Animal Care Internship (Part-Time/Temporary)

Association of Zoos and Aquariums

San Mateo, CA

JOB DETAILS
SALARY
SKILLS
Animal Care, Animal Husbandry, Animal Training, Career Counseling, Communication Skills, Conservation, Diversity, Emergency Procedures, Facebook, Heavy Lifting, Legal, Mathematics, Nutrition, Physical Demands, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Regulations, Safety/Work Safety, Team Player, Twitter, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Work From Home
LOCATION
San Mateo, CA
POSTED
10 days ago

How to Post Jobs

AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums, Related Facilities, Commercial Members, Conservation Partners and Society Partners may post free unlimited online job listings as a member benefit. Non-members can purchase job listings. How to post a job

Career Center

Interested in a career in AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums? Learn more about types of zoo and aquarium jobs and relevant education programs in our career center.

CuriOdyssey

Animal Care Internship (Part-Time/Temporary)

Position Overview:

This is a six-month (416 hours) paid internship. Applicants are expected to work a regularly scheduled two-day work week. Our goals are to offer a dynamic internship to individuals who have chosen a career in animal care, training, welfare, and husbandry and to increase the diversity of professionals working in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in zoos, aquariums, and the wild.

During this internship, interns will be introduced to the science and practices of modern zoo animal management for our mostly Native CA Wildlife population, which includes mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. They will also be required to complete a project that demonstrates the knowledge and skills they have developed through their internship.

This internship is designed to provide individuals the opportunity to learn the following

  • Daily husbandry of a variety of species

  • Exhibit and animal safety

  • Proper nutrition and diet preparation

  • The fundamentals of modern animal training techniques (by observation)

  • Basics of animal welfare and evaluating animal welfare

  • Maintaining animal exhibits and holding areas according to AZA and USDA regulations

  • Basic daily record-keeping

  • Implementing and evaluating enrichment

  • Public speaking skills through keeper chats and unscheduled public interaction

  • Gaining knowledge of CuriOdyssey emergency procedures

  • How to work cooperatively in a team environment

Qualifications

  • Age 18 or older

  • Authorized to work in the United States

  • Must be able to communicate effectively both orally and in writing

About the Animal Care Internship Position

  • This is a non-exempt, 16-hour/week position, with work hours/schedule based upon departmental needs. As a non-exempt paid intern, you are eligible for overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

  • Weekend and some holiday scheduling will be required.

  • Team members are expected to be able to work outside in all weather conditions.

  • Must work as a team and with minimal supervision.

  • Must adjust to changes in the daily routines.

  • Must have an interest in animals, an ability to get along with others, a professional/neat demeanor, a drive to learn, and respect for safety.

  • Must take directions well and pay careful attention to procedures and established protocols.

  • Must follow instructions and carry out responsibilities in a safe and careful manner in order to avoid injury to themselves, to employees, to visitors, and the animals.

  • This position requires all interns to take and clear a Live Scan background check.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

The physical demands herein are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential job functions.

Environment: Work is conducted at CuriOdyssey and the immediate local space at Coyote Point. Animal care and programs will take place indoors and outdoors in various weather conditions.

Mobility: The physical ability and endurance to occasionally carry and lift heavy materials, up to 50 pounds. The ability to frequently move from sitting to squatting to standing positions. Traversing uneven surfaces, bending, reaching, sitting/kneeling on the floor with animals, and twisting are daily repetitive physical actions.

Time Frame

The current internship is for 6 months long, 16 hours a week. Because this is a limited-time opportunity, there will be no vacation or planned time off for this position. However, Paid Sick Leave is granted in accordance with CA law and our Employee Handbook. Health benefits are not included.

Schedule

$18/hr. The general work schedule is 8:00 am-4:30 pm.

Salary

$18/hr.

How to Apply

Please send your resume, a cover letter explaining why you are interested in this internship and how this internship will benefit you in the future (limit 500 words), and two letters of recommendation to Nikii Finch-Morales, Director of Wildlife at Nikiifm@curiodyssey.org, with "Animal Care Internship" as the subject line.

Application Deadline: Saturday, June 27, 2026. Must be available for an interview in July 2026.

CuriOdyssey

1651 Coyote Point Drive

San Mateo, CA 94401-1002

Phone: 6503427755

Visit our website

Like us on Facebook

Return to All Job Posts

Edit your job posting

General Settings

  • Title (limited to 100 characters)

  • Description

  • Add details about the job itself here.

  • Experience

  • Comments

  • Salary

  • Category Type

  • Internship Job

How should a candidate apply?

  • Example: the mailing address, email address, fax number or website the applicant should use to apply.

Job Perks

*

Company Info

  • Company Name

  • Address

  • City

  • State

  • Please Select Alberta Alabama Alaska American Samoa Arizona Arkansas British Columbia California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Guam Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Manitoba Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska New Brunswick Newfoundland Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina Northwest Territories North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Nova Scotia Nunavut Ohio Oklahoma Ontario Oregon Pennsylvania Prince Edward Island Puerto Rico Quebec Rhode Island Saskatchewan South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Yukon

  • Zip

  • Company Phone

  • Company Fax

  • Company Website

  • Company Twitter Username

  • Company Facebook Page

  • About the Company

  • Company Logo/Avatar

  • Submitting your job posting...

About the Company

A

Association of Zoos and Aquariums