Volunteer

Austin Bat Refuge is a small non-profit organization that relies on volunteers to keep us going. Check out our volunteer opportunities below for Direct and Indirect Bat Care– no experience neccessary!

Indirect Bat Care

Thanks for your interest in joining our team of dedicated volunteers! Our minimum time commitment for indirect bat care volunteers is 2 hours a week, or 8 hours a month. Here are the most common volunteer opportunities we have available.

  • Flight Cage and Habitat Maintenence
  • Mealworm Feeding and Maintenance
  • Gardening
  • Bat Transport
  • Fundraising for Educational Programs
  • Data Entry
  • Tech Support
  • Education
  • Legislative Support
  • Accounting and Finance Support
  • Legal Support
  • Social Media and Marketing Support

Do you have a specialized skill that you’d like to contribute? Fill out our volunteer form and let us know!

Photo: Hilary Pelham

Direct Bat Care

For direct bat care, we require at least two hours twice a week. Bats’ needs change quickly with the seasons, and we require volunteers with time and familiarity with our systems and individual bats to ensure they are receiving the most accurate and up-to-date care. Volunteers must have proof of a rabies pre-exposure before handling bats. No prior experience is necessary– we can train most volunteers. Most common direct bat care includes:
  • Giving bats food by forceps or oral syringe
  • Giving bats water by oral syringe
  • Administering topical or oral medication
  • Moving bats between enclosures
  • Weighing bats
  • Assessing bat behavior and progress
  • Flight testing

We are seeking animal professionals who can assist in medical assessments, testing, and procedures.

Photo: Amanda Stronza, ABR Volunteer

Our illustrious alumni

We love you all! Having you in our lives is the next best thing about this gig (second only to the bats!). Please come visit anytime and come back when you can take a regular shift. Thanks so much for all your love, sweat, and tears. Oh, and for donating blood to our mosquitos!

Kyndal Irwin
Kate Korchek
Rachel Ellard
Marisa Fajardo
Val Flores
Tristen Bryan
Jessica York
Julia York
Melani Ortega

Samantha Hilty
Caitlin Boggs
Laura Martinez
Gabriela Garza
Alam Girlalani
Taylor Frazier
Amy Hall
Eric Hyman
Emily Grey

Erin McGuyver-Huffman
Daniella Gutierrez
Larissa Yorgan
Risa Romano
Michelle Guilliams
Claire Long
Dani Blalock
Cate Esguerra