Animal Care and Training Internship
Aquatic Mammal and Reptile Department
The Aquatic Mammal and Reptile Department is responsible for the day to day care, husbandry, and behavioral research of Mote’s resident manatees, sea turtles, otters, birds, alligator and other small reptiles and amphibians.
Roles and responsibilities of an Animal Care & Training intern may include:
- Diet preparation
- Water quality testing
- Habitat cleaning and maintenance
- Building and offering enrichment
- Public interactions and educational presentations
- Behavioral observations and analysis
- Basic animal training using positive reinforcement
- Aside from assisting in the daily care of animals, interns will be provided opportunities for professional development activities to gain insight and skills in all aspects of the profession
Qualifications:
- Able to handle high levels of responsibility and demonstrate self-motivation to work in the animal care field
- Strong communication and time management skills
- Able to demonstrate diligence in a fast-paced work environment
- Must have a positive attitude and be able to work well in a team environment, as well as, independently for certain tasks
- Have good physical stamina: able to carry heavy items, climb, bend and stoop
- Comfortable working in chest-deep water to scrub exhibits; to note, interns are not authorized to dive or snorkel our exhibits
- Comfortable handling animal waste matter and prey items such as fish, rodents and chickens
Mote’s Aquatic Mammal & Reptile Department accepts interns year-round, with an average internship length of 14 weeks. This is an unpaid internship and a minimum commitment of 36 hours per week for 14-weeks is required. Hours are four days per week from 7:30am to 5:30pm.
For more information regarding the Animal Care & Training internship, please contact Mammal and Reptile Senior and Intern Coordinator, Lauren Miller at lmiller@mote.org.