Animal Care Apprenticeship (6-Month Stipended Position)

Oglebay Good Zoo

Animal Care Apprenticeship (6-month stipended position)

Oglebay Good Zoo, the only AZA-accredited institution in West Virginia, is recruiting for a 6-month animal care apprenticeship position from August 2024 - January 2025. This team member will assist in various animal care responsibilities including but not limited to:

Participation in daily care of zoo animals (non-dangerous species) including diet preparation and feeding

Sanitation and disinfection of zoo animal habitats

Zoo animal behavioral observation

Participation in operant conditioning via positive reinforcement training (development of successive approximations, implementation, evaluation, and revision)

Participation in planning, creation, provision, and assessment of environmental enrichment

Participation in interpretive programming and interactive guest programs

Participation in animal wellbeing assessments

Skills training sessions will include sessions on animal husbandry, behavior management, animal movement (shifting, crating, and transport), animal identification techniques, animal wellbeing, animal nutrition, observed veterinary procedures, safe management of protected contact (dangerous species) and guest interaction skills.

Experience Required

Bachelors degree in animal science, biology, ecology, wildlife and fisheries management, zoology, or zoo science.

Perks

Free on-site housing. Daily lunch meal is available free of charge on resort property.

Salary

Stipend of $1,040 per 2 weeks.

How to Apply

Interested applicants should e-mail a statement of interest and current resume to Courtney Snyder, Associate Curator of Animals, at csnyder@oglebay.com.

Oglebay Good Zoo

465 Lodge Drive

Wheeling, WV 26003