Does anybody know what you have to do to work at a zoo?

Question

I am only 14, and I know I have a while before I could work at a zoo, but I wanted to know what I have to do to get a good job at a big good zoo. When I'm 18 i'm going to college, so I thought there was something I could major in to get a little more experience (other then actually working with animals of course) If anybody knows anything about it, I'll take anything I can get. Thank You Very Much!!

Oh, and one more thing is I really want a job that I can work with animals like all the time (if that matters)

Answer 1

http://www.nextsteps.org/steps/mar05/mar05.html



http://www.caza.ca/en/membership_and_services/programs/zoo_technology_program/



http://www.abes2000.com/abes2000/zookeeper.html

http://www.abes.ca/programs.html

Alberta Business Education Services

Certificate in Zoo Technology

#780 910 - 7th Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada T2P 3N8





http://www.calgaryzoo.ab.ca/images/stories/pdf/youth%20volunteer%20application%20form.pdf

http://www.calgaryzoo.ab.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=135&Itemid=338

http://www.valleyzoo.ca/pages/Zoo_GeneralInfo/Careers.aspx

http://web.volunteer2.com/public/organization/ViewJob.aspx?JobGUID=033e63f5-4a70-4e52-a52f-6156576caf63&ShowBackLink=True&OrganizationGUID=8fd7a098-2ffa-479c-9e84-fd2d478a325d&VolunteerCenterGUID=&VolunteerCenterReferralTypeID=

http://web.volunteer2.com/public/organization/listjobs.aspx?OrganizationGUID=8fd7a098-2ffa-479c-9e84-fd2d478a325d

http://www.valleyzoo.ca/pages/Zoo_ProgramsCoursesCamps/default.aspx

http://www.medicineriverwildlifecentre.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11&Itemid=62

http://www.westedmontonmall.com/play/marinelifeprograms.asp









Work on getting lots of experience with animals. Before and/or during college see if you can volunteer at a zoo. Most zoos offer opportunities for youth and teens to go to camp, be a camp counselor, or be a jr keeper, etc. See what your local zoo offers. However, if you can't volunteer at a zoo or with exotic animals, work with other animals. Any animal experience is better than none. There are also a couple colleges that have a teaching zoo, so you can get experience as well as an education. A lot of times, zoos will look more at your experience than your degree.



While you may not "need" a degree, depending on the zoo you apply to, you should get at least get an Associates (2 yrs); though a Bachelors (4 yrs) or higher would be better. Look through some of the job listings at AZA to see what some of the education requirements to work at a zoo. A degree will also give you an insight to animal behavior, animal husbandry/care, basic vet knowledge, etc (look at some college course catalogs to see what you'll be learning in the classes and what classes you need to take for the degree). Zookeeping is a very competitive field, so any edge your can get over your competition will be helpful.



After you get your degree it still might be hard to get a job right away. You might need to do an internship and/or work some other job (at the zoo or somewhere else) till a position opens up.



http://www.sandiegozoo.org/jobs/keeper_faq.html

How do I become an animal keeper?

There is no single way to become a keeper, but the more education and hands-on experience you have, the better.



Education– While you’re in school, learn as much as you can in your science classes. In college, choose a degree program in animal-related fields like biology, zoology, botany, ecology, conservation science, or animal behavior. Take as many different courses in those areas as you can, and graduate with a bachelor’s degree in your chosen field. (Here’s a BIG hint: the competition for jobs caring for animals is so strong that you really HAVE to have a college degree these days to be considered.)



Hands-on Experience– Find opportunities to work with animals. Some potential keepers have volunteered assisting Conservation Research scientists and technicians. Sometimes work-study opportunities are available for college students.



What are some other ways to gain animal experience?

Some places to look for volunteer jobs or internships might be:

• Veterinary offices

• Animal training classes (does your dog need obedience training?)

• Local Humane Society

• Local Park Service

• Wildlife rehabilitation centers (like for wolves, bears, big cats, birds of prey, and even bats)

• Animal shelters

• Farms (for domestic animals, or even ostrich, llama, or butterfly farms)

• Pet breeders (those that breed specific kinds of dogs, cats, or horses)

• Horse stables and boarding facilities

• 4-H Clubs



http://www.aazk.org/zkcareer/keeper_jobs.php

Improving Your Chances of Getting a Keeper Job

Courtesy of A.A.Z.K.



