Animal Care and Training Internship
Aquatic Mammal and Reptile Department
Department Overview:
The Aquatic Mammal and Reptile Department provides daily care for a diverse collection of species, including
Mote’s resident Florida manatees, loggerhead and green sea turtles, North American river otters, Humboldt
penguin colony, gopher tortoise, alligator snapping turtle, northern pine snake, various fish and small
elasmobranch species.
Selected interns will work closely with animal care staff and gain hands-on experience in areas such as:
Diet preparation
- Water quality testing
- Habitat cleaning and maintenance
- Environmental enrichment design and evaluation
- Public interactions and educational presentations
- Behavioral observation and data collection
- Exposure to basic animal training using positive reinforcement
Interns may also participate in professional development activities to broaden their understanding of aquatic
animal care and related fields.
Please note: While this internship provides learning opportunities across multiple species, direct hands-on
experience with all animals is not guaranteed. Interns will progress through specific milestones before
advancing to new areas of responsibility.
Qualifications:
- Demonstrated responsibility, motivation, and enthusiasm for working in animal care
- Strong communication and time-management skills
- Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment
- Positive attitude and strong work ethic
Commitment:
This is an unpaid position requiring a minimum commitment of 36 hours per week for 14 weeks. Reliable
transportation to and from Mote SEA is essential.
