Animal Keeper Internship Job Summary / Overview
This position requires a highly motivated personality who is eager to learn and perform duties associated with the husbandry and maintenance of exotic animals on exhibit in a working, education-focused facility. Interns work alongside and are supervised by professional zookeeper staff who will mentor and coach them during their internship, at a minimum of 240 hours. Interns who successfully complete the program are provided with a certificate of completion and letters of reference upon request.
RESPONSIBILITIES & ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Services and cleans animal habitats, holding areas, and general grounds
- Prepares (according to precise instructions) and delivers animal diets
- Creates and provides enrichment for animals
- Observes and reports animal behaviors
- Learns and strictly adheres to safety protocols and other procedures
- Assists with projects that may include habitat and enrichment construction and maintenance, operant conditioning animal training, and supporting veterinary procedures
- Learns procedures for capture and restraint, animal training, and medication administration
- Performs additional tasks as requested by animal husbandry staff
SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:
- Attention to detail
- Strong focus
- Ability to follow direction precisely
- Ability to receive constructive criticism and take corrective action
- Ability to work closely and communicate clearly with keeper staff and support volunteers, and to communicate occasionally if needed with members of the public visiting for tours or events
EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:
- Minimum age of 18 required
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Enrolled in or recently graduated from a college or university program with a related focus
- Preference given to students closer to their graduation date
- Previous experience at a zoo, working with wildlife in rehabilitation, or in a veterinary clinic is preferred
LICENSING, CERTIFICATION, and/or REGISTRATION:
- Valid US driver’s license required
- Covid vaccination required
- Rabies pre-exposure vaccination preferred, but not required
WORK ENVIRONMENT:
- Requires 40 hour work weeks, with 2 days off, though they may not be consecutive
- Requires prolonged standing, significant walking, and bending, stooping, stretching, and other intensive physical labor
- Requires the ability to move safely over uneven ground while carrying items
- Requires lifting up to 50 pounds
- Rural location requires reliable transportation
- Requires working outdoors in most weather conditions, including in temperatures from 0 to 105 degrees F
- Work with deceased whole prey, raw meat, strong odors