WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 98
Frequently Asked Questions About Zookeeping
1. How much would a starting zookeeper make at a zoo like Woodland Park Zoo?
In some metropolitan areas, such as Seattle, zookeepers can make $35,000 to $40,000 a year. A starting zookeeper
might make between $26,000 and $30,000 a year. These salary ranges, however, vary throughout the United States
depending on the size of the zoo and how the zoo is supported. Most zookeeping positions do not follow a regular
Monday through Friday workweek – working days usually include weekends. At Woodland Park Zoo, zookeeping
positions offer competitive benefi ts such as sick leave, holidays, vacation time, pension plans and medical, dental and
optical plans.
2. What kind of education and/or background does a zookeeper need?
For zookeeping positions, a high school diploma is required. More zoos are now hiring zookeepers with a college
degree in a natural science (biology, zoology, wildlife management, animal behavior, marine biology, exotic animal
management/zookeeping). While not always required, a college degree is advantageous in the competitive fi eld of
zookeeping. However, in the zookeeping fi eld, experience is valuable – you will fi nd it diffi cult or impossible to get
hired as a zookeeper without experience. Some ways to gain zookeeping experience include volunteering, doing
internships or taking on seasonal or intermittent/temporary zookeeping positions. At Woodland Park Zoo, in order to
be eligible for a zookeeper position, you must have two years (approximately 4,000 hours) of paid experience in an
AZA (Association of Zoos & Aquariums) -accredited facility. This paid experience may include hours earned as an
intermittent/temporary keeper.
Although zookeeping is not a high-paying career, nor is there as much room for advancement as there might be in a
corporation, there is stiff competition for zookeeping positions. Most zookeepers have put in many years of volunteer
or low-wage work before obtaining full-time, permanent zookeeper positions.
3. What is the danger of attack from animals? What do keepers do to protect
themselves and prevent injuries?
It is important to remember that zoo animals, while they live in captivity, are not tame and could cause serious injury.
Some zoo animals, depending on how they were raised, may be accustomed to humans. Unlike a wild animal that
might fl ee from a person, a captive animal accustomed to humans might approach a person and could easily cause
injury.
Due to safety issues, in many zoos, including Woodland Park Zoo, close contact between zoo animals and zookeepers
is very limited and is strictly managed. Even with young animals, zookeepers try to avoid handraising the young,
preferring to allow the parents to raise their offspring as naturally as possible. When young are raised by their parents
they learn important social interactions and communication appropriate for their species. Also, parent-raised young
retain a more cautious attitude towards humans, creating a safer situation for the zookeepers who work with the
animals when they become adults.
Zookeepers must be constantly aware of the safety hazards of their job. They must use all of their senses to know what
is going on around them at all times. Zookeepers must be very attuned to the behavior of the animals in their care
and must be very observant in order to notice any physical or behavioral changes in the animals. They must also be
creative, patient and have sound common sense and good problem-solving abilities. Good zookeepers are extremely
dependable and responsible.
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 99
Zookeepers and other zoo staff have emergency training and are well-rehearsed in what to do in case of emergency.
Some areas of zoos have emergency buttons that can be pushed if a keeper is injured or bitten by a venomous animal.
It is important for keepers to be conscientious about locking locks and double-checking them.
4. What are useful subjects to take in high school?
As many biology and other science courses as possible would provide a good foundation. Spend some of your free
time reading or using other media to learn about animals, plants and the natural world.
5. What do zookeepers like best about their jobs?
The personal and professional satisfaction zookeepers fi nd in their jobs varies from person to person. For many
zookeepers the satisfaction of caring for animals that represent some of the last of their species on earth and helping to
conserve these species through captive management programs is the greatest reward of the job. Being instrumental in
the lives of these animals and helping their species to survive is very gratifying.
For safety reasons, close contact between keepers and animals is very limited and strictly managed. However, even
with limited contact, the relationships that develop between keepers and the animals they care for are often strong and
can also be a rewarding aspect of the job.
6. What do zookeepers like least about their jobs?
Depending on the particular job and on the person, zookeepers have different likes and dislikes about their work.
However, many zookeepers encounter similar conditions in their jobs that are diffi cult, repetitive and just not much
fun. These include: working outside no matter what the weather conditions, cleaning up feces (poop), cleaning and
scrubbing animal holding areas and exhibits, and preparing animal diets. These activities must be done once or twice a
day, every day, and can become repetitive.
7. How much time each day do keepers spend scooping
poop? How much time each day do keepers spend feeding
the animals?
For most zookeeping positions, preparing diets for the animals and cleaning
up after them can take up to 75% of each day. As previously mentioned, there
is usually little to no close contact with the animals depending on what type
of animals are being cared for, though keepers do spend some of their time
observing the animals under their care for any indications of health problems or
unusual behavior.
8. What types of medical situations do keepers handle?
What types of medical procedures do the veterinarians
handle?
The most important job for a keeper in relation to the health of the animals is to
be observant. Any abnormal behavior, such as a change in eating habits, could
be a sign of sickness or injury. Most wild animals do not tend to show major
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 100
signs of sickness — in the wild a sick-looking animal would be more prone to attack by other animals than would a
healthy-looking animal. Therefore, zookeepers must be extremely observant in order to detect any subtle irregularities
in an animal’s behavior, physical condition or routine. These irregularities can indicate that something is not quite
right with the animal.
If keepers do observe abnormal behavior, they may collect urine, feces or other samples to be analyzed by the
vet. These samples are also collected and analyzed on a regular basis to monitor the health of all zoo animals.
When animals need long-term routine medicine, injections, rehydration, force feeding or wound care, keepers may
incorporate these duties into their daily routines. The veterinary staff performs routine examination on some species;
emergency and short-term care, such as stitching or surgery; and more extensive intensive care if needed. Experience
with caring for sick or wounded animals can be benefi cial to a zookeeper, but training in veterinary medicine is not
required.
9. What are a keeper’s daily duties? What is involved in a typical day?
A zookeeper’s typical day may look something like the following; however, this would depend on what types of
animals are cared for by the keeper.
8:00 a.m. - Begin the day by checking on the animals, making sure that all the animals are there and observing them
for any abnormal behavior or signs of sickness or injury. Often when animals are sick, they will exhibit
signs of illness in the morning.
- Prepare morning diets
- Clean outdoor enclosure while the animals are still inside
- Feed morning diets
9:30 a.m. - Shift animals to outdoor exhibit by the time the zoo opens
- Clean indoor holding areas
12:30 p.m. - Lunch
1:30 p.m. - Prepare afternoon diets
- Finish cleaning and complete other projects
- Write daily reports for each animal
4:00 p.m. - Shift animals to indoor holding areas
- Feed afternoon diets
- Observe animals for any signs of abnormal behavior or signs of sickness or injury.
4:30 p.m. - Lock up before leaving
Of course, each day is different from the next, with different projects to complete, meetings to attend, educational
programs to present for zoo visitors, or unexpected events that occur. Accomplishing the daily duties often takes
the majority of an eight-hour workday. Many keepers are also signifi cantly involved in conservation projects or
educational programs for which they must fi nd time during their daily routines.
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 101
WOODLAND PARK ZOO
ZOO CAREERS FACT SHEET
ACCOUNTING: ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE BOOKKEEPER
2001 Pay Range: $12.00-$17.00/hr
Brief description of job/daily duties:
• Reconcile income accounts and accounts receivable
accounts monthly and correct errors found
• Collect outstanding invoices
• Assist manager with accounting questions
• Enter all deposits into accounting system
• Enter pledges and send reminders to donors
Valuable qualifi cations (education/
training) for this position:
• Two- or four-year degree, preferably in bookkeeping/
accounting
• Two years accounting experience
• Knowledge of accounting procedures and Excel
program
Schools that offer programs that lead to
employment in this job:
Most two- or four-year colleges or universities
Valuable skills and strengths for this
position:
• Research skills: many errors go back one or more
years so you must be able to look into old fi les and
fi nd the information you need
• Problem-solving skills: fi nding errors and correcting
them
• Planning skills: computer systems and organization
needs are constantly changing and you need to be able
to think ahead and forecast what will be needed in fi ve
years
• Attention to detail: small errors can cause big
problems! You must be able to focus on the little
things with each situation and follow through
consistently.
Other zoo staff members with whom you
work closely:
Zoo Society offi ce associate, accounting, human
resources, membership, major gifts and development
assistants, group sales, ZooStore inventory manager,
education registrars, all department supervisors including
zookeepers involved with grant-funded programs.
Challenges of the job:
Working in a constantly changing environment — new
programs are continuously being created, departments
are shifted, managers’ needs evolve — you must always
be paying attention to details and analyzing entries.
Rewards of the job:
• Regular work hours (9-5, Monday-Friday)
• Sense of completion when task is fi nished
• Sense of accomplishment when problem is solved (it’s
like winning a game or fi nishing a puzzle)
• Location (if you do accounting it’s much better to be
at the zoo than in a stuffy offi ce building)!
How this job contributes to wildlife
conservation:
Manage funds for conservation programs that the Zoo
Society is involved in and help collect the pledges to
support these programs
Other careers requiring similar
qualifi cations and skills:
Accountant/bookkeeper, offi ce manager, auditor
researcher
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 102
WOODLAND PARK ZOO
ZOO CAREERS FACT SHEET
EXHIBITS: MANAGER OF PLANNING AND INTERPRETIVE EXHIBITS
2001 Pay Range: $24.66-$28.70/hr
Brief description of job/daily duties:
• Coordinate activities of staff and consultants involved
in long range planning, exhibit and facilities planning,
design and construction
• Coordinate interpretive planning and design for
exhibits, interpretive research and writing. Coordinate
activities of creative services team (graphic designers)
• Primary managerial job functions include planning,
organizing, directing assignments, coordinating,
contracting, scheduling, budgeting, conducting
meetings and communicating though a variety of
means
Valuable qualifi cations (education/
training) for this position:
• Planning
• Design
• Landscape architecture
• Ecology
• Business and public administration
• Professional writing
• Organizational development
• Communication
• Law
• Marketing
Schools that offer programs that lead to
employment in this job:
Any community college or university project
management program
Valuable skills and strengths for this
position:
• Ecological and conservation-related knowledge
• Analytical skills
• Supervisory skills
• Artistic sensibilities and understanding of design and
contractual processes
• Patience and perseverance
• Communication /human relation skills
• Organizational skills
• Writing skills
Other zoo staff members with whom you
work closely:
Zoo director, capital projects manager, exhibit design
supervisor, horticulturists, manager of conservation
education, interpretive naturalists, project managers,
contractors
Challenges of the job:
• Managing multiple, complex projects simultaneously
• Developing expertise in diverse subject areas and
academic disciplines
• Respond to challenges in the areas of budget and
personnel, must provide decisions and direction under
time pressures
• Often required to work evenings, weekends and
holidays
Rewards of the job:
• Sense of satisfaction and constant learning as a
member of many multidisciplinary work teams
• Satisfaction in seeing new exhibits and other projects
completed
• Helping others to accomplish the work of the zoo with
high fi delity to mission
• Contributing to conservation ethic
• Helping to improve the zoo as an educational resource
and nurturing the values of respect, care and hope for
sustaining biodiversity
How this job contributes to wildlife
conservation:
Results in environments and communications that
reinforce the inseparable connections between the
survival of wildlife species, wild places and human
cultures. Provides ecologically-based exhibits in which
wildlife’s reliance on natural habitat is reinforced and
illustrated. Provides settings conducive to conservation
education.
