Due to an influx of injured brown pelicans, the Amos Rehabilitation Keep at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute is in need of volunteers.
The ARK program director, Alicia Walker, says they recently took in 45 injured birds, 25 are still at their facility.
“Most are thin, they have a high parasite load,” says Alicia Walker. “We give them a lot of antibiotics, different vitamins.”
Walker says they need 15 to 20 volunteers. Volunteers must be at least 12 years old and have health insurance. Anyone under 15 must volunteer with a parent.
Volunteers get to spend time with the animals. Feeding and weighing turtles and marine birds, but they’re also in charge of not so glamorous tasks like cutting fish.
“Cleaning tanks, cleaning cages, doing dishes, laundry,” says Walker.
Walker says nurturing animals back to health is very rewarding.
“We do name a lot of our animals,” says Walker. “Getting to see them go home is amazing.”
Volunteers get to be a part of the preservation of marine life in the coastal bend.
“My work here will live on, every turtle that I save, hopefully, it goes on and it has babies,” says Walker.
Volunteer information:
The ARK is hosting two orientations at the campus in Port Aransas.
- August 30th at 5 p.m.
- September 1st at 10 a.m.
You must register in advance. To RSVP email volunteer coordinator, Nicole Pringle at npringle@austin.utexas.edu or call 361-749-3153
