Volunteer Opportunities

THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO IN-PERSON/HANDS-ON VOLUNTEER OPENINGS OTHER THAN THE TRANSPORT TEAM. PLEASE EMAIL FOR MORE INFORMATION IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DO TRANSPORT OR OTHER OPPORTUNITIES.

All volunteers must complete an introduction email questionnaire before volunteering. Email info@azbatrescue.org.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering for Arizona Bat Rescue! There are both in-person and remote volunteer opportunities. These will be updated as needs change. All in-person volunteers must be 18 or older. Some exceptions may be made for minors with adult guardians accompanying them.
Volunteering with me does not allow you to rescue, rehab, or care for bats on your own and everything you do under my supervision is at your own risk.
Please let me know what you are interested in doing by emailing info@azbatrescue.org and I will send you the introduction and questionnaire.

Easy and Incredibly Helpful

Share Socials, Website, Campaigns and Events It may not seem like a huge help to share socials and the website but this is how people find Arizona Bat Rescue. So many finders tell me that they called a ton of places before finally getting my number. I've had rescues come through from Instagram and Facebook as well as from the website. I get referrals from local wildlife clinics and the Bat World and Arizona Game & Fish website but it isn't enough. The more people we can tell about Arizona Bat Rescue, the better the chances are that a bat in need will find its way here. Sharing donation campaigns helps to support Arizona Bat Rescue and get the word out.

Instagram @azbatrescue
Tiktok @azbatrescue
Twitter @azbatrescue

Facebook group AZ Bat Rescue
Facebook page AZ Bat Rescue

Amazon Gift Registry
Teach people about bats and share cute pictures: Everyone you meet gives you a chance to let people know how important, helpful and adorable bats are. Share cute pictures of them. I can't even tell you how many people have told me they don't like bats or are scared of them until I show them super cute pictures. (Canyon bats are especially good for this since they are so teeny).

Let them know they can help bats in many easy ways:

Don't trim trees May - September if possible, especially palm trees. Several species of bats use them for maternity roosts.
Plant native plants to support bats and their insect prey.
Use as few pesticides as possible.
Research getting a bat house. This isn't very successful in some areas, feel free to give them my contact info if they'd like to talk about putting up a bat house where they are.
Explain that less than 1% of bats have rabies but it is still always important to use gloves or other protection when handling any kind of wildlife.
Tell them Arizona has 28 species of bats. The only state in the U.S. with more is Texas.
Bats eat bugs we don't like and pollinate plants we do. In Arizona they are important pollinators of cactuses, agave (which makes tequila), and more. Worldwide bats pollinate plants such as banana and cacao (for chocolate).
Dispel myths about bats when people say them. People in general aren't anti-bat per se, they often just don't know that what they've heard isn't true. Responses to some common myths: Bats aren't blind, they don't try to get into your hair, bats aren't vampires (only 3 species drink blood and none of them live in North America), bats don't attack people, they don't all have rabies (in fact they aren't even the leading transmitter of rabies to humans).

Arizona Bat Rescue Volunteer Opportunities: Local

Bat Care
Cleaning huts and incubators, folding laundry, preparing blended food and mealworms, cleaning flight house, prepping supplies, filling out charts. You won't be hands on with the bats but you will get to be around them and see their super cuteness!
Feeding (Rabies pre-exposure vaccine series required.) TBD
Transport of contained bats from rescue site to me (Rabies pre-exposure vaccine series preferred. Training required but can be done remotely).
Many times finders can bring bats to me but not always. If you would like to be on the travel team you wouldn't have any particular time or schedule commitment. You would only be agreeing to being asked if you are free to travel when the need arises. This could be once a month or several times a week. I will send out a group text and you can say yes or no depending on your availability. There's no obligation to say yes to continue to be on the team. If you would like to be on this team, please let me know if there are times that I shouldn't text. (You can text me 24/7, I have the sound off when I need to).
Events Assistance at events as the need arises.
Photos & Videos We can never have too many pictures and videos of bats and they are a unique subject to have in your portfolio. I am a stickler for artist credit so any image you let me share will be credited to you however you'd like. If you plan on selling the photos or videos, please let me know.
Printing Event Materials We currently don't have a color printer and I am spending $$$ at FedEx to print what I need for events. Let me know if you have access to high quality color printing (8.5x11 and 11x17) and would be able to help.
Vendors If you or anyone you know might be able to give AZ Bat Rescue a break on costs for printing, feeding supplies, housing supplies, etc, please give me contact info so I can check with them to see if they want to help out.

It's important to note that rehab involves difficult situations, bats in pain, and death. Sometimes a bat will die, or need to be humanely euthanized. You won't be making medical decisions or doing euthanasia but be aware that rehab can be very hard and very sad sometimes.

Arizona Bat Rescue Volunteer Opportunities: Remote

Contacts for Arizona Bat Rescue Services I am constantly talking to people about Arizona Bat Rescue and giving my info to anyone who might encounter bats in need. Tell people you know about us and if there is a particular business or person you think might want or need extra information, I can send them introductory emails and post cards. There's also a list of pest control companies, wildlife centers, and parks in progress. I need help getting contact information collected and into the list so I can reach out. I am open to any suggestions about other kinds of businesses or organizations that may need to know about Arizona Bat Rescue.
TikTok guru OK, I admit it, I'm honestly not sure how best to produce content for tiktok. If you're a heavy tiktok user (either creating or watching), I'd love to pick your brain about how best to use the platform.
Social Media and Website Management & Optimization: At this point in time, socials are manageable for me but when baby season comes I get buried. If you have SMM experience and want to help out on the back end, please let me know what kind of experience you have. Also looking for SEO and general website assistance from experienced folks.
Merch Design & Ideas Always looking for ideas or art for shirts, stickers, and other merch. We can talk about how you would like to be credited and possible profit sharing for content produced. Please send samples of your work if this is something you'd like to be involved in.
Events Let me know about any events that Arizona Bat Rescue might fit in with. We've done museum drop in days, Bat nights, local Halloween enthusiast groups, homeschool student group field trips, etc. Other possible events would be things like oddities fairs, pretty much anything Halloween, nature or science education, etc. Also looking for opportunities to give "Bat Talks" to educate the public about bats.
Vendors If you or anyone you know might be able to give AZ Bat Rescue a break on costs for printing, feeding supplies, housing supplies, etc, please give me contact info so I can check with them to see if they want to help out.