Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Wildlife Keeper

🎯 Role Definition

A Wildlife Keeper is responsible for the daily care, husbandry, monitoring, and welfare of captive and rehabilitated wild animals. This role combines animal husbandry, behavioral observation, enrichment design, enclosure maintenance, veterinary support, public education, and compliance with animal welfare and permitting regulations. The ideal candidate ensures species-appropriate nutrition, health checks, record keeping, and contributes to conservation, research, and visitor engagement programs. Keywords: wildlife keeper, zookeeper, animal care, animal welfare, enrichment, conservation, species management.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Volunteer wildlife or zoo assistant roles with supervised animal contact
Animal Care Assistant or Kennel Technician positions
Wildlife rehabilitation technician or field technician roles

Advancement To:

Senior Keeper / Lead Keeper
Head Keeper or Section Supervisor (mammals, birds, reptiles)
Curator of Animals / Animal Collection Manager
Conservation Program Manager or Wildlife Services Director

Lateral Moves:

Wildlife Rehabilitator or Field Biologist
Education & Outreach Officer (interpretation specialist)
Animal Health Technician / Veterinary Technician
Research Technician or Animal Behaviorist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Provide daily hands-on husbandry and care for assigned species, including preparing and delivering nutritionally balanced diets, portioning food according to dietary plans, and modifying feed for individuals with special medical or behavioral needs.
Conduct systematic, daily behavioral observations and health monitoring for each animal, record abnormal signs, trends, or responses, and escalate concerns promptly to the veterinary team with detailed notes and photographic documentation when required.
Design, implement, and rotate environmental enrichment programs tailored to species-specific behaviors to promote natural foraging, problem-solving, physical exercise, and psychological well-being, documenting outcomes and refining approaches.
Perform routine and specialized cleaning, sanitization, and preventative maintenance of enclosures, pools, substrates, and service areas to maintain biosecurity, safety and to minimize pathogen transfer; ensure compliance with cleaning schedules and SOPs.
Safely restrain, capture, transport, and handle animals for routine procedures, training, transfers, or clinical interventions using approved techniques, equipment, and two-person or team-based protocols to protect animal and staff safety.
Administer medications, prescribed treatments, and therapeutic diets under veterinary direction; maintain accurate medication logs, dosing histories, and records in the animal management system (e.g., ZIMS, ARKS, or facility database).
Prepare and maintain detailed husbandry records, daily logs, medical treatment notes, feeding charts, and breeding histories; ensure data integrity for compliance, reporting, accreditation and research use.
Participate in animal training programs that use positive reinforcement and operant conditioning to husbandry-train animals for voluntary blood draws, injections, scale/weight measures, and cooperative clinical exams to minimize stress and anesthesia risk.
Assist veterinary staff with clinical procedures, sample collection (blood, fecal, skin), diagnostic testing protocols, and post-operative care, ensuring sterile technique and appropriate animal monitoring.
Manage and maintain tools, equipment, feed stores, enrichment supplies, and PPE inventory; coordinate with supply chain or procurement for timely replenishment and equipment calibration.
Conduct daily perimeter and enclosure checks, including barrier inspections, locks, drainage, HVAC, and water filtration systems; report and, where authorized, perform minor repairs or coordinate with facilities for corrective maintenance.
Supervise, mentor, and train volunteers, seasonal staff, and junior keepers in safe animal handling, husbandry standards, record keeping, and visitor interaction protocols to uphold consistent care standards.
Plan and participate in breeding, translocation, and species management programs following institutional breeding plans, studbook directions, and IUCN/SSP recommendations; prepare animals for transport and ensure regulatory compliance.
Deliver education talks, keeper chats, guided tours, or interpretive programs to visitors, schools, and community groups to communicate conservation messages, species biology, and welfare practices while adhering to safety and animal disturbance protocols.
Implement and document emergency response protocols for animal escapes, illness outbreaks, enclosure failures, severe weather events, or public safety incidents; participate in drills and update emergency SOPs as needed.
Ensure compliance with local, national and international regulations concerning permits, CITES, USDA/APHIS, and animal welfare standards; prepare and maintain license and permit documentation as required.
Collect and manage behavioral, health, and environmental data for research collaborations and conservation projects, including participation in monitoring programs, camera traps, or longitudinal studies with external partners.
Operate facility vehicles, small tractors, and light equipment safely for feed deliveries, habitat refurbishment, and off-exhibit work, maintaining valid driver licenses and certifications where applicable.
Support enclosure design and habitat enhancement projects by providing species-specific husbandry input, participating in construction planning, and performing installations or habitat modifications.
Implement biosecurity and quarantine protocols for incoming or returning animals, isolated periods, and separation of susceptible species to prevent disease transmission and ensure successful acclimatization.
Participate in community outreach and stakeholder engagement for conservation initiatives, rescue/rehabilitation partnerships, and school or volunteer programs, representing the facility professionally to partners and donors.