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 103
WOODLAND PARK ZOO
ZOO CAREERS FACT SHEET
ZOOKEEPER
2001 Pay Range: $16.50-$19.20/hr
Brief description of job/daily duties:
• Cleaning cages
• Diet preparation and feeding of animals
• Animal observation for medical and behavioral
changes
• Record-keeping
• Animal training
• Animal health procedures
• Plant maintenance
• Sample and or data collection for research
• Giving tours and talking to the public
Valuable qualifi cations (education/
training) for this position:
• College courses in zoology and biology
• Experience working in a veterinary clinic or
volunteering at a zoo
• Experience in animal training
• Horticultural knowledge — mostly toxic versus
nontoxic plants
Schools that offer programs that lead to
employment in this job:
Most four-year colleges offer biology and/or zoology.
Also see “Schools/Training” in the “Resources” section
in this packet.
Valuable skills and strengths for this
position:
• Animal observation skills – must be able to notice
very subtle changes in physical appearance or
behavior
• People skills and public speaking skills
• Flexibility
• Patience
• Physically fi t
• Basic knowledge of tool use and gardening
• Team-oriented
• Self-motivated
• Carpentry skills
• Research and writing skills
• Conscious of safety
Other zoo staff members with whom you
work closely:
Horticulture, maintenance, plumbers and electricians,
public relations staff, education and events staff, other
zookeepers and animal management staff
Challenges of the job:
• Finding different things and enrichment opportunities
for the animals — keeping them busy and entertained
nonstop takes a lot of effort.
• Sensing when there’s something wrong with an animal
and trying to fi gure out what’s wrong is challenging.
• Training of animals and introduction of new animals
to one another can be a slow and frustrating process.
• It can be diffi cult when animals that we care for
become sick, injured or die.
• The work can sometimes be boring, dirty and tiring.
Rewards of the job:
• Learning more about the animals with which we work
• Having a close relationship and contact with amazing
animals. It is rewarding when the animals recognize
you.
• Having a physical job with a lot of time spent
outdoors (not at a desk)!
• It is fun to talk to people interested in animals
and to teach people about endangered species and
conservation.
• It is rewarding when you know you have helped
improve the lives of animals in your care.
How this job contributes to wildlife
conservation:
Teaching people about natural behaviors, social systems
and natural history of wild animals. Because of the work
we do, visitors can watch animal behavior fi rsthand and
hopefully become inspired about nature and wildlife
conservation. By talking to the public we can educate
them about issues affecting plants, animals and habitats
and what everyone can do to help. Research we do and
observations we make can be used to help animals in the
wild and we are helping to breed endangered species in
order to help protect animals in the wild.
Other careers requiring similar
qualifi cations and skills:
Working in a veterinary clinic, kennel or wildlife
rehabilitation center; wildlife fi eld research; farming
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 104
WOODLAND PARK ZOO
ZOO CAREERS FACT SHEET
ZOOKEEPER: LEAD KEEPER
2001 Pay Range: $18.04-$20.97/hr
Brief description of job/daily duties:
• Supervise 10-12 keepers
• Coordinate keeper schedules
• Evaluate keeper job performance
• Ensure proper animal care standards are met
• Help with special projects
• Schedule and facilitate animal shipments
• Ensure workplace is safe
• Coordinate with other zoo departments on various
projects and to track work orders
• Purchase special equipment
Valuable qualifi cations (education/
training) for this position:
• College/university degree highly desirable
• Science classes
• Experience working in zoos
• Knowledge of zoo/animal information (natural
history)
• Management experience
Schools that offer programs that lead to
employment in this job:
Most four-year colleges offer biology and/or zoology.
Also see “Schools/Training” in the “Resources” section
in this packet.
Valuable skills and strengths for this
position:
• Computer skills
• Confl ict resolution
• Animal care knowledge
• Ability to make decisions
• Communication skills
Other zoo staff members with whom you
work closely:
All other zoo departments
Challenges of the job:
• Trying to communicate everything that keepers need
to know or share with others
• Long, irregular hours
• More to do in any one day than can be done (must
constantly reprioritize)
Rewards of the job:
• Opportunities to interact with, observe and manage
many kinds of animals
• Working in a beautiful park
• Working with passionate and motivated staff
• Sense of belonging to a very special place
How this job contributes to wildlife
conservation:
Managing exotic animals with the goal of having self-
sustaining (zoo) populations, participating in fi eld
conservation projects, teaching people about wildlife and
nature and the importance of conservation. Contributing
to the body of scientifi c knowledge about animals
— zoos research and discover things about animals that
were not previously known
Other careers requiring similar
qualifi cations and skills:
Supervisory positions in veterinary clinics, kennels or
wildlife rehabilitation centers; wildlife fi eld research,
farming
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 105
WOODLAND PARK ZOO
ZOO CAREERS FACT SHEET
VICE PRESIDENT FOR
DEVELOPMENT
2001 Pay Range: $26.44-$41.68/hr
Brief description of job/daily duties:
• Oversee various fund-raising programs to raise
operational and restricted income for the zoo
• Development activities include membership, annual
fund, large fund-raising auction (Jungle Party), major
gifts, planned giving and capital campaign.
• Facilitate communication between the zoo and
funders; create opportunities for involvement through
networking with various organizations and potential
funders
• Work with zoo director and the Woodland Park
Zoological Society Board of Directors to determine
strategies and methods for fund-raising programs.
Valuable qualifi cations (education/
training) for this position:
• Generally fi ve or more years of experience in the fi eld
of fund development
• Bachelor’s of arts with master’s of arts preferred
Schools that offer programs that lead to
employment in this job:
• University of Washington Fundraising Certifi cate
Program
• Seattle University Nonprofi t Leadership Program
Valuable skills and strengths for this
position:
• Commitment to mission
• Excellent people skills, including expertise in
nonprofi t management
• Solid organizational, writing and administration skills
• Demonstrated success in fund development
Other zoo staff members with whom you
work closely:
In addition to development staff, all other top
administrators at the zoo – director, deputy director,
marketing director, guest services director, capital
project manager, education and conservation manager,
planning and interpretive exhibits curator, grounds and
facilities supervisor, etc.
Challenges of the job:
• Keeping priorities straight and focused toward
fulfi lling strategic objectives
• Fund raising in a community with many resources and
competition from other worthy nonprofi ts
• Demonstrating the need to raise substantial sums
of money on a continuous basis, for zoo operating
purposes
Rewards of the job:
• Securing funding for education and conservation
programs
• Developing partnerships with community members
who are passionate about the zoo’s mission
• Securing funding for new and improved exhibitry
How this job contributes to wildlife
conservation:
The fund raising process is building awareness and
educating people about the zoo’s conservation message.
Every part of this job leads to conservation.
Other careers requiring similar
qualifi cations and skills:
Sales and management; other nonprofi t work
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 106
WOODLAND PARK ZOO
ZOO CAREERS FACT SHEET
EVENTS PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
2001 Salary Range for Specialist: $13.94 - $20.05/hr
2001 Salary Range for Assistant: $12.02 – $17.31/hr
Brief description of job/daily duties:
• Plan and implement medium to large scale events at
the zoo including: ZooTunes, Jungle Party, Donor
Club events, and Jungle Party redemption items
• Implement all marketing promotions
• Communicate with zookeepers, zoo volunteers,
and other parties throughout the planning and
implementation of events
• Maintain, collect, organize and distribute accurate
information regarding events at the zoo
• Assist with general offi ce administrative duties: fi ling,
phone calls, reports, etc.
Valuable qualifi cations (education/
training) for this position:
• Bachelor’s degree in related area or equivalent
experience is required for this position
• Background in either communications, marketing or
logistics is helpful
• Ability to work in an organized, fl exible and effi cient
manner, in an environment of fast-paced work and
frequent change
Schools that offer programs that lead to
employment in this job:
Any universities offering degrees in communications or
marketing
Valuable skills and strengths for this
position:
• High energy
• Good communication skills
• Be detail-oriented
• Be able to work closely with others as a team
• Be prepared to do physical work (manual labor) which
is often required in the setup of events
• Good public relations skills
• Willingness to work extended hours, including
weekends
Other zoo staff members with whom you
work closely:
Work closely with a variety of people in different
departments such as marketing, creative services,
maintenance, catering, and visitors’ assistance
Challenges of the job:
• In the summertime, the job requires you to work long,
physically-demanding hours, including on weekends.
• Flexibility is a key to success in this job. It is a
challenge to coordinate multiple events on zoo
grounds while accommodating the needs of keepers,
horticulturists, admissions, marketing and other zoo
departments.
Rewards of the job:
• Achieving success with an event – when all parties
involved are pleased with the outcome
• The slow season (the wintertime) is the biggest reward
of the job. During the winter you have time to catch
your breath, refl ect, and begin planning for next year.
How this job contributes to wildlife
conservation:
Events help educate the public about wildlife
conservation and help them learn to appreciate wildlife.
Also many events raise money for the zoo, bring in
gate admission or otherwise bring in funds that support
conservation programs and the zoo as a whole.
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 107
WOODLAND PARK ZOO
ZOO CAREERS FACT SHEET
LANDSCAPE SUPERVISOR
2001 Salary Range: $22.99–$24.95/hr
Brief description of job/daily duties:
• Supervise daily, seasonal and annual horticultural
work programs at Woodland Park Zoo
• Implement programs and develop plans for new
landscaping and renovation in animal exhibits
• Administrative duties related to the above
Valuable qualifi cations (education/
training) for this position:
• A bachelor’s degree in horticulture or botany
• Experience in a public garden setting (fi ve years)
• Experience in horticulture maintenance (fi ve years)
• Supervisory experience (two years)
Schools that offer programs that lead to
employment in this job:
Any community college or university program in botany,
horticulture or landscape architecture/design. Also see
“Schools/Training” in the “Resources” section in this
packet.
