06/01/2026
✨ Volunteer Spotlight: Kirstin ✨
Kirstin first connected with the Wildlife Clinic after helping transport a young opossum someone found hiding on a boat in Newport.
After learning more about the Clinic’s work, she earned her subpermittee license and began volunteering in-clinic in Spring 2022 before later transitioning into transport volunteering in Summer 2025 , as she lovingly referred to as running the “critter taxi.”
“The more I learned about the Clinic -the team, the thousands of animals and wide range of species they help every year, and the ways people like me could get involved -the more I wanted to be a part of it.”
When asked about her favorite part of volunteering, Kirstin’s answer was immediate: the people.
“The animals are adorable and fabulous in every way, of course, but the team makes this experience so special. Every time I transport an animal, I learn something new from them. Their patience, warmth, and willingness to teach make all the difference.”
She also shared how much she loves the compassionate Rhode Islanders she meets through this work -the “finders” who take time out of their day to help injured and orphaned wildlife.
“The Wildlife Clinic has such a special community, and I’m grateful to be part of it.”
Kirstin has a soft spot for opossums, snapping turtles, and ospreys… and outside the clinic, sharks and octopuses too !
Thank you, Kirstin, for the compassion and dedication you bring to every mile traveled, helping wildlife across Rhode Island get the lifesaving care they need!
