Take flight into the world of animal care and welfare at the Oklahoma City Zoo! As an Animal Care Intern, you’ll work side-by-side with our expert bird care team, gaining hands-on experience in husbandry, animal behavior, and guest engagement. You’ll assist in the daily care of birds and other assigned species while learning the skills that keep animals healthy and thriving—and guests inspired. This internship is the perfect first step toward a rewarding career in animal care.

Employment Status: Part-time Temporary 

FLSA Status: Non-Exempt

Duration: 12 weeks

Schedule: Spring 2026 - Beginning on 01/26/2025

Compensation: $14.00/hr

Department: Animal Management- Birds

Direct Supervisor: Assistant Curator of Birds and/or Curator of Birds

Primary Work Location: Zoo settings both indoors and outdoors

Certification: Valid Oklahoma driver’s license and pass drivers’ history check. Completion of assigned OKC Zoo HSI training in the first two weeks of employment. 

Other: This position is safety sensitive. It is subject to pre-employment and/or periodic background checks and drug testing. This position works around animals susceptible to specific respiratory diseases, thus is subject to annual tuberculosis testing.

Internship Summary: This internship is designed to be an entry point for someone who is seeking a career working with animals. Interns will receive training and experience in animal care and welfare by working alongside animal care staff to assist with the husbandry of the Bird Department and other assigned taxa. This position will learn to interact with the public to enhance visitor experiences and to perform a variety of skilled/semi-skilled work required for the care and safety of animals, staff, and the public.

Development Outcomes 

An intern in this position will complete assigned tasks resulting in the following learning outcomes

• Intern will develop a deep understanding of the natural behaviors and life histories of area species by researching species, observing animals, and discussing observations with regular staff.
•  Intern will develop an understanding of the responsibilities of qualified Bird Caretakers and standards of animal husbandry through reviewing husbandry guidelines and observing, assisting, and discussing husbandry standards with regular staff members.
•  Intern will develop an understanding of the processes and standards of operant conditioning by observing, discussing, and feedbacking training sessions with regular staff members.
•  Intern will develop an understanding of medical care by observing regular staff members medicating and treating animals, and assisting veterinary staff during medical procedures. Medical care standards and processes will be discussed with regular staff.
•  Intern will gain an understanding of the purpose, planning, and execution of animal transfers and transports by observations and staff discussions.
•  Intern will become familiar with the Zoo’s strategic plan and institutional goals by reviewing the Zoo’s strategic plan and employee handbook.
•  Intern will develop an understanding of the AZA Accreditation Standards for assigned taxa and care by reviewing the Animal Care Manuals (ACMs) for applicable species and discussing their implementation with regular staff.
• Intern will develop an understanding of the area safety protocols and procedures by reading area protocols and procedures and touring/navigating the Bird areas with regular staff members.
•  Intern will learn to work effectively in a team environment, including volunteers, by participating in or observing all aspects of the daily routine, as well as giving and receiving feedback regarding all aspects of the day.
• Intern will develop an understanding of team decision making processes, effective group feedback, and effective group-based information gathering by attending and participating in regular team meetings.
•  Intern will develop an understanding of normal and abnormal behavior of assigned taxa through reviewing individual natural histories and discussing observations with regular staff members.
•  Intern will learn to plan and organize work projects by assisting regular staff in identifying, planning, and completing area projects.
•  Intern will gain an understanding of zoo-wide priorities, goals, and responsibilities by shadowing staff in other areas/departments.
• Intern will learn to properly clean indoor and outdoor habitats by shadowing and assisting regular staff members through the cleaning processes.
•  Intern will learn to measure, prepare, and distribute diets by shadowing and assisting regular staff members the diet processes.
•  Intern will develop an understanding of the area’s enrichment protocols and the skills needed to develop, offer, and evaluate enrichment by shadowing and assisting regular staff in enrichment preparation and distribution, and evaluating animals’ response to enrichment.
•  Intern will learn the weather parameters of each area species by reviewing area protocol and procedures and discussing weather and housing choices with regular staff.
•  Intern will develop an understanding of the area’s emergency response procedures by reviewing department protocols and participating in any tabletop and practical drills that may occur.
•  Intern will develop skills needed for basic yard and habitat maintenance, such as checking and repairing hotwire, maintaining yards, cleaning pools by shadowing and assisting regular staff members through habitat maintenance activities.
•  Intern will become familiar with the Zoo’s conservation activities by reading the Zoo’s mission, researching current and past activities, and participating in conservation activities including conservation communication training.
•  Intern will learn to educate and positively interact with guests in formal and informal settings by reviewing the employee handbook, shadowing regular staff members, and speaking to guests during Keeper Chats, enrichment events or public training sessions.
•  Intern will learn to use various computer programs such as Microsoft Office, ZIMS, and internet browsers through shadowing and assisting regular staff in computer-based projects. 

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be 18 years of age or older
• Commitment of 20 hours weekly, for the duration of the internship, by working a flexible schedule that may include evenings and/or weekends and holidays and during emergency situations such as dictated by weather.
• Current college or graduate student pursuing an applicable degree, recent graduate of an applicable degree, or relevant education with interest in transitioning into an applicable career.
• Interest in pursuing career in animal care.
• Have the ability to work well in a busy and fast paced environment.
• Provide own housing and transportation

Physical Demands

• Walk, sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Push, lift, and carry up to 50 lbs.
• Work at heights occasionally.
• Use fixed and portable ladders.
• Climb hills and navigate steep and uneven terrain frequently throughout the day.
• Bend, stoop, kneel, and move intermittently throughout the day.
• Exposure to fumes, odors, dust, moving mechanical parts, and vehicles.
• Exposure to extreme weather conditions, such as heat, cold, rain, snow and ice. 
• Exposure to potentially dangerous animals.