Valuable skills and strengths for this
position:
• Good communication skills
• Organizational skills
• Experience in public garden or zoo horticulture setting
• Habitat management knowledge
Other zoo staff members with whom you
work closely:
Zoo horticulturists, custodial maintenance supervisor
and staff, education managers and staff, exhibits
supervisor and operations manager, interpretive and
exhibits manager, director, events coordinator and staff,
guest service, fund managers.
Challenges of the job:
• Project planning and implementation for large scale
projects
• Managing a 92-acre facility with complexity of
design, plant material and topography
• Supervising 20+ people
• High demand for customer service with interaction at
all levels of zoo and zoo society staff
Rewards of the job:
• This job is most rewarding after all the planning
and work to see the results of the projects in new
landscapes and to take satisfaction in the visitor’s
enjoyment of the zoo.
• It’s rewarding to work in a place where everyone has
great dedication and pride in their work.
How this job contributes to wildlife
conservation:
Our development of natural landscapes for animal
exhibits helps create a sense of immersion into
real habitats and the hope is to open the visitor to
conservation messages. It allows the concept that
wildlife need habitat to survive. Horticulture staff
members also help to educate the public by presenting
educational programs. Horticulture staff members
contribute to Jungle Party, the annual fundraiser, by
donating their time for tours and other events.
Other careers requiring similar
qualifi cations and skills:
Landscape supervision in other city departments,
not-for-profi t organizations, or in the private sector;
landscape architect; landscaping
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 108
WOODLAND PARK ZOO
ZOO CAREERS FACT SHEET
COMPOST/
RECYCLING
COORDINATOR
2001 Salary Range: $15.08 – $16.03/hr
Brief description of job/daily duties:
• Manage all aspects of Zoo Doo composting program,
including composting operations, sales, marketing,
research and development of new products/marketing
strategies
• Coordinate and implement zoo’s recycling programs
(aluminum, glass, plastics, paper, etc.)
• Tend compost demonstration and display vegetable
garden in the zoo’s Family Farm
Valuable qualifi cations (education/
training) for this position:
• Basic knowledge of composting process and recycling
systems
Schools that offer programs that lead to
employment in this job:
• Master Composter Program through Seattle Tilth
(information at (206) 633-0097 or www.seattletilth.
org)
• Compost facility operator certifi cation programs
Valuable skills and strengths for this
position:
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to speak publicly to diverse audiences,
including the media
• Good organization skills (for planning and
implementing bulk sales)
• Ability to work well with a broad range of
personalities from diverse backgrounds
• Ability to research and implement new projects
Other zoo staff members with whom you
work closely:
Work occasionally with most other positions at the
zoo on various projects, but most duties are carried out
independently.
Challenges of the job:
• Finding the right balance between various duties
and responsibilities of the position, especially in
summertime when recycling workload increases
dramatically
• Finding new ways to improve the sales/marketing of
the compost and generate more revenue
• Creating new ways the zoo can help increase its
conservation of resources
Rewards of the job:
• Making a positive impact on the environment
• Running a well-respected program that is popular in
the local community
• Finding new and creative ways to make more money
from sales of compost
• Being known, affectionately, as Dr. Doo!
How this job contributes to wildlife
conservation:
Both the composting and recycling components of this
job contribute signifi cantly to resource conservation,
which in turn benefi ts the environment and helps
to preserve habitats that are important to wildlife
conservation.
Other careers requiring similar
qualifi cations and skills:
Managing commercial composting or recycling
operations; sales/customer service careers; public
relations
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 109
WOODLAND PARK ZOO
ZOO CAREERS FACT SHEET
GARDENER
2001 Salary Range: $14.81 – $19.93/hr
Brief description of job/daily duties:
• Turf maintenance
• Watering
• Tree pruning
• Leaf cleanup/blowing
• Weeding
• Planting
• Greenhouse work
• Irrigation repair
• Plant propagation
Valuable qualifi cations (education/
training) for this position:
• Bachelor’s or higher degree in horticulture
• Practical experience
• Volunteer experience
• Pesticide license
Schools that offer programs that lead to
employment in this job:
Any community college or university program in botany,
horticulture or landscape architecture/design. Also see
“Schools/Training” in the “Resources” section in this
packet.
Valuable skills and strengths for this
position:
• Knowledge of plants and their care
• Physical health
• Knowledge of landscaping tools and equipment
• Willingness to work outdoors in any weather
Other zoo staff members with whom you
work closely:
Maintenance, zookeepers, education staff, exhibit design
staff
Challenges of the job:
• Completing tasks within a time frame, especially
when unexpected additional work comes up
• Making sure the plants we use in the exhibits are not
toxic to the animals and those outside the exhibit are
not toxic to visitors
• Potential for injury
• Yellowjackets!
Rewards of the job:
• Seeing the landscape grow and look better each year
• Using plants to simulate different parts of the world
• Learning
How this job contributes to wildlife
conservation:
Using landscaped habitats to simulate other parts of the
world can stimulate visitors to consider biodiversity
and its value. Working with education staff to provide
materials to educate visitors and presenting programs
for visitors. Zoo horticulturists also work with the AZH
(Association of Zoological Horticulture) to work for the
preservation of endangered and threatened species of
plants.
Other careers requiring similar
qualifi cations and skills:
Forest and wetland restoration, botanical garden staff,
park maintenance, landscaping, plant nursery staff
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 110
WOODLAND PARK ZOO
ZOO CAREERS FACT SHEET
ANNUAL FUND MANAGER
2001 Salary Range: $17.79 – $25.58/hr
Brief description of job/daily duties:
• Responsible for the oversight of all annual giving
programs, which include the annual fund, membership
and fund raising events.
Valuable qualifi cations (education/
training) for this position:
• Experience in managing and implementing annual
program or equivalent project management and
experience.
• Bachelor’s degree
Schools that offer programs that lead to
employment in this job:
• Seattle University
• University of Washington
Valuable skills and strengths for this
position:
• Organization skills
• Communication skills
• Strategic thinking and planning
• Ability to excel in team environment
• Computer profi ciency
Other zoo staff members with whom you
work closely:
Work with a variety of staff in different departments
including marketing, events, accounting and with the
director and deputy director
Challenges of the job:
• Working with volunteers
Rewards of the job:
• Being able to “see” the results of your fund-raising
efforts: expansion or improvement of an exhibit,
continuation of an education program that otherwise
would have ended, support of a new conservation
project, etc.
How this job contributes to wildlife
conservation:
Raise funds necessary to support education and
conservation projects and programs
Other careers requiring similar
qualifi cations and skills:
Marketing
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 111
WOODLAND PARK ZOO
ZOO CAREERS FACT SHEET
PUBLIC EDUCATION PROGRAM SPECIALIST
2001 Salary Range: $19.59 – $22.80/hr
Brief description of job/daily duties:
• Develop educational materials for grades K-12
• Attend meetings focusing on the goals of the zoo,
program development, program funding or a variety
of other topics
• Track the funds being spent for the programs overseen
• Work with staff members on program team to assist
them in meeting their goals
• Communicate with individuals or groups from other
organizations to fi nd ways we can work together to
support common goals
• Teach programs of all types to students, teachers and
other visitors
Valuable qualifi cations (education/
training) for this position:
• College degree in one of the biological sciences,
English or teaching
• Profi ciency in computer programs such as Word,
Excel, PowerPoint and Access
• Minimum fi ve years experience in related fi eld
Schools that offer programs that lead to
employment in this job:
Any four year college
Valuable skills and strengths for this
position:
• Excellent communication skills oral and written
• Management skills
• Organizational abilities
• Basic math and fi nance (tracking expenses and
budgeting)
• Ability to do research
• Customer service
Other zoo staff members with whom you
work closely:
Staff at all levels in all departments
Challenges of the job:
• Lots and lots of meetings
• Frequently overseeing the work of others without
getting to create/present new programs or materials
• Making sure that everyone who needs to be kept
informed is (and knowing who needs to be kept
informed)
• Balancing many things at one time
• Personnel issues can sometimes be challenging,
managing and/or working with lots of people with a
wide variety of personality traits, skills and needs
Rewards of the job:
• Teaching
• Always learning new things
• Working in such a beautiful and exciting place
• Making a difference in people’s lives and for the
animals, plants and habitats of the world
How this job contributes to wildlife
conservation:
Teaching people to care about animals, love them,
respect them, whatever emotion or reaction we can help
cultivate may help those people to tread more lightly on
the earth and work to benefi t plants and animals as well
as ecosystems. There are very few people in the world
that do not like any animals so it is easy to use wildlife
to teach people not only about the natural world but to
teach many different subjects. The more exposure people
have to animals the more they begin to care and want to
make a difference.
Other careers requiring similar
qualifi cations and skills:
Different aspects of this job relate to a variety of careers:
teacher, accountant, manager, customer service
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 112
WOODLAND PARK ZOO
ZOO CAREERS FACT SHEET
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT
2001 Salary Range: $21.95 – $24.66/hr
Brief description of job/daily duties:
• Compile and analyze fi nancial information to prepare
entries to accounts to document business transactions
• Devise and implement system for general accounting
• Maintain fund-raising accounting reports
• Analyze fi nancial information detailing assets,
liabilities, and capital
• Prepare balance sheets, profi t and loss statements and
other reports
• Audit contracts, orders and vouchers and prepare
related reports
• Conduct studies and submit recommendations for
improving the organizations accounting operation
• Perform payroll transactions
• Prepare federal, state and local annual reports and tax
returns
Valuable qualifi cations (education/
training) for this position:
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting from four-year
college or university
• One or two years related experience and/or training or
equivalent combination of education and experience
Schools that offer programs that lead to
employment in this job:
• Any four-year college or university
Valuable skills and strengths for this
position:
• Language skills — read, analyze and interpret
information including fi nancial reports and legal
documents. Ability to present information to
management, public groups or board of directors
• Mathematical skills — ability to work with concepts
such as probability and statistical inference, and
fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and
trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as
fractions, percentages, ratios and proportions to
practical situations.
• Problem solving skills — ability to defi ne problems,
collect data, establish facts and draw valid
conclusions. Ability to interpret a variety of technical
instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal
with several abstract and concrete variables.
• Knowledge of nonprofi t accounting procedures and
practices
• Computer skills in Excel and other accounting
software
Challenges of the job:
• Consistently challenged to fi nd innovative
technological solutions to complex logistical and
procedural accounting problems
Rewards of the job:
• Consistently challenged — it never gets boring
• Working for an organization who’s mission is to help
make the world a better place
• Being able to listen to CDs while working
How this job contributes to wildlife
conservation:
The accounting department is the steward of the donors’
money and helps monitor and guide the spending
of those funds. The department also contributes by
improving business planning and effi ciency. The result is
less waste and more money for conservation.
