Volunteer at Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge

Volunteer positions in biology, habitat restoration, education and visitor services, community outreach, maintenance, and office administration are available for people of all ages. Flexible work schedules are available for all positions. At this time, no internships are available.

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

Sunshine, a fresh breeze off the river, bald eagles and osprey circling overhead, flowers bursting into bloom – what else could one ask for in a summer job? I am a recent college graduate with a degree in Environmental Science and am unsure of the specific career path I’d like to pursue. I wanted a job that would allow me to utilize my degree, and to better give me an idea of my interests and strengths. Not only that, but I wanted a position that called for working outside in a natural setting and being a good steward of the environment. Volunteering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service through the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance and a generous grant from the MDNR Community Forestry Grant has allowed me to do all of these things. I was able to interact with people of many different backgrounds and ages, gain knowledge, skills and confidence, and improve the environment through habitat restoration.

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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