Animal Care Intern

The Wilderness Wildlife Center is looking for interns to join the animal care team to care for a diverse collection of carnivores and hoofstock including big cats, bears, wolves, small carnivores, white rhino, elk, bison, moose, and bighorn sheep. This position is a PAID internship and interns would learn all aspects of animal care including but not limited to cleaning, diet prep, enrichment, training, medicating, etc.

The Wilderness Wildlife Center is an AZA certified related facility located 20 minutes west of Pittsburgh. We have helped rescue many orphaned native wildlife and have expanded to help with AZA SSP and breeding programs. We are closed to the public but do occasionally give small tours.

Under supervision of the Animal Care Manager and Lead Conservationist(s), interns perform a wide range of responsibilities at the Wilderness Wildlife Center. 

Responsibilities include:

• Cleaning and maintaining habitats, indoor holdings, yards and service areas assigned.

• Continual monitoring of habitats and service areas with attention to detail.

• Exemplary animal care and providing assistance in veterinary management

• Operant conditioning of collection for husbandry behaviors and providing enrichment

• Animal observation and monitoring for behavioral and medical needs

• Maintaining records, including entering data into ZIMS

• Contributes to open team discussions and sharing ideas in positive and professional manner

• Public Speaking and tours

• Maintains good work habits and adheres to all policies and procedures

• Assists with projects or daily duties in other animal care areas

• Other duties as assigned

• Interns will be able to pick a project to work on for the duration of their internship

Qualifications

• This is a full-time internship open to undergraduates or recent graduates seeking degrees in Biology or related fields

• Must commit to at least a 3 month term with opportunity for longer extensions based on performance. (more “hands on” opportunities are also performance based).

• Must be able to work outside year-round under typical Western Pennsylvania weather conditions and temperatures for extended periods of time.

• Must be able to work in uneven terrain with exposure to varying weather conditions, dust, and allergens

• Must be able to lift and carry materials up to 50 pounds.

• Must have the ability to follow safety protocols, demonstrate focus, follow written and verbal instructions, effectively promote organization, manage stress to perform the job effectively, remember details, manage time effectively, apply critical thinking techniques, analyze and solve problems.

Applicants may be required to work any combination of five days in the seven day workweek including weekends and holidays

Salary is 15/hr 

All successful candidates for this position will be required to a criminal background check