Other careers requiring similar
qualifi cations and skills:
General manager or accountant for a business or
organization.
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 113
WOODLAND PARK ZOO
ZOO CAREERS FACT SHEET
SECURITY OFFICER
2001 Salary Range: $14.19 – $20.74/hr
Brief description of job/daily duties:
• Ensure that animals, visitors and staff are safe
• Ensure that visitors follow safety precautions while at
the zoo
• Reunite lost family members
• Perform fi rst aid and CPR when necessary
• Handle emergency situations such as medical
emergencies, drunk or violent visitors, fi res or fi re
drills, natural disasters
Valuable qualifi cations (education/
training) for this position:
• Law enforcement training
• Military training
• Medical training, especially Emergency Medical
Technician (EMT) certifi cation
Schools that offer programs that lead to
employment in this job:
• Some community colleges offer EMT training
• Law Explorers program of the Boy Scouts (for
students 14 and up to explore careers in law
enforcement)
• Training programs through the United States military
Valuable skills and strengths for this
position:
• Good people skills
• Skills in moderating and diffusing high-stress
situations
• Self-defense training
• Ability to prioritize
Other zoo staff members with whom you
work closely:
Guest services staff, maintenance staff, city fi re
department
Challenges of the job:
• Handling multiple serious calls at once
• The variable level of stress – the stress level can go
from 0-10 in a matter of seconds
Rewards of the job:
• Knowing that you’re helping people, such as fi nding
a lost child or helping someone through a medical
emergency
How this job contributes to wildlife
conservation:
• Help keep the zoo safe so that visitors can learn about
wildlife conservation in a secure environment
Other careers requiring similar
qualifi cations and skills:
Police offi cer, emergency medical technician (EMT)
Woodland Park Zoo security offi cers
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 114
CAREER CORNERS
The following excerpts from interviews with Woodland Park Zoo’s staff members come from the Career Corners
column in Zoo Edition, the Education Department’s biannual teacher newsletter. More Career Corners can be found
in the Teacher Newsletter section of the zoo’s Web site: www.zoo.org .
Spring 2007
Excerpts from an interview with Jennifer McCrary,
ARAMARK food services
WPZ:
What is your title, and what does your job entail?
JM:
I am the General Manager of ARAMARK at
Woodland Park Zoo. I am responsible for the
oversight and operation of food services for visitors to
the zoo. This includes daily concessions, catering and
special events. I market the food services that we offer
here at the zoo, and help create the menus and design
for our catered events. We serve a lot of food here
— it’s a big job!
WPZ:
What’s the best part of your job?
JM:
I like being the “boss”. That sounds funny, but as
the boss, I get to make decisions that have an impact.
Starting this winter all of our plastic ware — the forks,
knives, spoons, cups and containers — will be made
of corn husks instead of plastic. Corn husk products
use a renewable resource instead of petroleum and
take only 30-45 days to biodegrade. A regular plastic
cup takes 2,000 years!
Another important decision I made is to buy only
grass-fed beef for our hamburgers and hot dogs. It’s a
little more expensive than other types of beef, but it’s
much better for everyone — better for the cow, better
for the environment, better for the consumers. And
since we served 43,400 hot dogs last year, it makes a
difference!
WPZ:
What did you study in school?
JM:
My degree is in sociology, and my favorite
subject was English. Those subjects gave me a good
background for dealing with people and with a
variety of situations. In high school I was pretty much
involved in every extra curricular activity, from school
newspaper to debate team.
WPZ:
How did you prepare for this job?
JM:
I started working at the zoo at one of the concession
stands when I was 17 years old, and continued to
work in food services during the summers throughout
high school and college. My hard work and attention
to detail was noticed, and it was suggested that I move
to the catering department. I knew nothing about
catering at the time, but I found that I liked it very
much. Because I kept asking questions, I learned a
lot. I made a lot of mistakes, too, but really found my
calling in the service industry.
WPZ:
What do you like best about your job?
JM:
I like being part of people’s experience of the zoo.
We have over a million visitors to the zoo every
year, and most of them purchase and eat food here. It
becomes a positive part of their memory of the zoo
— lunch is an important part of school fi eld trips, too!
I also love coordinating the catered events that we
offer, it comes very naturally to me. I love to plan the
parties. You get to participate in someone’s wedding
— perhaps the most important day of their lives.
Last year we catered 328 events at the zoo! It’s very
rewarding.
WPZ:
What advice do you have for students that might
like a job like yours?
JM:
Get experience working in a food environment
while you are in school. It’s hard work, you need to
be dedicated, so you need to be sure you like doing it.
Part of my success at my job is the way I got started in
this business. I worked my way up, and I’ve done all
of the different jobs. My staff might not always like
what I tell them, but they know that I’ve done their
job, and understand it.
WPZ:
Why do you like your job?
JM:
I’m a real foodie — I love to cook, and I love to eat
in restaurants. I enjoy being part of this industry and
serving people. At the same time, I love the zoo and
am very passionate about having a positive impact on
our environment. With this job, I get to combine both
of these passions. I feel very lucky.
Fall 2006
Excerpts from an interview with Operations Supervisor,
E.J. Hook
WPZ:
What is your job title and what duties does that
entail?
EJH:
I am the facility operations supervisor at the
zoo and that involves managing four work groups:
Horticulture, Grounds Maintenance, Systems
Maintenance (heating/cooling, water systems, etc.)
and Pest Control. It’s all the stuff that isn’t directly
working with the animals, but helps to support the
animals, the zoo visitors and the staff. Systems
Maintenance includes the life support systems and
pools around the zoo — all the stuff that keeps the
animals healthy.
WPZ:
What kind of training and education do you have?
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 115
EJH:
I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Landscape
Horticulture and Design and an Associates’ degree
in Ski Area Management (that was good for a few
years as a ski bum, but I didn’t make much money!).
I have other certifi cations, such as a pesticide license
and I am certifi ed as an irrigation auditor. I also own
my own environmental consulting company. Much
of what I know, I learned through experience over
28 years in the fi eld — the school of hard knocks
teaches me well, much more than books. I needed
the book background to get where I am, but I needed
the experience in the fi eld to put it all into practice.
I had four years of landscape experience before I
went to college — it made all the difference to have
practical experience fi rst and then apply the academic
knowledge to what I already knew.
WPZ:
What was your fi rst job?
EJH:
My very fi rst job was as a busboy in a restaurant
when I was 14 years old.
WPZ:
What’s the best part of your job?
EJH:
The people I get to work with everyday!
WPZ:
What are the biggest challenges of your job?
EJH:
The biggest challenge is balancing the multiple
needs that are out there in the zoo — the staff needs,
zoo visitors’ needs, facility needs, animal needs and
the aesthetic (it’s got to look right!). All those things,
including safety, have to be thought of and balanced
to fi nd the one solution that meets everyone’s needs.
But that’s also one of the most fun things about the
job — you need to problem solve and be creative to
accomplish your work.
WPZ:
What do you think are some valuable skills and
strengths needed for this position?
EJH:
You have to work well with people, you need a
good general knowledge of a lot of technical things,
and you have to understand how things work and how
they fi t together. You need to learn from the past and
anticipate the future in order to act correctly today.
WPZ:
What advice do you have for kids interested in a
career at a zoo?
EJH:
It’s very important to go out and get your hands
dirty and try to see what the career really is before you
decide that’s the direction you want to go. What you
might assume the job entails or what the “glamorous”
parts of the job are, might be an illusion — you need
to experience it to know how you actually fi t with a
job and if you truly enjoy it. It’s most important to
enjoy the job so you can have a sense of fulfi llment
from it.
Spring/Summer 2006
Excerpts from an interview with WPZ Public Programs
Supervisor, Katherine Steen
WPZ:
What is your job title and what duties does that
involve?
KS:
I am the public programs supervisor. Public
programs are free programs that are available for all
zoo visitors of all ages. They include the raptor fl ight
program, Bugs on Wheels and Reptiles on Wheels,
and keeper talks, among others. I supervise the staff
and volunteers that present these programs, and help
to create new programs. Right now most of my time is
devoted to creating programs for Zoomazium.
WPZ:
How did you get this job?
KS:
When I was 13, I was in Girl Scouts and I
participated in a program called Wider Opportunities,
through which I took a class called Wildlife Careers
for Women. It was a two-week program at the Bronx
Zoo that gave me the opportunity to work at a variety
of zoo jobs, including zookeeping and education. At
the end of the two weeks I knew I either wanted to be
a zookeeper or a zoo educator. After I graduated from
high school, I went to Cornell University and got my
degree in Animal Science. In addition to my degree, I
also got a lot of experience teaching. Experience is so
important — anyone can get a degree, but you really
need the experience with people.
WPZ:
What are you doing to plan for Zoomazium?
KS:
Right now I am collecting resources to see what we
can use in programs — and it’s a lot! We will have
quite a few animals that will be housed in Zoomazium
that we will be able to include in programs. We also
have a great collection of biofacts, which are natural
objects from animals, such as bones, fur, and feathers.
It’s good to include them in programs since it is often
the only opportunity visitors have to touch some of
our animals.
But the most important resources are the people that
are involved now, and will be involved in the future.
It’s been exciting to work with the design team to
help to create the space, to decide what will be in the
building, and what it will look like. I’ve been working
with the Education Department staff to see where
their interests and skills are, and to help them develop
programs. I have also been recruiting a new group of
volunteers to present the programs.
WPZ:
What do you think is the most exciting thing
about Zoomazium?
KS:
It’s so new. We are the fi rst zoo to put all of
these elements together in one place, providing an
unparalleled nature play space for young children.
Other zoos have play spaces where children can
explore nature, but we are the fi rst to include
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 116
technology. Because of that we will be able to keep
the building fresh and interesting for children (and
their parents), even if they visit regularly.
For example, there will be places where we will
use computers and video to put pictures of animals
in particular places. Because those pictures are not
printed on paper and displayed on some kind of
permanent fi xture, they can be changed frequently. So
if you come in one day and there is a squirrel nest in
a tree, the next time there could be a whole family of
squirrels, or an owl with eggs, or something entirely
different. We have created, in essence, two mini-
versions of the zoo; one for children from birth to age
three, and the other for children aged four to eight,
and we’ve involved children in the planning of it all.
WPZ:
What advice do you have for students that might
want a job like yours?
KS:
Get the experience! Volunteer! It’s a great job - I
get to work with animals and with people — that’s the
best part. Come and visit the zoo with your family!
Check out Zoomazium! It will be cool!
Fall 2005
Excerpts from an interview with WPZ Director of
Conservation, Dr. Lisa Dabek
WPZ:
What is your job title and what duties does that
entail?