Although most zoos will be looking for experienced and academically able staff you can improve your chances by amassing various other skills. If you already have keeping experience then so much the better, however the following will be a big help.



(a) Learn to...



http://www.aza.org/ForEveryone/Careers/

Requirements

The conservation and scientific programs in zoos and aquariums have become highly technical and specialized. Although practical experience with animals may sometimes be substituted for academic training, most entry-level keeper positions now require a four-year college degree. Training in animal science, zoology, marine biology, conservation biology, wildlife management, and animal behavior is preferred...



http://aazk.org/zoo_career.php

http://www.stlzoo.org/animals/soyouwanttobeazookeeper/

http://www.lupazoo.org/zoo_info/involved/kpr_faq.htm

http://sandiegozoo.org/blog/teenreporters/2008/10/10/life-as-a-zookeeper/

http://www.oregonzoo.org/Involved/careerfactsheet.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-psyixcn0sU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZkM6CaGk8c

http://www.cattales.org/A%20Zookeeper%27s%20Day.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmhLgvq-NzA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5UabGAGmH0

http://www.careers.iptv.org/people_detail.cfm?pplID=150&occID=94

http://www.bls.gov/k12/nature01.htm

http://careers.stateuniversity.com/pages/554/Zookeeper.html



http://www.aazk.org/forum/

Career information

Questions about a career in Zoo Keeping, ask in here.



some more Colleges

http://www.seaworld.org/career-resources/info-books/zoo-careers/finding-a-school.htm

http://www.aazk.org/zkcareer/training.php

http://www.seaworld.org/career-resources/info-books/zoo-careers/school-&-university-programs.htm

http://animalscience.calpoly.edu/areas_of_study/zoo/index.asp

http://192.188.202.22/amg/



Pensacola Junior College's Zoo Animal Technology Program

http://itech.pjc.edu/jkaplan/zooschool/index2.html

http://www.pjc.edu/forms-apps/collegecatalog/0809cat.pdf



Santa Fe College's Zoo Animal Technology Program

http://inst.sfcollege.edu/~zoo/PROGINFO.HTM

http://admn.sfcollege.edu/~catalog/PDF/08FIN-catalog.pdf (Zoo Animal Technology)

http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=santa%20fe%20teaching%20zoo&ie=UTF-8&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&sa=N&tab=wv#q=santa%20fe%20teaching%20zoo&emb=0

http://www.aazk.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=780

http://www.aazk.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=780



Moorpark College's Exotic Animal Training and Management (EATM) Program.

http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/current_students/teaching_zoo/FAQs.shtml

http://students.vcccd.edu/cats/08-09/mc_2008-09_full.pdf (Exotic Animal Training and Management)

http://www.amysutherland.com/kbs-synopsis.aspx

http://www.thefutureschannel.com/dockets/realworld/teaching_zoo/

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6497367692325564878&ei=hw7rSJKZN6Ky2gKK2LydCw&q=EATM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UH-vcr-AmWQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUxQGXKWfZQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebO4t0Ojqz0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gl-CHykT2P8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8AKB8Jgvco

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1pILm93dg8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifTtBYCF-mw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfHCOUEKjkY

http://www.aazk.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=134

http://www.aazk.org/forum/viewtopic.php?id=490



some Work/Intern/Volunteer ideas for during or after college

http://www.aza.org/JobListings/index.cfm?Keywords=keeper&Filter=Both

http://www.aazk.org/job_listings.php

http://www.indyzoo.com/content.aspx?cid=272

http://www.denverzoo.org/involved/career.asp

http://www.sazoo-aq.org/general/volunteer.html#college

http://www.houstonzoo.org/intern/

http://disney.go.com/disneycareers/internships/wdw/students/roles/animal_programs/animal_programs.html

http://disney.go.com/disneycareers/internships/wdw/students/roles/animal_programs/animal_program_roles/ap_roles.html

http://www.seaworld.org/career-resources/internship/index.htm

http://www.seaworld.org/education-programs/swt/employment/index.htm

http://www.seaworld.org/education-programs/swc/jobs/index.htm





https://answersrip.com/question/index?qid=20090305230207AAqohe4&show=7#profile-info-KnmNCAdVaa

Vet Schools for Zoo animals?

