Animal Care Naturalist
Current• Apply biological and ecological wildlife education, field knowledge, and appropriate husbandry practice to the keeping of non-releasable native and non-native wildlife ambassadors (reptiles, amphibians, insects, arachnids, birds of prey, fish, etc.) at a nature center that is open to the public• Keep and raise multiple species of invertebrates that feed omnivorous or carnivorous ambassadors• Learn and cater to individual animal ambassadors' personalities, behaviors, routines and unique needs in order to promote their utmost welfare• Prepare and feed appropriate diets to ambassadors on schedule, including vitamin and mineral supplements as needed• Maintain cleanliness, sanitization, and safe, operable condition of all animal enclosures and equipment • Construct new habitats for incoming animal ambassadors or update current habitats using the animal's natural environment as a guide• Implement training sessions via operant conditioning (target training, stationing, etc.) with willing animals for enrichment and practical use such as health exams, transport, etc.• Safely handle animals based on species-specific protocol for feeding, training, transporting, health exams, medicating, and enrichment• Identify health and fitness in ambassadors during health checks or daily observations, refer illness to off-site veterinarians for medical care and advisement on treatment options, quality of life, or humane euthanasia• Create or provide enrichment for animal ambassadors such as food puzzles, toys, climbing structures, natural perches, supervised outdoor time, etc.• Plan and perform public education programs using ambassadors, wildlife field skills, engaging lectures, etc.• Advocate for wildlife conservation, stewardship, and welfare by educating the public on local and non-local wildlife biology and ecology, as well as conservation needs and practices, using newly ascertained and formerly learned conservation edification
