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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Zoo Caretaker

💰 $30,000 - $45,000

Animal CareConservationZoologyWildlife ManagementFacilities

🎯 Role Definition

The Zoo Caretaker (Zookeeper) is responsible for the direct daily care of animals in a zoological setting, ensuring welfare, nutrition, and enrichment while maintaining clean, safe exhibits and facilities. This role combines animal husbandry, behavioral observation, exhibit maintenance, public-facing education, and collaboration with veterinary staff and conservation programs. The position demands practical experience in animal handling, accurate record-keeping, emergency response capability, and a passion for conservation and guest engagement.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Animal Care Assistant / Animal Attendant
  • Volunteer Zookeeper / Internship in a zoo or wildlife center
  • Veterinary Technician or Wildlife Rehabilitation Assistant

Advancement To:

  • Senior Zookeeper / Lead Zookeeper
  • Animal Care Supervisor / Exhibit Supervisor
  • Curator of Animals / Collection Manager
  • Animal Programs Manager or Conservation Program Lead
  • Head of Education or Guest Services (with emphasis on outreach)

Lateral Moves:

  • Wildlife Rehabilitator
  • Aquarium or Marine Mammal Caretaker
  • Research Technician in wildlife biology or conservation labs
  • Animal Welfare Inspector or Sanctuary Care Manager

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Provide daily hands-on animal husbandry for assigned species, including preparing and administering species-appropriate diets, monitoring intake, adjusting rations for life stage and health status, and documenting feedings to maintain nutritional records and support veterinary decisions.
  • Conduct thorough daily behavioral observations and health checks for each animal, noting appetite, activity levels, fecal output, abnormal behaviors, wounds, or signs of illness, and promptly report concerns to the veterinary team and senior staff.
  • Clean, disinfect, and maintain indoor and outdoor enclosures, pools, substrates, perches, and enrichment devices to meet or exceed animal welfare, biosecurity, and safety standards, ensuring exhibits are visually attractive for guests.
  • Design, implement, and rotate behavioral enrichment programs to promote natural species-specific behaviors, reduce stereotypies, and support cognitive and physical stimulation; evaluate enrichment efficacy and record animal responses.
  • Assist veterinary staff with routine medical procedures, including restraint and safe handling for examinations and treatments, medication administration (oral, topical, or injectable as trained), sample collection, and monitoring recovery.
  • Prepare and maintain accurate animal records in digital and paper systems, including feeding logs, medical histories, behavioral observations, transfer and breeding records, and enrichment schedules to support husbandry continuity and regulatory compliance.
  • Participate in animal transfer logistics, including crate training, transport preparation, health checks prior to movement, coordination with other institutions, and ensuring compliance with permits, CITES regulations, and institutional protocols.
  • Build and maintain safe animal handling and restraint techniques for a range of species, using appropriate equipment and following OSHA and institutional safety protocols to protect animals, staff, and guests.
  • Perform habitat and exhibit maintenance tasks such as minor carpentry, painting, plumbing, pool maintenance, landscape management, and enrichment fabrication in coordination with facilities staff to maintain functional, secure exhibits.
  • Monitor water quality and filtration systems for aquatic exhibits, perform routine water testing and treatment tasks, and coordinate with aquatic specialists to maintain healthy aquatic environments.
  • Implement and enforce biosecurity and quarantine procedures for new arrivals, returning animals, and sick individuals; follow disinfection protocols and restrict access to quarantine areas as required.
  • Participate in routine animal training programs using positive reinforcement techniques to facilitate husbandry, medical care, transport, and educational demonstrations while documenting training progress and success rates.
  • Support breeding and conservation programs by maintaining detailed reproductive records, assisting with behavioral monitoring of breeding pairs, and implementing specialized husbandry protocols for neonates and juveniles.
  • Educate and engage the public by delivering interpretive presentations, supervising guest interactions, answering animal-related questions at exhibits, and modeling professional behavior to enhance visitor experiences and conservation messaging.
  • Participate in emergency response drills and be prepared to respond to animal escapes, medical emergencies, severe weather events, and natural disasters to ensure animal and public safety, including executing evacuation and containment plans.
  • Collaborate with animal welfare committees, curators, and external agencies on animal care plans, enrichment strategies, conservation initiatives, and species survival plans (SSPs), contributing subject-matter observations and recommendations.
  • Assist with inventory management of feed, supplies, enrichment materials, and pharmaceuticals; receive deliveries, prepare purchase requisitions, and maintain well-organized supply areas to ensure uninterrupted animal care.
  • Conduct routine training and supervision of volunteers, interns, and seasonal staff in safe animal handling, husbandry protocols, enrichment procedures, and documentation standards to ensure consistent care.
  • Use and maintain specialized equipment safely (e.g., power tools for exhibit upkeep, booms, cranes, tractors, small watercraft) following all safety protocols; complete required equipment certifications where applicable.
  • Participate in collection management duties including accessioning/de-accessioning records, preparing animals for outgoing transfers, and ensuring compliance with institutional and regulatory reporting requirements.
  • Foster positive interdepartmental relationships with education, guest services, research, veterinary, and facilities teams to coordinate interdisciplinary programs, outreach events, and research projects that further conservation and institutional goals.
  • Keep abreast of current best practices in animal welfare, enrichment science, zoonotic disease prevention, and conservation literature; attend training workshops, professional conferences, and contribute to in-house continuing education.
  • Maintain professional conduct and exemplary guest service in all interactions, addressing visitor safety issues when appropriate, and escalating concerns to supervisors to protect guests and animals.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist with public-facing programs such as behind-the-scenes tours, keeper talks, feeding demonstrations, and school group interactions to promote conservation education and visitor engagement.
  • Support routine maintenance of site infrastructure—painting exhibits, repairing fences, clearing drainage, and maintaining outbuildings—to preserve a safe environment for animals and staff.
  • Participate in data entry, basic record audits, and compilation of husbandry or research data to support institutional reporting and conservation partnerships.
  • Help coordinate volunteer schedules, training sessions, and onboarding to maintain a reliable auxiliary workforce.
  • Contribute to grant writing or documentation for conservation projects by supplying animal care information, husbandry protocols, and operational needs.
  • Assist in rescue, rehabilitation, and rehabilitation-to-release coordination when applicable, including intake assessment, stabilization, and transport of wildlife under institutional permits.
  • Support waste management and sustainability initiatives by implementing composting of natural waste, recycling enrichment materials, and suggesting improvements to reduce institutional environmental footprint.
  • Provide on-call or weekend coverage on a rotating basis for assigned campuses, participating in emergency checks, supplemental feedings, and basic veterinary triage when necessary.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Animal handling and restraint expertise across a variety of taxa (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates) with demonstrated safety-first techniques and species-specific protocols.
  • Animal nutrition and diet formulation understanding, including preparation of specialized diets (frozen fish prep, forage, rations, vitamin supplementation) and allergen controls.
  • Medication administration and basic medical support skills (oral dosing, topical treatments, injections) under veterinary direction; knowledge of common drugs and dosing documentation.
  • Behavioral enrichment design and evaluation: creating, implementing, rotating, and documenting enrichment programs tailored to species behavior and welfare goals.
  • Exhibit maintenance and habitat construction skills: experience with basic carpentry, plumbing, pool maintenance, and enclosure repair.
  • Record keeping using animal management software (e.g., ZIMS, Tracks, Vetstar, or institutional databases) and maintaining regulatory compliance (CITES, USDA, local permits).
  • Quarantine and biosecurity procedures: sterilization, PPE usage, isolation protocols, and disease prevention measures.
  • Basic water testing and aquatic system maintenance for pools and aquatic exhibits (pH, salinity, filtration checks).
  • Wildlife transport and crate training skills including knowledge of legal and welfare requirements for intra- and inter-institutional transfers.
  • Use of power and mechanized equipment safely (small tractors, forklifts, chainsaws, drills) with appropriate certifications where required.
  • Basic first aid and emergency triage for animals, including wound care, stabilization, and communication to veterinary staff.
  • Data collection and observational skills for behavioral monitoring, breeding programs, and participation in research projects.