LD:
I am the new Director of Conservation, and I’m still
learning what my duties are! (Dr. Dabek was hired in
February 2005) One task is to expand the conservation
programs at Woodland Park Zoo and help continue
to integrate conservation into all other aspects of the
zoo, such as exhibits, education, etc. I also run the
Tree Kangaroo Conservation Program, which is an
international fi eld conservation program in Papua
New Guinea that is based here at the zoo.
WPZ:
What type of education and previous work
experience is valuable for this job?
LD:
For education, a good background in science and
math is important. Also, since conservation is an
interdisciplinary fi eld, you would want a background
in such subjects as social science, anthropology,
economics and/or political science. As far as past
work experience, I did a lot of fi eld research on
animal behavior and biology. I’m a researcher and
conservation biologist. It’s also important to be able
to coordinate projects. I coordinate between different
departments here at the zoo, as well as between
the zoo and other zoos, and different conservation
organizations.
WPZ:
Can you describe a typical day of fi eld research?
LD:
There is no typical day! But I’ll describe a random
day I had recently. We had just radio-collared two tree
kangaroos in the rain forest in Papua New Guinea.
The next day, we went out early in the morning
with local fi eld assistants and other members of the
fi eld team to track the animals. We hiked through
the forest, trying to hear the signal. Then, when we
fi nally found the signal, we had to search for the
tree kangaroos in the trees. After we found them, we
collected all relevant data, including GPS location,
the species of the tree they were in, nearby plant life,
etc. as well as photographing and documenting the
animals and the area. Then we hiked back to the fi eld
camp. That evening we sat around a fi re in a bush hut,
telling stories with the local people, while eating local
greens and rice. Finally, I crawled into my tent and
fell asleep listening to the sounds of the cicadas.
WPZ:
How do zoos play a role in conservation?
LD:
Several ways. One way is that the animals here
at the zoo serve as ambassadors for wild animals.
Visitors and schools come to the zoo and learn about
and develop an appreciation for the animals they
see here. They want to help protect these animals
in the wild. The zoo is a place that inspires people
to take action, either internationally or right in
their own backyard. Another way zoos play a role
in conservation is by allowing researchers to do
preliminary research on zoo animals. Researchers can
learn about the biology of animals, information that is
often very hard to get in the fi eld. This gives them a
baseline of knowledge that they can expand on when
they go out into the fi eld. Also, researchers can test
equipment on zoo animals before putting the same
equipment on animals in the wild. For example, we
tested the radio-collars on the tree kangaroos here at
the zoo before we put them on animals in Papua New
Guinea.
WPZ
: What advice do you have for kids who want to
make a difference?
LD:
I always say that it may seem like a small thing
that each individual can do, but it adds up. Students
should think about how they live in the world: what
type of lunch bag do they bring to school, do they
recycle what they can, what kind of plants do they
plant in their garden, all the way up to what and how
they study in school. They should listen to what their
passion is and then study hard.
Spring 2005
Excerpts from an interview with Terry Blumer,
Woodland Park ZooStore Manager
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 117
WPZ:
What is your job title and what duties does that
entail?
TB:
ZooStore manager. It entails overseeing one of the
zoo’s major revenue-generating businesses.
WPZ:
What’s your educational background?
TB:
I have a B.A. in architecture and I did my Masters
work in museum studies.
WPZ:
What was your fi rst job?
TB:
My very fi rst job was bussing tables for the summer
at a restaurant at a mountain resort. I was 12.
WPZ:
What’s the best part of your job?
TB:
Being able to make a signifi cant difference in
helping to get a conservation message across while
raising much-needed revenue.
WPZ:
What are the biggest challenges of your job?
TB:
Competing with people’s perceptions of what retail
is and what it does, including striking the balance
between encouraging consumption while encouraging
conservation.
WPZ:
What skills are necessary for a job like yours?
TB:
As far as being a manager goes, you have to have
people skills for dealing with staff and customers.
It’s also important to have a strong business acumen.
And I’ve found that my background in anthropology
and non-profi t administration provides me a solid
foundation for dealing with running a small business
within a bureaucracy.
Fall 2004
Excerpts from an interview with Nathan Ricard, WPZ
Accounting Supervisor
WPZ:
What is your job title and what duties does that
entail?
NR:
My job title is Accounting Supervisor. I’m
responsible for all the money that comes into and goes
out of the zoo.
WPZ:
What’s your educational background?
NR:
I have a degree in Biology. I started out as an
Accounting major but switched halfway through
because the classes were too boring! But ever since I
graduated, all my jobs have been in accounting.
WPZ:
What was your fi rst job?
NR:
I had paper routes and lawn mowing jobs, but my
fi rst real job was at McDonald’s.
WPZ:
What’s the best part of your job?
NR:
I like knowing what’s going on with the zoo. I feel
really connected with the different animal projects
because my section gets to write the checks for them.
I’m at the center of the information highway.
WPZ:
What are the biggest challenges of your job?
NR:
Having to pay attention to every tiny detail. One
wrong code can mess everything up. You have to
focus on what would be a trivial matter to most
people.
WPZ:
What skills are necessary for a job like yours?
NR:
A comfort level with math. You can’t be scared of
numbers and do what I’m doing. You don’t have to be
trigonometry king, but you do have to be comfortable
with math. Also, it helps if you love to do puzzles.
You change the job into a big puzzle. When you get
a right answer, you get a big rush like when you’ve
solved one. Finally, for the level of detail this job
takes, it helps a lot to care about what your company
is doing. It would be easy to get jaded and let errors
pile up. But if you really care about your company,
you don’t let that happen. That’s why the zoo is the
perfect place for me.
Spring 2004
An interview with Deborah Jensen, President and CEO
of Woodland Park Zoo
WPZ:
What is your job title and what duties does that
entail?
DJ:
I’m the President and CEO of the Woodland
Park Zoo, which makes me the senior staff person
responsible for setting zoo direction and managing
day-to-day operations in conjunction with my senior
staff. I answer to the Board of Directors and represent
the zoo in the community. I also help make sure the
zoo has the fi nancial resources to stay strong and
healthy.
WPZ:
What’s your educational background?
DJ:
My undergraduate degree is in Botany and I have
a Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley
from the Energy and Resources Department. This is
basically an environmental science program that also
includes public policy and economics. The program
requires you to think about the natural sciences,
economics, and policy issues when trying to solve
environmental problems.
WPZ:
What was your fi rst job?
DJ:
When I was 19, I took a year off from college to
work as a fi eld assistant doing fi eld research for a
professor in Arizona. It was a 30-hour a week job;
I rotated every other week in the fi eld and or in
the lab. I fell in love with the Sonora desert, and
found that it was really fun to do fi eld science and
research. While a student in school, I did the kind of
miscellaneous jobs almost every student does to get
by: bookkeeping, waiting tables, etc. I think everyone
spends some time in the early part of a career doing
jobs just to earn money while they look for a job that
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 118
satisfi es both their workplace and personal goals.
There’s no straight line that takes you from school to
the perfect position.
WPZ:
What’s the best part of your job?
DJ:
The people with whom I get to work.
WPZ:
What are the biggest challenges of your job?
DJ:
I think the biggest challenge is that Woodland Park
Zoo is an organization going through a lot of change
right now. It’s a big balancing act to keep all of the
wonderful qualities the zoo’s had for the last 100 years
in the middle of a lot of change. I think my challenge
is to help paint a positive picture of where we could be
and what we could grow into to inspire achievement
of our goals. We also need to get the word out about
everything we do here at the zoo. Those of us who
work here every day know how much education and
conservation work we do, in addition to being a fun
place to go on a family outing. We have some work
to do for people to come to know this other side
of the zoo - the part that isn’t necessarily their fi rst
impression of the zoo.
WPZ:
What advice do you have for kids who want to
make a difference?
DJ:
The fi rst thing is to believe that you can make a
difference and that you don’t have to wait until you’re
grown up to start. Deciding you want to make a
difference and then taking action is key because life
really does reward action. When you start small and
take on things that are doable, you learn that results
are possible. Then, it’s easier to take on bigger and
bigger projects. For example, one of the things we
did last year at the zoo was to open the new Jaguar
Cove exhibit. One of the people who helped us with
the exhibit opening was an elementary school student
who had decided he wanted to help our jaguar have
a new home. He took all of the money he had in his
piggy bank and gave it to the zoo to help pay for our
jaguar’s new home. He could really understand the
difference he made when he saw the new exhibit. He
also taught all the kids in his class that they could get
involved and make a difference too. This young man
is a good example of an individual seeing a problem
and then resolving to take part in the solution. Finally,
you have to pick something that you really care
about personally because you won’t devote the time
and energy it takes unless it is something that really
matters to you. But, the fi rst step is believing you can
make a difference.
Fall 2003
Excerpts from an interview with Patricia Medici,
researcher with The Conservation Status of Jaguars,
Pumas and Tapirs and Their Potential as Landscape
Detectives for the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, one of the
jaguar conservation projects supported by Woodland
Park Zoo. The interview was conducted by Ryan
Whitehead and Amy Brewer, two members of the zoo’s
teen program, Zoo Corps.
WPZ:
Where are you from and where do you live now?
PM:
I was born in Sao Paolo City, Brazil, and now live
in the western part of the state, about 800 km from the
city.
WPZ:
What languages do you speak?
PM:
I speak Portuguese and some English.
WPZ:
Have you ever seen a jaguar in the wild?
PM:
I have spent the last six years of my life in the fi eld
doing research and I saw my fi rst wild jaguar about
two weeks ago. We were on our way to a research site
when we saw a jaguar in the middle of the road about
100 or 150 meters away. We stopped to watch it for a
while, and it walked away into the forest. It was really
great.
WPZ:
How far do you have to go each day to do your
research?
PM:
We drive about 50 km to the sites in the park, and
then walk 1 or 2 km to the site.
WPZ:
Do you know how many jaguars are in the area
that you are studying?
PM:
We probably have 20 or 21 individuals in the park,
both spotted and black jaguars.
WPZ:
What is the main purpose of your research on
tapirs, and how does it relate to jaguar conservation?
PM:
We have been researching both species as
landscape detectives, as we say, to reveal the dispersal
routes and pathways in the landscape. We found out
some time ago that these animals leave the park and
visit the forest fragments nearby, so we have been
taking advantage of this behavior and identifying the
potential land pieces to be restored as corridors.
WPZ:
What has inspired you to conserve rain forests?
PM:
I grew up in a small district of Sao Paolo City, very
close to the coast, in the middle of the Atlantic Forest.
I grew up watching the forests being logged and being
destroyed so I believe that was something that really
planted a seed in my heart and made me want to do
this.
