An Animal Keeper, working under the general supervision of Zoo management, has direct responsibility for the care, welfare, and safety of assigned animals and their habitats or exhibits. Additionally, Animal Keepers further the Society's mission by engaging with and providing information to Zoo visitors.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
- An Animal Keeper performs all aspects of animal care, including the upkeep of exhibits, minor repairs, public speaking, and volunteer coordination.
Specific duties include:
- Habitat Maintenance:
- Cleans and maintains enclosures, cages, stalls, moats, barns, pools, yards, roads, and related areas. Removes animal excrement and food remnants; rakes, sweeps, and hoses down areas as necessary.
Animal Observation & Health:
- Observes animal behavior on a day-to-day and long-term basis.
- Notes and reports unusual behavior, signs of illness/injury, appetite changes, breeding cycles, or social incompatibility to supervisors or the animal hospital.
- Assists in administering medication or treatments as directed.
Public Engagement & Safety:
- Answers questions and provides information to the visiting public.
- Observes visitors to prevent malicious acts or harm to animals, property, or the public.
- Assists with crowd control when animals are loose or being moved.
Animal Handling:
- Assists in the crating, uncrating, catching, restraining, and transferring of animals between locations.
Exhibit Design & Repair:
- Designs and builds displays within existing enclosures. Assists with landscaping care and performs minor or emergency repairs to Zoo equipment and facilities.
Guest Relations:
- Interacts with Zoo visitors and staff courteously and professionally at all times.
Driving:
- Drives vehicles on or off Zoo grounds for off-site animal care, transporting animals, or handling emergencies.
- Dietary Management: Maintains knowledge of animal dietary needs. Facilitates food consumption and occasionally assists with food preparation near exhibits. Maintains food storage in compliance with state, local, federal, and AZA requirements.
- Collaboration: Partners with other Zoo departments to maintain top-tier animal care and attends internal training sessions as needed.
- Other Duties: Performs additional duties related to the care of Zoo animals as directed by management.
- Job Requirements & Qualifications
- Education & Experience
Education:
- High school diploma or General Education Degree (GED).
Experience:
- One (1) year of paid experience working with ranch, farm, or exotic animals.
Note:
- A degree from an institution offering specialized animal management programs with a hands-on component, or a relevant animal-focused internship, may meet this qualification.
Skills & Abilities
Communication:
- Ability to read and interpret safety rules, operating instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to speak effectively before groups.
Teamwork:
- Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment.
Problem Solving:
- Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.
Specialized Safety:
- For certain species or dangerous animals, additional requirements may be necessary for safety.
- Certificates & Licenses
- A valid Driver's License.
- Desired Qualifications
- Bilingual candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
- Physical Demands & Work Environment
Physical Demands
- Regularly required to stand and walk.
- Frequently required to reach with hands/arms, talk, and hear.
- Occasionally required to climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
- Must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 80 pounds.
- Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.
Work Environment
- Regularly exposed to outside weather conditions.
- Frequently exposed to potentially hazardous, dangerous, or sick animals.
- Occasional exposure to moving mechanical parts.
- May involve exposure to serious accidents, injuries, or highly disagreeable conditions (such as handling raw sewage and other refuse).
- Noise level is usually moderate.