Soft Skills

  • Strong observational skills and attention to detail for early detection of illness, injury, or behavioral changes.
  • Clear verbal and written communication for record keeping, public interpretation, and cross-department coordination.
  • Teamwork and collaboration across departments (veterinary, education, facilities, research) in a schedule-driven environment.
  • Problem-solving and calm decision-making under pressure during animal emergencies or unexpected events.
  • Patience, empathy, and respect for animals, colleagues, volunteers, and the public.
  • Flexibility and adaptability to variable schedules, seasonal workloads, and changing conservation priorities.
  • Teaching and public-speaking ability to engage visitors and deliver conservation messages effectively.
  • Organizational skills and time management to balance husbandry duties, documentation, and program responsibilities.
  • Cultural sensitivity and professionalism when representing the institution to diverse audiences and partner organizations.
  • Continuous learner mindset with motivation to pursue professional development and implement evidence-based best practices.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • High school diploma or GED with relevant practical experience in animal care, or
  • Associate degree in Animal Science, Zoology, Biology, Wildlife Management, or Veterinary Technology preferred.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Zoology, Animal Science, Wildlife Biology, Ecology, or related life sciences.
  • Certifications in zookeeping, animal behavior, veterinary assisting, or relevant professional courses (e.g., AZA-accredited training, wildlife handling certifications).

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Animal Science
  • Zoology / Wildlife Biology
  • Biology / Ecology
  • Veterinary Technology / Veterinary Medicine
  • Conservation Biology
  • Horticulture (for exhibit landscaping & habitat design)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–5 years of hands-on animal care experience in a zoo, aquarium, wildlife rehabilitation center, farm, or veterinary setting.

Preferred:

  • 2–4+ years of zookeeping or equivalent experience with demonstrable experience across multiple taxa, enrichment program development, and emergency response.
  • Experience with animal training programs, disease prevention protocols, and participation in conservation or species survival plan initiatives is highly desirable.
  • Prior experience working with public education programs, volunteer supervision, or guest-facing roles preferred.
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