WPZ:
What do you like most about your work?
PM:
I really like the fact that I get to be in the forest
every day. I feel connected to nature and to the
animals.
WPZ:
What is the hardest part?
PM:
The hardest part, I’d have to say, is the mosquitoes
and the tics. And the bot fl ies.
WPZ:
What do you think kids should study in school to
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 119
help become a researcher and conservationist?
PM:
I strongly believe that professors should teach
more about animals, nature and the different
ecosystems. With more knowledge, kids would have
more questions in their minds and become eager to
answer those questions, which would encourage a lot
more kids to become biologists and researchers and
conservationists. Another important thing is for kids
to learn more languages. There is lots of information
about animals and nature in other languages, and most
of the kids just don’t have the chance to read that
because they don’t know the language.
WPZ:
Besides donating money, what can I do in
everyday life to help jaguars survive in the wild?
PM:
First of all, whatever you learn about tapirs,
jaguars, any other animal, or about different
ecosystems, you should share with your friends, and
make them excited about that. It would be nice if
kids all over the world had the chance to get involved
with local conservation initiatives. We tend to believe
that conservation is something that can only be done
by researchers and scientists, but there is always
something near your home that you can do to help. So
you just have to go ahead and see what can be done
in your neighborhood and in your city, and that would
really help.
Spring 2003
Excerpts from an interview with Erin Sullivan,
zookeeper in “Bug” World
WPZ:
How did you fi rst become interested in the fi eld
of entomology?
ES:
I had a lifelong interest in bugs (so I’m told) and
I was in Bug Club at San Francisco Zoo when I was
a kid. In college, I majored in biology and we had a
selection of required courses to choose from. I chose
to take “The Behavioral Ecology of Insects” and it had
everything I’d been looking for – biology, physiology,
morphology, chemistry, and biochemistry plus arts.
All of these are encompassed in insects and other
arthropods – they’re little packets of science! I started
to volunteer at the San Francisco Insect Zoo and it
was a perfect match for me. In 1996 I came to WPZ to
help design “Bug” World and to take care of the bugs.
WPZ:
What are the best parts of your job?
ES:
The best thing about my job is that it is different
every day. We have a basic routine, but there is always
something new and exciting going on. I also enjoy the
problem-solving aspect of my job – whether it’s trying
to fi gure out how to breed Phyllium or the best way of
showing millipede legs to a child.
WPZ:
What are the challenges of your job?
ES:
The problem-solving! We work with a large number
of species, each with its own microclimate needs and
optimal conditions to survive – we have to take this
into account for each exhibit. So we’re working with
35 tiny habitats trying to maintain the right conditions
for each species. With the Oregon Silverspot Butterfl y
Project that we’re working on, maintaining the right
conditions is the most challenging part of the project.
The larvae (caterpillars) of this species hibernate
through the winter and we have to try to create the
right condition in our lab so that the larvae survive
through the winter in good health.
WPZ:
What sorts of skills are benefi cial for a person in
your position?
ES:
Creative problem-solving abilities are defi nitely at
the top of the list – also, attention to detail, patience
for working with small things and good observation
skills. Bug keeping is very multidisciplinary, so
everything from math skills to artistic abilities is
important. A sense of humor helps too! A great way
to start out is just by observing bugs–– develop a
bug-friendly garden at home or school and spend time
watching the butterfl ies, bees, and other bugs that visit
your garden. Put yourself in the bug’s place – think
about what you would need to survive and how you
would fulfi ll your basic needs if you were that bug.
WPZ:
What changes do you see taking place in your
fi eld of work?
ES:
Well, it’s taken a long time for bugs to get noticed
and to be treated like other animals, but the fi eld
has come a long way. We are working more on
conservation, which is also very interdisciplinary.
We’re not just saving a species of insect; we’re
saving habitats and everything that is interconnected
within those habitats. Bug keepers are taking more
notice of the veterinary aspects of bug keeping
– such as diseases – and so we’re making advances in
arthropod husbandry. These advances in turn benefi t
conservation because the more we can learn here
in “Bug” World the more we can share important
information with conservation projects that are raising
bugs in lab situations. That is the great thing about
being involved with the silverspot conservation
project”– we’re putting what we’ve learned over the
years in “Bug” World into practice to help augment
the wild population of silverspot butterfl ies.
Winter 2003
Interview with Terry O’Connor, Interim Education
Director
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 120
WPZ:
Can you briefl y describe your job here at the zoo?
TO:
I manage the Education Department, which
means that I am responsible for all of the education
programs, both on- and off-site. Part of my role is to
work with other AZA (American Zoo and Aquarium
Association) institutions. This gives us an infusion of
new ideas; the networking helps our programs and we
can share what we are doing with others.
WPZ:
How did you get involved in education here at the
zoo?
TO:
I have a Bachelor’s degree in zoology. I’m not an
educator by training; I’m an educator by experience.
I started at WPZ as a volunteer. Part of the work I
did was behavioral research on snow leopards and
fruit bats. But I found that as I was doing animal
observations, I enjoyed interacting with visitors. The
fi rst job opportunity that came up at the zoo for me
was in education, so my career took a different path
and I’ve now been working in education for 21 years.
WPZ:
What is the best part of your job?
TO:
There are a lot of best parts of my job. It is very
rewarding to help set an education project in motion
and then watch it take off. I also love teaching – a
high point for me is when I can help to train docents
or be a part of a teacher training workshop. I enjoy
the opportunity that I have to work with other zoos
and aquariums through my work with AZA. It’s good
for our zoo programs and it’s professionally and
personally fulfi lling for me.
The highest priority is always the animals. Their needs
must be weighed against those of the grounds and
animal keepers, and the aesthetics of the exhibit, all
while staying within the limits of time and money, and
keeping construction impacts to a minimum. The wild
dog exhibit, which just opened at the zoo, includes
two shallow pools. The pools have to be safe for the
dogs we have now, and for puppies, should we have
them in the future. The pools need to be drained and
cleaned, so the keepers need easy access for daily
operation. They need to be kept in good working
order, so maintenance workers also need easy access.
And access points need to be either aesthetically
pleasing or invisible to visitors. For example, the hose
and faucet that the keepers use for cleaning are easily
accessible inside the fake tree stump in the middle of
the water bank.
WPZ:
How are you involved in AZA conservation
programs?
TO:
My work with AZA conservation programs is
related to education, a relatively new part of what
a TAG or SSP does (see the Conservation Corner
in this Zoo Edition for information on TAGs and
SSPs). I co-chair the AZA Bat TAG, which I’ve been
involved with for 10 years. Many of our projects
are related to education about bats. One of our fi rst
projects was developing an education curriculum and
kit about Rodrigues fruit bats. These materials are
used for every 5th grade student on Rodrigues, an
island in the Indian Ocean off the east coast of Africa.
In addition to the materials developed, we saw that
conservation on Rodrigues needed something broader
– there was a need for an environmental educator
on the island. The recognition of this need led to the
hiring of Mary Jane Raboude, a native Rodriguan, to
conduct environmental education on the island. Mary
Jane’s work is supported by contributions from AZA
institutions.
After so many years of working with the Bat TAG
and conservation programs for Rodrigues fruit bats,
I am very excited that Woodland Park Zoo is getting
Rodrigues fruit bats soon, which brings the story back
home.
WPZ:
What special skills do you need to work in
education at the zoo?
TO:
The education staff at WPZ come to the zoo with
a lot of different backgrounds. Some key skills are
the ability to work with people of all ages, and great
communication skills. Writing is also a big part of our
jobs. What I think is characteristic of people here is
a love of learning – a boundless enthusiasm to learn
–because to be a good teacher you have to be a good
learner.
WPZ:
What advice would you give to students who
might want to work in education at a zoo?
TO:
Learn everything you can! You might plan to
obtain a background in education, life sciences or
environmental interpretation. I think the best thing
is to read and learn as much as you can to fi nd out
what interests you. Volunteering can also help you
learn more about what you want to do. The Zoo Corps
program here at the zoo is a great way to do that. It’s
hard to know what you want to do unless you get to
try it. Beyond that, no matter what area you want to go
into, fi nd opportunities for speaking and working with
people and for writing. Come to the zoo and spend
some time here! If you love being here and studying
animals, plants and habitats, and are enthusiastic about
sharing that love with other people, then you’ll enjoy
a job as an educator in a zoo.
Fall 2002
Interview with Linda Sullivan, Project Manager
WPZ:
Can you briefl y describe the purpose of your job?
LS:
I manage capital construction projects here at the
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 121
zoo. I enter the process once decisions have been
made as to what the project is, where it should be
located, and how much time and money is available.
I think I’m like the driver, trying to get a van full of
people from one point to another. The people on board
are very creative and very committed to their vision
of where we should go and how we should get there.
Not all of those visions are the same – so I take each
person’s input, consider the whole picture, and get
everyone to the destination point safely (and sanely!),
on time, and without running out of gas (money, time
and motivation).
WPZ:
What is your background?
LS:
I have a degree in landscape architecture from
the U.W., and a degree in journalism from the U.
of Nebraska. I like to write, love plants, and have
always been interested in and inspired by outdoor
environments. Project management offered the
opportunity to combine these and other interests. It is
especially rewarding to recreate and evoke a specifi c
natural environment.
WPZ:
What are some of the challenges in managing a
project at the zoo?
LS:
As in any project, you need to keep the big picture
in mind, be alert to differences of opinions – some of
which may not be obvious – and be aware of anything
that might slip through the cracks. In general, ensuring
that the whole design and construction team is moving
in the same direction is challenging. At the zoo, the
team includes representatives from many departments
including horticulture, animal management, exhibits,
education, visitor services, interpretation and
marketing/development. The goal is to make a new
exhibit work for all of these groups and the zoo’s
visitors.
The highest priority is always the animals. Their needs
must be weighed against those of the grounds and
animal keepers, and the aesthetics of the exhibit, all
while staying within the limits of time and money, and
keeping construction impacts to a minimum. The wild
dog exhibit, which just opened at the zoo, includes
two shallow pools. The pools have to be safe for the
dogs we have now, and for puppies, should we have
them in the future. The pools need to be drained and
cleaned, so the keepers need easy access for daily
operation. They need to be kept in good working
order, so maintenance workers also need easy access.
And access points need to be either aesthetically
pleasing or invisible to visitors. For example, the hose
and faucet that the keepers use for cleaning are easily
accessible inside the fake tree stump in the middle of
the water bank.
WPZ:
What special skills do you need to be a project
manager?
LS:
Organizational skills are essential. Because I
am dealing with money, a complete paper trail is
imperative. I have to track expenditures, changes in
design details and their subsequent expenses, and
to produce project documentation with very little
advance notice. There are a number of good computer
applications to help with many aspects of managing a
project, so computer literacy is important as well.
