Facility
Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
Work in an Accredited Animal Sanctuary- responsible for daily care of tigers, lions, cougars, black bears, brown bears, leopards, servals, bobcats, a rhesus macaque, and a coatimundi. Duties include: animal husbandry, enrichment, and record keeping of animal behavior.
Prepare and Maintain Animal Housing- maintaining animal and customer safety through daily exhibit checks. Includes routine landscaping, cleaning habitats of underbrush, and providing animal enrichment.
Prepare Diets and Monitor Feeding- maintain food quality and hygiene standards of produce and meat. Prepare food with consideration to specific dietary needs and monitor every animal’s intake. Keep close records of every animal’s diet and physical health.
Monitor and Maintain Animal Health- maintain daily records of animal behavior and health, identifying abnormal behavior and sign of illness. Administer daily medications. Prepare and maintain quarantine areas for recent rescues.
Restrain and Assist in Moving Animals- assist animal care staff in relocating animals to more appropriate habitats. Follow all safety procedures in loading, unloading, and during transport of animals.
Identify Behavioral Needs and Improve Husbandry- provide approved animal enrichment including environmental and scent enrichment.
Maintain Exhibits and Assist Design- aid in designing and constructing ½-1-acre animal habitats. Maintain exhibits daily and detect/control pets.
Conduct Educational Information to Visitors- responsible for greeting customers and giving guided tours throughout the facility. Educate the public about each resident species and the direction of the facility’s future.
Requirements:
At least a Bachelor’s Degree in an animal related field (Zoology, Biology, Animal Psychology, Veterinary Sciences, and other animal-related areas)
2 Professional References
The ability to lift 50lbs
The ability to live on-site for 6 months
Standing for extended periods of time
Important Dates:
Deadline for Applications: April 1st, 2020
Position lasts for six months with option to extend.
Duration: August 15th- February 12th
Location: Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Education and Pre-requisites
Our Refuge, located in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is seeking a full-time, 6-month Animal Care Intern. The refuge is a non-profit facility and accredited GFAS sanctuary for exotic cats, bears, and other exotic animals. Our interns work very closely with our 7 animal care staff members. Any project the interns work on is assigned by animal care staff. Work is often physically demanding. Applicants must be self-motivated, with high desire to provide the best care available to animals. Applicants must also be observant and able to keep detailed records. The ability to work in a team environment or independently is important. A degree in Zoology, Biology or related field is preferred, but experience with exotic animal husbandry may be considered.
Compensation and benefits
$50/week stipend plus on-site housing accommodations
Application instructions
Email resume, cover letter, and 2 letters of recommendation (required) to: Emily McCormack, Curator, Emily@turpentinecreek.org
Deadline: April 1, 2020