Aza
Hattiesburg Convention Commission DBA Hattiesburg Zoo
Animal Keeper I (Bird)
Department: Zoo Animal Care
Location: Hattiesburg Zoo
Shift: Generally 40 hours per week on a schedule requiring a mix of weekdays, weekends, evenings and holidays as required.
Reports to: Animal Curator
Under the direction of the Animal Curator, performs scientific work in the care of zoo animals and the maintenance of zoo exhibits and facilities. Participates in the training, enrichment, dietary, record keeping and health needs of the animal collection. Participates in the aesthetics and maintenance of the various exhibits and participates with guest interactions.
Provides daily care and enrichment for a diverse collection of species, including Chilean flamingos, great horned owl, turkey vulture, barred owl, sardinian donkeys, golden eagles, citron-crested cockatoo, blue and gold macaw, chickens, box turtles, gopher tortoise, swans.
Observes and evaluates animal condition, behavior, and responses on a daily basis and reports any unusual situations to the supervisor.
* Maintains records on animal health and behavior, exhibits, diets, vet care, enrichment/training, etc.
* Cleans (disinfects as scheduled) and checks integrity of animal exhibits and structures daily to ensure safety and welfare of animals, guests, and staff in accordance with established guidelines.
* Maintains exhibit materials and landscaping, such as caring for plants in and around exhibits, cleaning and installing perches, nest boxes, bedding materials, feed containers, and decorative materials and understands how these will be used by animals and their safety.
* Operates heavy machinery as needed.
* Performs minor repairs and preventative maintenance to exhibits, reports maintenance concerns they cannot be easily addressed to the Curator, makes recommendations to improve the safety, aesthetics, and functionality of facilities; assists in the completion of approved changes.
* Prepares prescribed diets and follows feeding instructions noting consumption and conformance of foods; unloads food shipments.
* Assists in the capture and restraint of animals, which may or may not be sedated; assists in administering prescribed medications and dietary supplements noting consumption and treating injured/sick animals.
* Daily involvement in improving the quality of life of the animals by developing and implementing behavior modification and enrichment programs to elicit species-typical behaviors.
* Participates in the animal training program for the purpose of improving animal welfare and/or public demonstrations.
* Assist in the training and evaluation of volunteers and interns.
* Aesthetics, Medical, Nutrition, Training, Enrichment or Registrar) learns and performs the job as specified.
* Education and Work Experience:
Bachelor's degree in a biological science (i.e. biology, zoology, ecology) and 1 year exotic animal experience or 3 years exotic animal experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience
Work outdoors in all types of weather and lift heavy objects (up to 50 pounds)
Strong work ethic, self-motivated, committed to the vision of the Hattiesburg Zoo.
* Friendly with public and courteous to visitors, able to provide keeper chats and public encounters in a friendly manner.
* Knowledge of behavioral management and operant conditioning and how they apply in a zoo setting.
Bachelor's degree in a biological science (i.e. biology, zoology, ecology) and 1 year exotic animal experience or 3 years exotic animal experience; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.
Hattiesburg Convention Commission DBA Hattiesburg Zoo
Phone: 601-268-3220