I want a career working with wild animals, caring for them in captivity- where do I start?

Question

I'm seriously considering this as a career.

What degrees do I need to shoot for, etc? I really just don't have a clue where to start! o_o

Answer 1

There are a few different career where you work with wild animals in captivity; zookeepers, animal trainers, animal sanctuaries, wildlife/zoo/exotic Veterinarian, etc. Your degree may vary depending on which career you want.

There are also many camps, classes, volunteer opportunities, etc., to help give experience working with animals and/or education in animal related fields.

Also, do you want to work with marine or land animals?

Try researching a couple different animal careers. Also go talk to your career counselor at school. They should be able to give you very helpful information. Mine gave me advice on volunteer opportunities in my area, advice on colleges and classes, and possible jobs to pursue.

Here are some links. I hope they help. Good Luck.

http://www.seaworld.org/career-resources...

CATCH 22?

1. To get a job working with animals, you need experience with animals. This bit of truth seems to create a frustrating circle. You need experience to get a job, but you can't get experience unless you have a job, right? Well, yes and no.

VOLUNTEER

1. To begin a career caring for animals, you should be prepared to start with a volunteer or entry-level position. Call your nearest zoo or aquatic park and ask for details on becoming a volunteer (also called a docent or intern). Humane societies, animal rehabilitation clinics, and some veterinary clinics also welcome volunteers. Although your duties with a humane society or veterinary clinic will most likely involve working indirectly with animals (cleaning cages and preparing food), volunteer duties at a zoo or aquatic park range from filing or answering phones to being trained to make educational presentations or feed newly hatched birds.

Volunteering your time shows that you're serious about your commitment to animals. Develop a reputation for being an eager, cooperative, hard-working person, and your volunteer effort may help you get a job in the future. Supervisors are often asked to give character references for volunteers who've worked for them.

http://www.sandiegozoo.org/jobs/keeper_f...

How do I become an animal keeper?

There is no single way to become a keeper, but the more education and hands-on experience you have, the better.

Education– While you’re in school, learn as much as you can in your science classes. In college, choose a degree program in animal-related fields like biology, zoology, botany, ecology, conservation science, or animal behavior. Take as many different courses in those areas as you can, and graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in your chosen field. (Here’s a BIG hint: the competition for jobs caring for animals is so strong that you really HAVE to have a college degree these days to be considered.)

Hands-on Experience– Find opportunities to work with animals. Some potential keepers have volunteered at our department of Conservation and Research for Endangered Species (CRES), assisting CRES scientists and technicians. Sometimes work-study opportunities are available for college students.

What are some other ways to gain animal experience?

Some places to look for volunteer jobs or internships might be:

    Ã¢Â€Â¢ Veterinary offices

    Ã¢Â€Â¢ Animal training classes (does your dog need obedience training?)

    Ã¢Â€Â¢ Local Humane Society

    Ã¢Â€Â¢ Local Park Service

    Ã¢Â€Â¢ Wildlife rehabilitation centers (like for wolves, bears, big cats, birds of prey, and even bats)

    Ã¢Â€Â¢ Animal shelters

    Ã¢Â€Â¢ Farms (for domestic animals, or even ostrich, llama, or butterfly farms)

    Ã¢Â€Â¢ Pet breeders (those that breed specific kinds of dogs, cats, or horses)

    Ã¢Â€Â¢ Horse stables and boarding facilities

    Ã¢Â€Â¢ 4-H Clubs

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos168.htm

http://careerplanning.about.com/od/occup...

http://www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majo...

http://www.aza.org/ForEveryone/Careers/

http://www.aazk.org/zoo_career.php

http://www.seaworld.org/infobooks/ZooCar...

http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/current_s...

http://www.thefutureschannel.com/dockets...

http://www.amazon.com/Kicked-Bitten-Scra...

http://www.wonderferret.com/zooed/

http://www.aazk.org/zkcareer/training.ph...

http://www.moorparkcollege.edu/current_s...

http://www.animalschool.net/FAQ.htm

http://home.comcast.net/~wildlifebio/map...

http://www.aczm.org/

http://www.aazv.org/displaycommon.cfm?an...

http://www.aawv.net/jobs.html

http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/anima...

http://www.avma.org/careforanimals/anima...

http://www.venturescholar.org/resource/v...

http://www.avma.org/education/cvea/colle...

http://www.wonderferret.com/zooed/zoo-ve...

http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/whc/vetstu...

http://www.vet.ksu.edu/depts/VMTH/exotic...

http://www.vet.uga.edu/sams/courses/exot...

http://www.vet.cornell.edu/hospital/wild...

http://www.tufts.edu/vet/wildlife/

http://www.vet.utk.edu/avi_zoo/index.php

http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/wmc/

http://www.virmp.org/virmp/searchnew.asp...

http://www.animaledu.com/programs/wr.htm

http://www.tc.umn.edu/~devo0028/training...

http://www.nwrawildlife.org/page.asp?ID=...

http://www.wwrawildlife.org/career/index...

http://www.wildlifecenter.org/

http://www.ccwr.org/resources/jobs.htm

http://www.bigcatrescue.org/internship.h...

http://www.bigcatsanctuary.org/volunteer...

http://www.wildlifesanctuary.net/sanct.h...

http://www.wildlife-sanctuary.org/

http://www.buschwildlife.com/index.html

Answer 2

First, you have to decide, what do you enjoy doing.  The most lucrative and stable career you can have is actually being a wildlife Vet.  This requires a PreMed Bachelors (lots of biology, chemistry, physics) a competitive exam MCATs and an expensive post graduate education plus many post doctoral specializing programs to work with exotics and specialize in zoo animals.

Or you can go for the Vet tech approach, which is a 2 year degree but without much daily contact with animals unless under a vets instruction.  And lots of lab work (microbe counts, blood analysis, water temp, etc.).

You can try to be a trainer/keeper.  The minimum requirement for that at an accredited AZA facilty is now a 2 year degree.  You will be best served if you specialize in the basics like biology/chemistry with a good dose of Anthropology and Psychology (evolution of behavior and learning).  You would also be well prepared if you started learning about animal training by getting yourself certified as a dog trainer (the principle is the same no matter what animal you deal with).  Then your going to have to volunteer in a training/keeper program (no pay) and hope that you get along and a job opens up.  I've known people to volunteer for 10 years before an appropriate job opens up, some are luckier than others.

The last position would be curator or director and depending on the facility this could be a managerial position (meaning you have no training with animals) or a PhD who has specialized in the given field.  Either way, this seems more like a position somebody falls into than actually studies for.

Answer 3

Start now.  Become a volunteer at your local animal shelter and tell them of your desire to care for wild animals.  Animal shelters get all kinds of wild animals, but they require a lot more care than dogs and cats, and the shelter nearest you would surely be delighted to have a volunteer willing to give that special care.  Not only will it look great on your resume, it will make your studies more meaningful as you work toward your degree, and it will let you be active in your chosen field now, not later.  Go for it!

Answer 4

Zoos have  a volunteer program for youths, teenagers.  That would be a great place to start.

Don't be misguided by people that don't have a clue.  There are no wildlife veterinarians.  There is simple not enough money to be made in that line.  Some vets do work with wildlife.  But most are restricted by laws from doing so.  Wildlife is public property and as such has to be left alone.  Some zoos have a vet on staff, others have several on call.

If you think you could be a serious student the aim for a masters or PhD in zoology.  However, you wont be caring for wild animals in captivity.  There are a few zoo programs at the community college level.  There are animal health and nutrition degrees available at the undergrad level.  There aren't any college programs teaching people to train animals.  That you learn on your own, or you apprentice.