Oxbow Park & Zollman Zoo
Olmsted County, Byron Minnesota
May - July 2018
Naturalist Intern
Education
As an educator, I utilized the National Association of Interpretation techniques to lead classes and offsite outreach events for groups of various sizes (eleven to 150 children and community members). I also handled native Minnesota animals during program presentations including an Eastern screech owl, American kestrel, fox snake, bull snake, painted turtle, and tiger salamander. I engaged with visitors to answer natural history questions while encouraging further discussion around topics of natural history, conservation, and current environmental issues.
Animal Care
As an animal care specialist, I ensured the provision of above-standard daily care for 41 species of native Minnesota animals by maintaining enclosure cleanliness and safety, preparing and delivering carnivore, omnivore, and herbivore diets to encourage natural feeding habits and behaviors, and designing and providing enrichment by adding novel toys, smells, tastes, textures, and sounds to animal enclosures. I also executed crowd control during the annual raptor medical examinations to ensure each visitor understood the procedures and techniques being used in addition to assisting in the administration of routine vaccinations and provision of oral medications for mammal residents of the zoo.
