Location
Sioux Falls, SD | United States
Job description
Job Description
This position is on-site at The Great Plains Zoo located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Come join us at the Great Plains Zoo as a Seasonal Zookeeper! Zookeepers are responsible for the specialized work involving all aspects of general care and feeding of zoo animals including the cleaning and maintenance of buildings, grounds, and exhibits. Zookeepers at our Zoo work with a variety of species across several different taxonomic classes on a daily basis. THIS IS A SEASONAL POSITION.
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Provide all aspects of daily care for the animals in assigned exhibits and holding areas including but not limited to:
- Innovative animal husbandry that is in compliance with AZA and USDA standards
- Preparation and feeding of approved diets.
- Monitoring of physical and behavioral aspects of the animals under assigned care.
- Designing and maintaining proper animal enclosures/props/exhibits.
- Utilizing preventative husbandry techniques and providing proactive health care as required.
- Grounds keeping (mowing, weeding, cleaning guest viewing, etc.)
- Maintain exhibits and holding areas (cleaning, scrubbing, disinfecting, cleaning pools, substrate changes, etc.)
- Maintain daily reports, medical records, enrichment logs, and other records as needed in the assigned area.
- Perform basic restraint, crating/uncrating and transport of animals as required and must have the ability to operate various sizes of animal squeeze cages for medical purposes.
Qualifications:
- Requires a 4-year college degree in Biology, Animal Science, Zoology, or related field; or an equivalent level of work experience and education as determined by the hiring authority.
- Preference given for prior experience in a zoological institution, preferably AZA accredited
- Should have working knowledge of animal care and feeding practices.
- Should have working knowledge of materials, methods, and equipment used in cleaning and caring for animals and grounds.
- Must have the ability to interact professionally with co-workers, vendors, and guests.
- Must be able to work a flexible work schedule including weekends, holidays, and evenings as required.
- Must be able to climb ladders/stairs, lift crates/animals and/or equipment weighing 70 lbs, operate mowers, handle fire hoses, operate weed eaters, wheelbarrows loaded up to 150 lbs, be agile and flexible to maneuver in and around exhibits, corrals and holding areas.
Schedule/Compensation:
- Schedule is generally 40 hours for 16 weeks.
- Compensation is $13.50 per hour.
- We are hiring 3 Seasonal Zookeepers with the anticipated start date of mid-to-late May 2024.
The Great Plains Zoo is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The Great Plains Zoo cares for animals from around the world and offers up-close views of animals often not found in larger zoos, including giraffes, tigers, black rhinos and a national award-winning Snow Monkey exhibit.
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