Animal Care Specialist

The Animal Care Specialist is responsible for the daily care, feeding, habitat maintenance, and training of the animals at Wolf Park, including wolves, foxes, bison, and turtles. The role ensures that all animals receive the highest standard of care, focusing on cooperative care and assent‑based methods through both free contact and protected contact settings. The Animal Care Specialist also provides guidance to animal care interns and volunteers (as directed by the Animal Care Director), ensuring they follow proper procedures and protocols. Key Responsibilities Animal Care & Feeding Prepare and provide daily/weekly diets tailored to each species and/or animal, ensuring nutritional needs are met. Monitor and assess animal health and behavior, administering medications as prescribed. Perform routine evaluations and assessments of all animals and report any concerns regarding health or behavior. Participate in butchering and cleanup tasks or meal preparation as part of the diet management. Use record‑keeping software to record activities and observations. Habitat Maintenance Ensure that animal habitats are kept clean, safe, and in accordance with Wolf Park’s standards. Assist in the design and implementation of enrichment activities that enhance the animals’ mental and physical well‑being. Assist in maintaining habitats through necessary repairs, modifications, weeding, etc. Cooperative Care Training Implement training plans focused on cooperative care, using both free contact and protected contact methods to ensure the animals’ welfare and voluntary participation in care. Collaborate with the animal care team to provide cooperative care activities for animals. Provide oversight and guidance to animal care interns and volunteers, allowing them to shadow and assist with tasks. Ensure that interns and volunteers are properly trained in animal care procedures and safety protocols. Public Engagement & Education Participate in formal and informal public education programs, utilizing interpretive guide skills to educate visitors about Wolf Park’s animals, mission, and conservation efforts. Represent Wolf Park’s mission to visitors and the public, creating awareness and encouraging involvement in conservation efforts. Required Qualifications Experience in animal care, including feeding, habitat maintenance, and cooperative care training. Ability to perform physical tasks, including lifting and handling food, cleaning habitats, and preparing diets. Strong communication skills and ability to work collaboratively with a team. Experience working with species like wolves, foxes, and bison preferred. Ability to engage with the public in educational programs and presentations. Working Conditions This role involves working outdoors in all weather conditions. The Animal Care Specialist will be responsible for physical tasks, including but not limited to food preparation, habitat cleaning and maintenance, and handling animals. Additionally, cooperative care training may involve direct contact with the animals, requiring flexibility and quick responses to animal behavior. #J-18808-Ljbffr Wolf Park