do u need experience...

[hediki]

im planning on working at the bronx zoo (im 16) this summer in the reptile house does anyone know if u need to have experience to work at any zoo. like experience with reptiles.

[LadyLaw]

I believe that it would help, but as I have never worked in a Zoo, I could not tell you for sure.

[KatieL]

I believe that here in Detroit you have to have a college degree at the very least (generally a masters) to work at the zoo, and experience is highly preferred. I could be wrong, its been a while since I looked into it. I think they do hire a few high school "intern" type deals, but from what I hear you mostly just empty trash cans around the zoo. Like I said, its been years since I looked into it though, so maybe it has changed by now...

[Alias47]

Hediki...do you already have the job?
If not...I would contact the zoo to find out what you need to do...I would think zoo jobs are at a premium...especially when you are in direct contact with the animals.

I would also think, being a business owner, that their insurance wouldn't allow anyone under 18 to work with ANY animals...but I could be wrong.

[anthonyf25]

Is this a game or some thing real question :eek1: :eek1: im new.

[TrpnBils]

im planning on working at the bronx zoo (im 16) this summer in the reptile house does anyone know if u need to have experience to work at any zoo. like experience with reptiles.


Well I hate to tell you this....

As far as the Pittsburgh Zoo is concerned anyway, you have to basically be God to work within 100 feet of any animal. I have 3 years of experience in wildlife rehab, and I'll have my bachelor's degree in biology in about 4 months. I applied for work at this zoo for this coming summer and they pretty much laughed in my face and told me that I'd have to work at the snack bar for the next 10 years before I was "qualified" to shovel animal ****.

Your zoo may be different, I dunno, but experience is always helpful.

[TrpnBils]

Hediki...do you already have the job?
If not...I would contact the zoo to find out what you need to do...I would think zoo jobs are at a premium...especially when you are in direct contact with the animals.

I would also think, being a business owner, that their insurance wouldn't allow anyone under 18 to work with ANY animals...but I could be wrong.

Alias, you're right about the insurance. I hadn't even thought of that. At our rehab center anyway, anyone under 18 can't be in contact any animals at all (which includes anything the animal touches - at our place, these include dirty food dishes, soiled newspapers or blankets, etc). We'll take volunteers at 16 but the only things I've ever seen them do are answer the phones or clean out the fridge when we get a new food shipment in.

[swhiting]

I work at a zoo. Here you have to be 18 to be employed by the zoo. Now we have several volunteers that work for us during the summer and even a few highschool interns. I work in the aquarium and we ask that you have a little experience. It really depends on the position. A reef keeper will need a lot more experience than someone who's going to work as a regular fish only technician. As far as reptiles, experience with venomous reptiles is a good way to get a job. Most of our listings say you need a degree. But we also have a lot of people who just started out as volunteers then were hired later. This is the route I suggest for you. Volunteer for a while, (atleast till your 18), then who knows maybe they like you enough to hire you full time.

Well thats my take.

Actually our current reptile supervisor started here as a volunteer (no degree).

Scott