Animal Care Internship at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park

Parks Tacoma•Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, WA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

This 12-week internship session will take place from September through November of 2026. Northwest Trek Wildlife Park is dedicated to conservation, education, and recreation by displaying, interpreting, and researching native Northwest wildlife and their natural habitats. The 725-acre zoological park was established in 1975 and attracts over 200,000 visitors annually. It is nationally accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA), which ensures rigorously high standards of animal welfare, veterinary care, conservation, education, and more. Northwest Trek is operated by Parks Tacoma, the oldest independent park district in Washington. Our mission is to awaken a connection to wildlife with everyone in the Pacific Northwest. Our Animal Care internship is designed to provide instruction in habitat maintenance, nutrition and diets, environmental enrichment, public presentation/interpretation, water quality and filtration, species natural history, training, and husbandry. This is a unique opportunity for interns to work alongside zookeepers and gain valuable on-the-job training.

Requirements

Must be 18 years or older with a high school diploma, GED, or equivalent certification.
Must have a demonstrated interest in pursuing a career towards the care and protection of wildlife.
Paid or volunteer experience working with animals. Examples may include, but are not limited to, zoological institutions, wildlife rehabilitation centers, veterinary clinics, laboratories, or other related facilities.
Eligible candidates must be able to commit to 40 hours a week for 12 weeks.
Valid driver’s license + acceptable driving record.

Nice To Haves

We are committed to finding the best overall candidate and welcome candidates who may come from less traditional backgrounds. Please consider the breadth of your life experience when interpreting our listed duties and qualifications.

Responsibilities

Daily Animal Husbandry: Cleaning and general maintenance of exhibits and holding areas
Animal Observation and Record-keeping
Nutrition and diets. Diet preparation. Appropriate vitamin supplementation.
Environmental enrichment. Implementation and analysis
Animal Training: The schedules of reinforcement, the types of operant conditioning, as well as the benefits of training
Water Quality and Filtration: Our filtration process, water quality parameters and monitoring
Public Presentation: Messaging as well as post presentation Q & A.
Learning the natural history of the animal species we care for, their behavior, and scientific names
Project Completion: Interns will be expected to design, budget, build and use a small project