Secondary Functions

Support animal care data entry, reporting and ad-hoc requests from management, research teams, or conservation partners to inform decision-making and compliance filings.
Contribute to facility animal welfare reviews, enrichment research, and continuous improvement initiatives aimed at improving behavioral outcomes and reducing stress-related behaviors.
Collaborate with marketing, education, and fundraising teams to produce content (photos, video, keeper notes) that highlights animal stories and conservation messages for digital and print channels.
Assist with seasonal or special event planning that requires temporary animal displays, interpretation stations, or educational interactions while ensuring welfare and safety standards are maintained.
Help develop and deliver internal training materials and SOP updates for new husbandry techniques, safety protocols, and software tools used for animal management.
Participate in cross-functional committees for sustainability, waste reduction, and green practices within animal operations and facility management.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient animal husbandry techniques across multiple taxa: mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates.
Experience designing and implementing species-appropriate enrichment and behavioral-conditioning programs using positive reinforcement methods.
Medication administration, basic clinical nursing tasks, wound care, and post-operative monitoring under veterinary supervision.
Competent in animal restraint and safe handling methods, transport logistics, and use of capture/containment equipment.
Strong record-keeping and database skills (ZIMS, ARKS, Microsoft Excel, or proprietary animal management systems).
Knowledge of nutrition and diet formulation for captive wildlife, including preparation of specialized diets and supplements.
Familiarity with quarantine, biosecurity, and disease-prevention protocols, including basic understanding of zoonoses and PPE use.
Ability to read, interpret, and comply with permits, CITES documentation, and animal welfare legislation (local/state/national).
Facility and habitat maintenance skills: basic carpentry, plumbing, pool/water system knowledge, and small equipment operation.
Data collection and reporting for research and conservation projects, including sample handling and chain-of-custody procedures.
Valid driver's license and experience operating utility vehicles, trailers, and small tractors where required.
Emergency response competency: containment, evacuation, or first-response methods for animal and public safety incidents.

Soft Skills

Strong observational skills and attention to detail for early identification of health or behavioral changes.
Excellent verbal communication for public talks, visitor interaction, and cross-team collaboration.
Team player mentality with experience training and supervising volunteers and junior staff.
Problem-solving mindset, able to prioritize under pressure and adapt to changing schedules or animal needs.
Empathy for animals and ethical commitment to welfare, conservation, and evidence-based care.
Time management and organizational skills to balance routine tasks, emergency responses, and long-term projects.
Resilience and physical stamina to perform manual tasks, work outdoors in varied weather, and lift up to job-specific weights.
Conflict resolution and diplomacy when interacting with visitors, partners, or regulatory authorities.
Continuous learning orientation with a willingness to pursue professional development and certifications.
Cultural sensitivity and inclusiveness when engaging diverse visitor groups and community stakeholders.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or equivalent; demonstrated practical experience in animal care or wildlife settings required.

Preferred Education:

Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Zoology, Animal Science, Wildlife Biology, Ecology, Conservation Biology, or related field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Zoology
Animal Science
Wildlife Biology
Conservation Biology
Ecology
Veterinary Technology
Environmental Education

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 0–5 years (entry-level roles often accept volunteers/seasonal experience; mid-level keeper roles commonly require 2+ years of hands-on animal care).

Preferred:

2–5+ years of direct experience in zoo, aquarium, wildlife rehabilitation, or captive animal care environments.
Prior experience with enrichment design, positive reinforcement training, and record-keeping in an accredited facility.
Certifications or training such as Basic First Aid/CPR, Animal Welfare training, pesticide/chemical handling (if applicable), or specialized species handling certifications.
Experience with permit application processes, CITES export/import, or USDA/APHA compliance is a strong plus.

Optimized keywords for ATS and LLMs: wildlife keeper, animal care, zookeeper, animal husbandry, enrichment, veterinary support, species management, conservation, animal welfare, quarantine protocols, behavioral observation, positive reinforcement training.