Wildlife Technician Assistant

Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Wildlife Technician Assistant reports directly to the Wildlife Education Coordinator, is responsible wildlife care, assisting with maintaining and developing all exhibits at the Environmental Science Center, grounds keeping, and for assisting with activities among the various groups and organizations associated with the Environmental Science Center.

Characteristic Duties and Responsibilities

1. Assists the Wildlife Technicians with indoor/outdoor maintenance and reporting of all exhibits, including feed logs, maintenance log, and health care logs.
2. Cares for plant and animal species used in living exhibits and rehabilitation care. Must be proactive in the learning of husbandry for new animal species.
3. Maintains freshwater/saltwater aquariums and enclosures for fish and other aquatic species along with mammals, reptiles and avian species.
4. Responsible for becoming familiar with the 31 Texas Administrative Code §69 Subchapter C, Subchapter J and Park and Wildlife Code Chapter 43 Subchapter C along with knowledge of animal behavior and the requirements for maintaining healthy animals.
5. Assists with the inventory of supplies, medications, and ensure their availability for daily operations.
6. Assist with water changes for aquatic species, clean filters, change substrates, feeding and add proper habitats.
7. Assist with feeding, enrichment and enclosure maintenance such as substrate changes and habitat reorganization as needed for mammals, avian, and reptilian species.
8. Provides daily reports, but not limited to, feeding, cleaning, maintenance, and others assigned by the Director.
9. Cleans, vacuums, checks filter pumps, and performs other duties related to pond maintenance.
10. Mows lawns and power mower; trims weed and grass with weed eater; and edges lawns with gas or electric edger inside the animal enclosures and common areas as needed.
11. Develop beautification projects within the complex and El Paso del Indio Trail that includes native vegetation and other common plant species for students and community to enjoy.
12. Sweeps, trims, paints or cleans sidewalks, pathways, steps and other outdoor surfaces to maintain a clean and safe environment as needed for common spaces and animal enclosures.
13. Sweeps, mops and scrub floors using broom, dust mop, and other electrical driven cleaning tool as needed inside animal care facility, reptile room, animal food prep area, main lobby, restrooms, and other public facilities located within the complex.
14. Assist with the development of new exhibits as the need arises for reptiles, mammals, avian species and water animals.
15. Attends professional development workshops, trainings and conferences that will ensure the safety of animal handling.
16. Performs additional duties as assigned by Director, VP of Institutional Advancement, and/or President.

Qualifications/Certifications/Licenses/Skills

Required:

• High School Diploma with 3-year wildlife handling experience.
• Minimum three-year wildlife handling, experience in a work setting that requires facilities management and interpersonal skills.
• International Wildlife Rehabilitation Coalition Basic Training Certificate.
• Must have CPR/AED certificate and CPR/First Aid for mammalians or must be received within 9 months of hire.
• Must obtain Food Handler Certificate from the City of Laredo.
• Must have a valid Drivers License and current car insurance to travel as required.

Preferred:

• Associate degree in wildlife management, zoology, biology, or related field with 2-year wildlife handling experience.
• Aquarium, plant, animal care, and indoor/outdoor facility maintenance experience.