WPZ:
What advice would you give to students who
might want to be project managers?
LS:
I’ve always wanted variety in my job, so I tried
to develop the biggest bag of tools possible. My
advice to students would be to learn as much as
possible and develop as many skills as you can, so
you can do many different projects, whatever looks
most interesting. Learn to understand the strengths
and areas of expertise of the people you work with
on a project team and don’t be limited by your lack
of knowledge or experience. If it is a job that really
interests you, go for it!
Spring 2002
Interview with Zookeeper Eric Kowalczyk
WPZ:
Have you always been interested in animals?
EK:
Yes. As a child I spent a lot of time watching
birds. One summer, I found a box turtle someone had
dumped on a beach. I took it home and turned the
whole garage into a huge box turtle habitat. My father
had to park in the driveway.
WPZ:
What did you study in college?
EK:
I took classes I thought looked interesting, not ones
that would lead directly to a specifi c job. I took some
French, math and humanities, but mostly zoology.
After graduation, I went on to WSU for my master’s
degree. I did fi eld research studying pygmy nuthatches
and got a master’s in zoology.
WPZ:
What was your fi rst job with animals?
EK:
My fi rst animal jobs were both volunteer jobs
at The Seattle Aquarium and in the aviary here at
Woodland Park Zoo. I was hired at the zoo in 1978. I
spent some time working with the giraffes, and then
was assigned to the pheasantry.
WPZ:
What do you like about your job?
EK:
Almost every day I learn new things. I spend a lot
of time cleaning and feeding, but I also get to spend
time watching the birds. The more answers you get,
the more questions you fi nd. I am also the studbook
keeper for fi ve species of hornbills. This means that
I manage a database that tracks all of the individual
hornbills in captivity and their genetic lineage.
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 122
WPZ:
Do you get involved in issues concerning wild as
well as captive birds?
EK:
Yes, and that’s the other thing I enjoy most about
my job. Working here gives me the means to “walk
the talk,” to be an advocate for wild birds, such as
being active in events like International Migratory
Bird Day. In May people focus on wild birds that
migrate thousands of miles each year.
WPZ:
Any other projects in which students could
participate?
EK:
They could adopt a hornbill nest. A project in
Thailand allows people all over the world to adopt a
hornbill nest. When you adopt a nest, a local villager
is hired to protect it. Some of the villagers who are
now earning money protecting the nests used to feed
their families by poaching. They are held in high
esteem in the village, and are teaching their children
to care for the birds. This project helps both the birds
and the local people. And, by protecting the birds’
habitat, the habitat of many other species is being
protected also.
WPZ:
What advice do you have for students who want
to pursue a similar career?
EK:
If you study what interests you, and fi nd a job you
love, you will always be learning. The sky’s the limit
in fi nding ways to improve our jobs. It is up to each of
us to fi nd the ways.
Note: If you and your students are interested in adopting
a hornbill nest in Thailand, please call Susan Parke at
(206) 684-4850 for details.
Winter 2002
Interview with John Bierlein, WPZ Manager of Planning
and Interpretive Exhibits.
WPZ:
What does your job at the zoo entail?
JB:
I help plan how the zoo looks and is understood as a
whole. I coordinate different aspects of zoo exhibits,
including signs, landscaping and all of the props that
go into an exhibit, such as artifacts and artifi cial vines,
trees and rocks.
The goal is to make the exhibits look as real
as possible while addressing the needs of the
animals, their keepers and zoo visitors. I work
with construction teams to make sure the exhibit
is as natural and correct as possible. I work with
horticulturists to be sure that the plants in the exhibit
are like the ones found in that environment. I work
with cultural anthropologists to make sure that human
aspects are included and accurate
WPZ:
How did you get started in your career?
JB:
I was a student at the University of WA, considering
medical school, when conservation and ecology were
beginning to be taken seriously as areas of concern
and study. I’ve always had a love of nature and
biology, so I chose to study botany and forestry. The
forestry program was designed for park rangers and
naturalists who would be working in national and state
parks.
While I was in college, I volunteered for
environmental organizations, teaching people about
the natural world. During the summers, I was a
wilderness ranger in the Wallowa Mountains of NE
Oregon, maintaining trails and orienting hikers and
campers. I packed in all of my botany books and lived
in a 10’x12’ wall tent.
Because I worked and volunteered all through school,
I knew when I graduated what I wanted to do and
where to look for work, and I had the experience to
get a job I wanted.
WPZ:
What was your fi rst job?
JB:
After graduation, I worked part time as a teaching
assistant at the U.W., and volunteered at the brand
new Discovery Park. I was hired to work part time,
and became one of the city’s fi rst Park Rangers.
Creating environmental education programs in
parks was diffi cult at that time, since the rest of the
city parks were primarily community centers and
playfi elds. A natural park like Discovery Park or
Camp Long needed a very different way of thinking
and planning. So I went back to school and earned a
Masters degree in Public Administration. This degree
helped me in writing grants and making innovative
programs happen with very little money.
From Discovery Park, I went to Camp Long, and
established education programs there, then I moved
to the zoo. My fi rst project at WPZ was to provide
strollers for zoo visitors. Later I became Education
Program Curator and then I went on to become
involved in creating zoo exhibits. I’ve done a wide
variety of jobs here!
WPZ:
What advice do you have for students who might
want to work in environmental education and exhibit
design?
JB:
Follow the path with heart, and as you walk,
you will begin to see other things that are needed,
things you can’t anticipate when you begin. I never
thought I would have a desk job, wear a tie or work
at a computer, but sometimes where you think you
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 123
are going is not where you end up. Be fl exible and
cooperative, for me that has allowed me to best serve
the zoo’s overall vision and be able to share my
passion for nature with other people.
SPRING 2001
Excerpts from an interview with Pat Maluy, Senior
Keepre, Elephant Unit
WPZ:
What kind of background education and
experience do you have for your job?
Pat:
I’ve always been interested in animals. When I was
growing up, my father raised game birds, spotting
dogs and horses. The rule was, “If you want to ride the
horses, you must clean the barn.” So I did! I also kept
all sorts of reptiles, and raised mice and rats for food
for them.
WPZ:
What is your education background?
Pat:
I studied both biology and zoology, and got a lot of
on the job training.
WPZ:
What was your fi rst paid job?
Pat:
I worked in the animal nursery at Lion Country
Safari and helped with the educational shows. My
next job was as a Vet Tech in Atlanta, with a second
job as an ambulance driver for the local Humane
Society.
WPZ:
When did you have your fi rst experience working
with elephants?
Pat:
At my next job, with Zoo Atlanta. I worked
primarily with carnivores, but I was also a relief
keeper in the Children’s Zoo and with the elephants.
WPZ:
When did you come to Woodland Park Zoo?
Pat:
February 1984. I started working in the old Primate
House, and moved to the Elephant Barn in 1986.
WPZ:
What does your job consist of, normally?
Pat:
Primarily, the basic care of our elephant herd and
their building, but also training of both elephants and
keeper staff, scheduling staff, record keeping and
presenting public programs.
WPZ:
And now you have fi ve elephants to care for
instead of four! How has this baby changed things?
Pat:
Very much like any new baby. The routine is
totally disrupted, our regular duties have expanded
exponentially, and there is a lot more stress for the
rest of the elephants. But this is a good thing. Our
elephants need this experience to be successful
socially. Our elephants have never been around a
newborn elephant, so this is very new for them.
This baby is also very important for captive elephant
conservation. She is one of only three Asian elephants
born in North America during 2000, and one died
of a heart defect after only a day. If we are going to
continue to keep elephants in captivity, we must be
able to increase the population without taking more
elephants from the wild.
WPZ:
What advice would you give a student interested
in working with elephants?
Pat:
Get a good education. If they are interested in
becoming an elephant keeper, they should study
biology, zoology or zookeeping, and get animal care
experience as a volunteer. There is also a training
school specifi cally for elephant keepers in Arkansas,
called Riddles Elephant and Wildlife Sanctuary (www.
elephantsanctuary.org). They offer training for both
experienced elephant handlers, and for interested
people with no elephant experience.
But you don’t have to be a zookeeper to be involved
with elephants. The fi eld of elephant research is
wide open, with a great variety of possibilities.
People are just beginning to study bioacoustics, the
way elephants communicate through sound, both
audibly and subsonically. And to understand how
many elephants there are in the wild, we need a more
accurate census of individuals, and how they use their
territory.
A whole new fi eld is opening up for people with
advanced knowledge of chemistry, and that is the
behavioral aspects of smell and scent. When elephants
meet, they spend a lot of time smelling each other.
What are they learning from these smells? How do
they use that knowledge? We now know that elephants
exude a fl uid between their toenails. This smell differs
from individual to individual, and an individual’s
smell can change because of stress or injury. How
do these changes happen? How do they effect the
behavior of other elephants? These are all great
research questions.
There is so much to learn about these interesting and
endangered animals – the possibilities are endless!
WINTER 2001
Excerpts from an interview with Sallie Stahl and Bea
Lorimor, maintenance laborers in WPZ’s maintenance
department:
WPZ:
Can you give me a brief description of your daily
duties?
Bea:
Work starts at 6 a.m. I help assign duties if needed
to the crew, unlock buildings on zoo grounds, and do
lots of cleaning.
Sallie:
We open up, clean buildings, keep pathways clear
and do whatever comes up.
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 124
WPZ:
Do you cover certain areas or the whole zoo?
Sallie:
For me, it’s divided up. I cover the south end
of the zoo, including the Education Center and the
Family Farm.
Bea:
I’m everywhere. My scheduled areas vary
during the week. Sometimes I’m in Northern Trail,
Australasia, Day and Night Exhibit, or the gorilla
exhibits.
WPZ:
What brought you to the zoo?
Sallie:
Dave Wymore (who had a 30+ year career at
WPZ, retiring as maintenance crew chief in 1999)
was sitting at Kidd Valley, where I was working. I
was sweeping near him and he asked if I wanted a job
at the zoo! That was in 1985 and I was hired on as a
seasonal worker.
Bea:
I applied to the City of Seattle and was hired on
in 1994 to do maintenance at the summer concerts
part-time. From there, I was chosen from the pool of
workers to do full-time maintenance.
WPZ:
What do you think are some valuable skills and
strengths needed for this position?
Sallie:
A good attitude.
Bea:
The ability to work under any kind of weather
conditions since the zoo is open every day. Also,
the challenge of being able to deal with a variety of
situations in an effi cient and safe manner.
WPZ:
What are some challenges of the job?
Sallie:
Worrying about the public and their safety.
