada for a conference on top predators and was accepted as a guest speaker!
Cypress enjoying a belly rub from Alex
Alex Gross, Caretaker Assistant
Alex began his journey with Wolf Mountain in June of 2021 when he was accepted into our college internship program. Averaging about 50 hours a week (way more than the requirement!), Alex quickly became a crucial member of the team, contributing everywhere at the Center--animal care, tours, vegetation management, construction, and even bathroom cleanings! Successfully graduating with a degree in Conservation Biology and Ecology, Alex transitioned from intern into a volunteer and studied hard to learn more of the intricacies of managing a wildlife center which resulted in him being promoted to Assistant Animal Caretaker! His past experience includes being lead analyst with the University of Minnesota Lion Research Center while his future interests include pursuing a PhD and performing research in large social carnivores--African wild dogs are his favorite!
Alex began his journey with Wolf Mountain in June of 2021 when he was accepted into our college internship program. Averaging about 50 hours a week (way more than the requirement!), Alex quickly became a crucial member of the team, contributing everywhere at the Center--animal care, tours, vegetation management, construction, and even bathroom cleanings! Successfully graduating with a degree in Conservation Biology and Ecology, Alex transitioned from intern into a volunteer and studied hard to learn more of the intricacies of managing a wildlife center which resulted in him being promoted to Assistant Animal Caretaker! His past experience includes being lead analyst with the University of Minnesota Lion Research Center while his future interests include pursuing a PhD and performing research in large social carnivores--African wild dogs are his favorite!