Wildlife Habitat Assistant - Facilities and Engineering - Full Time (Flamingo LV)

Wildlife Specialist works at a high level of independence and needs very little direct supervision. This is an hourly, non-exempt, full-time position and requires that the person is on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to respond to emergencies.

The Wildlife Specialist is responsible for performing all aspects of avian husbandry without direct supervision which include:

• Monitor animal health and well-being through observation of appetite, disposition and/or excreta; identify disease, illness, injury or aberrant behavior and report to Supervisor
• Prepare a variety of regular and special diets to feed collection, including live prey.
• Feed entire collection; maintain animal enclosures and exhibit areas
• Assist veterinarian which includes capture, restraint, and medicating; monitor current pharmacy inventory, treatment areas, and equipment inventory
• Perform all medical treatments including injections, gavaging and subcutaneous fluids without supervision
• Observe and assist at exams, surgeries, and necropsies
• Present live animal presentations up to twice a day using a microphone
• Assist with behavior modification utilizing operant conditioning
• Assist with propagation, incubation, and hand rearing of progeny
• Will maintain a current tetanus vaccination (10 years) and must be willing to be TB tested
• Must be able to operate a variety of machines and equipment including nebulizer, centrifuge, Avian ICU, microscope, macroscope, and incubators.
• Subject to exposure to zoonotic diseases (West Nile virus, Avian Malaria, Giardia, Mycoplasma sp.); centipedes, black widow and brown recluse and the possibility of bites and scratches.
• Other duties as assigned.

POSITION QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

• High School Diploma with two years of exotic avian experience at a professional facility
• Working knowledge of avian husbandry that includes the ability to pick out aberrant behavior
• Experience with avian medical care including capture, restraint, gavaging and injections
• Must be familiar with the nitrogen cycle of an aquatic biosystem
• Must know rearing techniques for precocial and altricial chicks and be familiar with incubation
• Must know common avian diseases, identification, prevention and treatment
• Must be able to speak in front of large crowds on a microphone