Great Plains ZooGreat Plains ZooAnimal Care SpecialistAnimal Care Specialist

Chris ThomsonChris ThomsonMay 5May 5thth – July 23 – July 23rdrd

Sioux Falls, SDSioux Falls, SD

Great Plains ZooGreat Plains Zoo

Founded in 1930Founded in 193045 Acres of Land45 Acres of LandOver 600 animals Over 600 animals representing all representing all continents but continents but AntarcticaAntarcticaYear-Round Staff of Year-Round Staff of over 40, ~15 Summer over 40, ~15 Summer interns, and interns, and Numerous VolunteersNumerous Volunteers

SupervisorsSupervisors

Ami Pearson – Senior Ami Pearson – Senior Zookeeper, Co-Director Zookeeper, Co-Director of Animal Programs – BS of Animal Programs – BS Degree in Biology, Chem. Degree in Biology, Chem. MinorMinor

Heather West – Director Heather West – Director of Volunteer Staff – BS in of Volunteer Staff – BS in BusinessBusiness

Zookeeper Staff – most Zookeeper Staff – most had an animal science had an animal science degree, some zoologydegree, some zoology

Animal Care SpecialistAnimal Care Specialist

Main job was to help with daily care and cleaning of Main job was to help with daily care and cleaning of assigned areasassigned areas

Helped assist in daily health observationsHelped assist in daily health observations

Prepare and Meet all dietary considerationsPrepare and Meet all dietary considerations

Provide numerous enrichment for the animalsProvide numerous enrichment for the animals

Administer any needed medications or medical careAdminister any needed medications or medical care

ApplyingApplying

Found the Job while Found the Job while searching for a searching for a different onedifferent one

Online ApplicationOnline Application

Background CheckBackground Check

22ndnd Applications Applications

Walk-In InterviewWalk-In Interview

Initial ExpectationsInitial Expectations

Lots of cleaningLots of cleaningBasic health careBasic health careIndividual Individual observationsobservationsClose contact with the Close contact with the animalsanimalsGain a lot of Gain a lot of knowledge about a knowledge about a completely different completely different industryindustry

Actual ExperienceActual ExperienceLots of CleaningLots of CleaningA lot of health care for specific individualsA lot of health care for specific individualsConstant dietary needsConstant dietary needsContact with only relatively few animalsContact with only relatively few animalsPublic Speaking/InteractionPublic Speaking/InteractionRealization of the similarities between the fieldsRealization of the similarities between the fields

Personal GainPersonal Gain

Learned a lot about Learned a lot about operant conditioning and operant conditioning and trainingtrainingDietary needs and Dietary needs and specificationsspecificationsLearned about individual Learned about individual personalities of the personalities of the animalsanimalsTerms and VocabularyTerms and VocabularyDid a lot of research Did a lot of research Great Hands-On Great Hands-On experience experience

Professional GainProfessional Gain

Importance of SafetyImportance of Safety

Communication SkillsCommunication Skills

NetworkingNetworking

ResumeResume

Realization of a whole Realization of a whole new field of new field of opportunitiesopportunities

Questions?Questions?