Bea:
Yes, the school groups and events are major
factors. Also, keeping the communication lines open
with all of the other departments within the zoo, so
that everything runs safely and smoothly for everyone.
WPZ:
What are some rewards of the job?
Sallie:
The beautiful atmosphere and the positive
environment. It’s a great place to work!
Bea:
I love being around the animals. I also enjoy the
variety of work, everything from setting up tables to
cleaning up puke. Okay, maybe I could use a little less
variety in my job! I’ve also been able to help out with
the African Village Mural Project. The kids are great.
It’s been really amazing.
WPZ:
How does this job contribute to wildlife
conservation?
Sallie:
Keeping up the grounds, keeping things clean and
healthy for the animals and the people, and keeping
this a safe environment to visit and work in. Also, we
work hard at recycling.
Bea:
The City of Seattle is also moving towards
using detergents and cleaners that are more
environmentally-friendly. We also make sure there’s
proper disposal of wastewater and that the paper
towels we use are made from recycled paper.
WPZ:
Looking at the big picture, without maintenance
laborers like you, the zoo would not be able to
function as a facility for education, conservation and
recreation.
Sallie:
That’s true! I never really thought of it that way.
FALL 2000
Excerpts from interview with WPZ’s Compost
Coordinator, Ollie McIntyre:
WPZ:
Ollie McIntyre, what is your offi cial job title here
at Woodland Park Zoo?
Ollie:
I am the zoo’s compost coordinator, but I’m also
known as Dr. Doo, the Prince of Poo, and my favorite,
the #1 of #2!
WPZ:
What do all those job titles involve?
Ollie:
I run the Zoo Doo composting program, the zoo
recycling program and the vegetable garden at the
Family Farm.
WPZ:
How did you get into this line of work?
Ollie:
Before I came here, I worked for the Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in the
coordinating center of a cancer prevention study.
Towards the end of the study, I started looking for a
change of pace. I wanted a more active job where I
could be outdoors more. I saw an ad in the paper for
the job of Zoo Doo coordinator here at the zoo. It
sounded really interesting so I applied, and went to the
library to study up on composting.
WPZ:
What advice would you give to kids who want to
follow in your footsteps?
Ollie:
Wear boots! Seriously though, I would tell them to
keep your options open. Figure out what you’re really
interested in and how you want to spend your days.
Think about what kind of environment you’d like to
be in. When you hear about something that sounds
interesting and fun, go for it!
WPZ:
Why is recycling important?
Ollie:
Recycling keeps our waste from taking up lots of
space in a landfi ll and creating lots of environmental
problems. We can reuse the material, save money
and save resources. Composting is nature’s recycling
program. Animal waste is an organic material that
will naturally break down. What we do at the zoo is
create the best possible environment for composting
to occur.
WPZ:
What’s your least favorite part of the job?
Ollie:
When people don’t separate their recyclables!
Sometimes I even fi nd dirty diapers in the recycle
bins.
WPZ:
What’s your favorite part of the job?
Ollie:
I love the huge impact we have on the
environment. By composting Zoo Doo, we save
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 125
600 tons of waste from going to the landfi lls every
year. We also save a lot of money in disposal costs.
If we didn’t compost, the zoo would have to pay
$50,000 - $60,000 every year in disposal costs alone.
And by selling Zoo Doo to the public, we offset our
operational costs. But the most rewarding part is the
environmental benefi t and resource conservation:
we’re saving the world one poop at a time!
WPZ:
Very clever! Any parting words?
Ollie:
Woodland Park Zoo Doo — it’s not just compost,
it’s a movement!
SPRING 2000
Excerpts from interview with WPZ’s Associate
Veterinarian Dr. Darin Collins:
WPZ:
When did you know that you wanted to be a
veterinarian?
Dr. Darin:
From the beginning, fi rst and second grade.
I always liked animals. I used to watch Disney and
Wild Kingdom with Marlin Perkins. I’ve always liked
science.
WPZ:
What kind of education and training do you have?
Dr. Darin:
I took a lot of advanced science classes:
calculus, physics, physiology and chemistry. I majored
in chemistry and biology at the University of Illinois,
where I also went to veterinary school. I was at the
University of Illinois for nine years. After graduating
I worked in emergency care and continued to focus on
exotic animal species. While working as a veterinarian
in Colorado, I also volunteered at the Denver Zoo and
then at the Shedd Aquarium and Lincoln Park Zoo
when I lived in Chicago.
WPZ:
What is the best part of your job?
Dr. Darin:
Variety! I like getting to work with all the
different species of animals. It’s also very exciting
working with consultants, all kinds of doctors in the
community that volunteer their time to care for the
animals. I get to work with veterinarians from all
over the world. I’ve been able to travel to Malaysia
and Indonesia where I’ve trained veterinarians. I like
the research and writing. I use the Internet and talk to
other vets to get information. For example: Woodland
Park Zoo is getting Komodo dragons this year and
I had to ask other professionals about their diet and
other health issues. I’m always learning.
WPZ:
What challenges are involved in your job?
Dr. Darin:
You have to understand the behavior and
the natural history of the animal you’re working with
when evaluating their health. For example, a tree
kangaroo with a sore leg still needs to exhibit natural
behaviors and must climb in order to be comfortable.
That means we have to keep the animal somewhere
where it can climb while we are treating the injury.
Another challenge is staying current in all areas of
veterinary medicine because we’re learning so much
all the time.
WPZ:
What is the most interesting operation you’ve
performed at the zoo?
Dr. Darin:
I think it was Nadiri’s [western lowland
gorilla] birth. It was a diffi cult birth so Jumoke, the
mom, had to be brought to the zoo’s animal hospital
for the delivery. It was a rare opportunity to have zoo
vets, zookeepers, and doctors from the community
all helping Jumoke give birth to her fi rst infant. I’ve
drained an abscess from the eye of a poison dart
frog. I once brought a tree kangaroo to a community
hospital after hours for a CT scan to fi nd an infection.
The zoo doesn’t have certain medical equipment
which other members of the community can provide.
WPZ:
What advice would you give to someone in
school who is interested in becoming a veterinarian?
Dr. Darin:
Meet a vet! Go talk to a local veterinarian
and ask them for advice. Read books from the library,
books about veterinary medicine and taking care of
animals. Have a pet and become involved in its care.
You can also develop great skills from activity clubs
like Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H etc.
WINTER 2000
Excerpts from interview with WPZ Gardner Allen
Howard:
WPZ:
What is your job here at the zoo?
Allen:
I am the gardener for the Tropical Rain Forest.
I develop and maintain the landscapes in each of the
exhibits.
WPZ:
Have you always been interested in plants?
Allen:
Yes. As a small child, I helped my parents work
in the family garden, and when I was 7, I was given
some garden space of my own. I picked out my
own seeds (ageratums and marigolds), planted them
without any supervision, and they grew! Later, I went
to the nursery with my father to pick out my fi rst tree,
a peach tree. We took it home, and I planted it. It
grew, and it produced peaches! It was amazing.
WPZ:
What kind of training and education do you have?
Allen:
I got my BA in Horticulture, and my MS in
Botany. Before coming to work at Woodland Park
Zoo, I worked for four years at the Fairchild Tropical
Garden, in Miami. One of the projects I did while
I was there was to travel to Panama, Malaysia and
Borneo to collect wild plants to replace those that had
been lost during hurricane Andrew. That was such a
WOODLAND PARK ZOO CAREERS • 126
valuable experience, since it gave me the opportunity
to see whole tropical ecosystems as they are in the
wild. In Panama, I lived for three weeks with the local
Indians, camping in the rain forest.
WPZ:
What special challenges are there in planning
landscapes for animals?
Allen:
Some forest fl oor birds need open ground, so I
look for plants that have most of their branches up
higher. Some birds need lots of branches near the
ground for perching. If it is an exhibit with destructive
birds, I try to fi nd plants with vertical branches that
the birds can’t destroy as easily. Sometimes I make a
great match with plants and animals. I planted a palm
tree in the ocelot exhibit, and the cats loved it! It was
wonderful to see how entranced they were with this
tree. They eat a lot of the palm fronds, so I rotate a
new tree in every few months. Another time, I put
a lot of branches in the back corner of the tanager
exhibit, and the birds moved right into them. It nearly
doubled their living space in the exhibit. Those are
real successes.
WPZ:
What are you working on right now?
Allen:
Getting some larger plants well established in the
exhibits. That will give the plantings a more natural,
permanent look, with plants of different sizes.
WPZ:
What advice would you give to students
interested in a career in horticulture?
Allen:
Start working in the fi eld as soon as you can, get
lots of practical experience, and meet as many people
as you can that are working in the fi eld. That way you
can get an idea of all of the areas of specialization.
FALL 1999
Excerpts from interview with WPZ Senior Keeper, Tina
Mullett:
WPZ:
What is your job here at the zoo?
Tina:
I’m the senior keeper for the Tropical Rain
Forest building and the bird areas, the penguins, the
temperate forest, waterfowl, and the conservation
aviary. What I do is supervise all the keepers that
work in those particular areas and coordinate the
activities that go on day to day.
WPZ:
Do you take care of any of the animals?
Tina:
Yes I do. I’m trained to cover any of the areas,
so if someone is sick or on vacation I can come in
and help cover. And I help with special procedures or
when we’re catching an animal up to take it to Animal
Health. The rest of the time I do paperwork, attend
meetings. That part of the job isn’t as interesting as
working with the animals.
WPZ:
What kind of training did you have to make you
qualifi ed for your job?
Tina:
I have a Bachelor of Science in zoology. When I
came to Woodland Park I had 6 years of experience
working as a zookeeper so I’ve been a keeper for just
about 18 years now.
WPZ:
What kinds of classes did you take in school?
Tina:
I took classes in parasitology and animal behavior,
a lot of chemistry and calculus.
WPZ:
Did you have a favorite subject in school?
Tina:
My favorite subject was science.
WPZ:
What made you want to be a zookeeper?
Tina:
When I was younger and going to school I wasn’t
particularly interested in becoming a zookeeper. It
wasn’t until after I got out of college the I considered
becoming a keeper. When I was younger I thought it
would be more interesting to do lab work. Then when
I was in college I realized that for me it was boring
being in a lab all the time, and rather then looking at
blood work, tissues and poop, it was more interesting
to actually be in the fi eld with the animals and look at
their behaviors. At that time I switched tracks.
WPZ:
What advice would you give to someone
currently in school who’s thinking about becoming a
zookeeper?
Tina:
Spend a lot of time watching animals, learning
and reading about animals, helping out with family
pets, and going to the library and reading. If you want
to be a zookeeper you really have to develop your
observation skills and get to know what’s normal
for animals so you can spot when there’s something
wrong. Just be observant and watch animals.
