CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME OFFICE OF SPILL PREVENTION AND RESPONSE CONVERGENT VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

Abstract

ABSTRACT The California Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) have the authority to use Convergent Volunteers during a spill event to assist with rehabilitating oiled wildlife. The Convergent Volunteer Program was created to allow concerned citizens to help save wildlife injured by oil spill events in our state. Volunteers’ interests, talents, and skills are matched with wildlife needs and work opportunities at the primary care facility responding to the spill. Previous experience with wildlife, while helpful, is not required to volunteer. Volunteers in the OSPR program are people from all walks of life, who want to be good stewards of California and our wildlife. Our volunteers are individuals who come forward to help assist with rehabbing oiled wildlife after learning of an oil spill from the media or other sources. They are average citizens willing to share their wealth of knowledge and learn how to rehabilitate wildlife that have been injured by spilled oil. Some volunteers work full time, some a few hours a week or month, or during a particular season or spill event. Volunteers perform a wide variety of tasks, such as; animal intake, animal food preparation, animal stabilization, animal washing, volunteer operations center, construction or electrical work (building pens, etc.) clerical and administrative tasks, and laundry. At the OSPR, we strive to ensure that all wildlife exposed to petroleum products in the environment receive the best achievable treatment available. Ultimately, we succeed because of the vigorous efforts of our dedicated oil spill volunteers.