Animal Care Intern

LIVING DESERT DBA THE LIVING DESERT • Palm Desert, CA

17d • $16 • Onsite

About The Position

The Living Desert’s mission is desert conservation through preservation, education, and appreciation. We care for 600 animals with over 160 desert species represented. We are seeking qualified and enthusiastic candidates to join our Animal Care team as an Animal Care Intern.
This is a paid internship position and will take place Spring 2026 (March-May).
Position Summary:
This internship position pays $16/ hour and will be flexible in hours ranging from 8-22 hours worked per week dependent on candidate selection. Hours must be completed within the designated time frame listed above. Shifts may range from 4 - 8 hours. Summer season shift: 6:00am – 3:00pm; In season shift 7:00am-4:00pm (including weekends and holidays). Schedule to be determined upon acceptance into the internship program.
This is a new position and as such can be flexible in focus depending on the candidate’s interest and career goals. Some ideas of focus include, but are not limited to: animal nutrition, engineering with a focus on animal enriching experiences, behavioral observations and operant conditioning, animal husbandry and care, etc.

Requirements

• Must be 18 years or older
• Must have received high school diploma or equivalent and be enrolled in college or recent graduate (2 years); STEM education preferred.
• Covid vaccination and up-to-date boosters are required.
• Negative tuberculosis test prior to start date is required.
• Background check
• Valid California driver license.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with animal care and public interactions is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Must represent The Living Desert in a professional manner, interact with guests, and be knowledgeable and share The Living Desert conservation messages, story, and mission.
• Punctuality and Reliability
• General knowledge of zoo animal husbandry, natural history and observational skills
• Uphold The Living Desert’s brand, standards, and culture by maintaining a safe, positive, and productive workplace environment for animals, guests, and staff
• Must follow and abide by all rules enforced through The Living Desert Employee Handbook.
• Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to accurately report daily information

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: High school or GED