Answer 2

I don't know what type of schooling you would need eventually, but I do have an idea you could try now. Go to a zoo near you and look around/ask people about it. Maybe they might have a job you could do now! Even if it's something small, work early on can really help with getting bigger jobs later. Plus, you'll get a much better feel for if you like it or not.

Answer 3

At 14, you should definitely start by volunteering at the zoo... most zoos have programs for young people interested in animals. Get as much hands-on experience as possible... not only at the zoo but at shelters, animal hospitals, farms, horse ranches, wildlife rescue centers... where ever you can. Then major in zoology in college. You can also major in animal science (which I did to become a zookeeper) or biology. Take as many animal courses as you can. Over summer breaks in college, get an internship at the zoo. They are usually unpaid or very low paid but when you apply for a job after you graduate, zoos look for this on your resume. Most zoos also require experience in an AZA accredited zoo (in the US), so try to get an internship at an accredited zoo. The key is to get as much experience as you can even before you graduate from college. Start now. You're going to love it. Good luck!

Answer 4

The most important thing for becoming a zookeeper is to gain experience with animals. Most zoos are more interested in this than in qualifications - I used to be a zookeeper and got the job without any qualifications other than G.C.S.E.s. Having higher qualifications is no guarantee of getting the job (my boss told me he's had people come in with degrees who didn't know which end an elephant craps out of!), and not having them is no guarantee you won't get the job. (Bear in mind that I am in the UK, though - if you're elsewhere the requirements may vary). Volunteering at a zoo or animal sanctuary is a good way of getting experience - many zoos take on volunteers, and it's a good way of getting your foot in the door, so to speak, at the particular zoo you're interested in working at. You won't get paid, though, of course. Other things that are considered good experience with animals are working on farms and in dog kennels.



A zookeeper's pay is generally quite poor - I earned minimum wage, which at the time was about £10,000 per year (about 20,000 US dollars). You will probably earn slightly more now, but zookeeping is not a well-paid job and wages are always at the low end of the scale, at least in the UK. You cannot afford to buy or rent a place of your own on a zookeeper's salary - you have to share with house-mates or a partner. Many people want to work with animals, so they don't need to tempt workers with high pay. (This is another reason why many people with degrees don't want to be zookeepers - having spent years studying, they want to earn better than minimum wage). The hours are long and you may not be paid for any overtime worked - in the zoo I worked at, you were paid only between 8am and 5pm, even if you arrived at 6.30am and didn't leave til 7pm. You are also required to work weekends and public holidays without additional pay, and the most time off you'll ever have is 2 days at a time. Animals need feeding and their enclosures cleaning every day, whether it's Christmas, your birthday, a bank holiday or whatever. It is definitely not a job you do for the money, or if you like taking long holidays or socialising at weekends and so on.



As for working conditions, it goes without saying that cleaning up after animals is a dirty job. You have to be okay with getting covered in urine, faeces and other unpleasant substances. You also have to be fit, as you will be on your feet all day, rushing from place to place, lifting heavy loads, and so on, and you have to not mind working outdoors in all seasons and weathers. You need to be able to deal with people, in the shape of the public - this often requires a good deal of patience, as you will be asked the same question literally hundreds of times every day, and must always be polite however rude people are to you and however busy, tired and frustrated you are. Depending on which animals you're looking after, some degree of public speaking may also be involved - you might have to do a talk whilst feeding your animals, for example.



I must add that TV. shows about zoos paint a very unrealistic picture of what the job of being a zookeeper entails, making it appear that things like hand-rearing baby animals and knocking animals out for medical procedures happen every day. In reality, these things happen only rarely. The work is physically very hard, and there is often little interaction with the animals you care for - the majority of the job is cleaning (picking up faeces, sweeping up straw, window cleaning, etc.). You also often do not have a choice as to which animals you work with - most zoos will simply take you on as a keeper and place you where you are needed, though you can request to work with certain animals if and when a position with them becomes available.