An urban mecca for 29 species of waterfowl, 23 species of raptors, 31 species of shorebirds, over 100 species of fish, and more than 300 species of birds, Detroit River IWR is a unique gem situated in a landscape where industry and nature collide. Join our family and donate your skills and talents to the only international wildlife refuge in America! Become a volunteer today and make a difference!
Read what these volunteers experienced last year:
Sarah Hodges
Volunteering at the Refuge gave me a great opportunity to
work hard and feel satisfied with my work. The results are tangible and the
appearance of numerous species of wildlife is such an encouragement! I
participated in tree planting, watering, mulching, and anchoring, while leading
other volunteers in this work to build up habitat and canopy in the Refuge
Gateway, an area that was little more than concrete and pipes thirty years ago.
It’s so exciting to see a landscape that was once an open field being slowly
transformed into a wooded area, with woody pillars and leaves reaching to the
sky, and to know that I was a contributing force in that transformation! I also
helped to remove invasive species and clear a wildlife corridor in Humbug
Marsh, the last undeveloped mile of the Detroit River State-side, to encourage
a healthy ecosystem. This is a lot of work, but the progress we make after a
few hours’ work is very evident, and it feels great to be working out-of-doors,
talking with other volunteers as we strive towards a common goal.
Work at the Wildlife Refuge constituted most of my summer,
but there were other volunteer opportunities I participated in as well. In late
June, I went goose banding with the Michigan DNR – what a cool experience that
was! I had another awesome wildlife volunteer experience in early July:
sturgeon tagging with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. We went out on the
Detroit River in two boats and pulled in pre-set lines, measuring, recording,
and then releasing any catches (barring invasive species, of course). On this
trip, we caught three sturgeon, along with sheephead, channel cats, invasive
round gobies, crayfish, and endangered northern madtom.
Working at the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
is a fun, rewarding, and refreshing experience. Seeing my efforts actualized
here, combined with the natural beauty of the Detroit River and Humbug Marsh,
the good-naturedness of staff and other volunteers, and the knowledge that I am
contributing to a masterpiece of a landscape in an urban area that will be
appreciated by thousands of people for years to come, made this one of the best
summers of my life. I would highly encourage others to volunteer at the
Wildlife Refuge in the future – I know I will be!
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By Jake
Bonello
This summer has been one of the
biggest influences of my entire life. The amount of education and training I
have received is unbelievable. I’ve learned everything from plant, bird, and
insect species to erosion control, tree planting, and working with GIS systems.
Working with the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge Alliance has
strengthened my love for working outdoors, and has also strengthened the
experience needed to become successful in life.
Throughout the summer my coworker
(Sarah Hodges) and I, lead numerous tree plantings with volunteer groups ending
with a total of 105 trees going into the ground. We also helped run the open
houses held at Humbug Marsh so that the local community can visit the site and
see the progress being made. We had the opportunity to work directly with
wildlife, taking part in sturgeon tagging and goose banding, and also witness
rare species of animals not commonly seen in an urban area. But the best part
of the job is that in 30 years I’ll be able to come back with my kids and
grandkids and point out specific trees and shrubs I’ve planted, and knowing that what I’m accomplishing now will
have a long lasting effect on my community. I am extremely grateful for
everything this job has presented to me in life, and I look forward to seeing
what future generations of volunteers and workers accomplish.
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VOLUNTEER POSITIONS:
Get Outdoors Downriver.
