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Animal handler skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

1 min read

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical animal handler skills. We ranked the top skills for animal handlers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 54.8% of animal handler resumes contained animal handling as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an animal handler needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 animal handler skills for your resume and career

1. Animal Handling

Here's how animal handlers use animal handling:

Performed preliminary examinations Cleaned animal enclosure and examination rooms Assisted in animal handling Preparation of rooms and instruments necessary for animal surgery
Cleaned Cages* Daily care for animals* Customer Education* Taking customer around to see adoptable animals* Animal Handling* General cleaning

2. Goats

Here's how animal handlers use goats:

Collected Plasma from draft horses, goats and llama's.
Served as midwife for birthing dogs, cats and goats.

3. Animal Species

Here's how animal handlers use animal species:

Distinguish between caging varieties and associated components relating to different animal species.
Provided technical assistance and anesthetic monitoring for a variety of animal species.

4. Exotic Animals

Here's how animal handlers use exotic animals:

Provided care for multiple exotic animals in a public setting Educated public about zoo animals with Handler Talk Time
Care for baby exotic animals such as tiger & lion cubs, lemurs, kangaroos & wallabys.

5. Zoo Animals

Zoo animals refer to various animals often seen in a zoological park or garden. Zoos present a collection of animals such as snakes, birds, and mammals in various shapes, sizes, and forms.

Here's how animal handlers use zoo animals:

Bottle feeding and caring for 6 bear cubs, petting zoo animals, and larger bears.
Fed a variety of zoo animals and cleaned exhibits Opened and closed zoo according to shift schedule

6. Animal Welfare

Here's how animal handlers use animal welfare:

Performed a wide array of animal care tasks while ensuring superior customer service and animal welfare.
Managed the department's quality assurance program including executing testing related to animal welfare.

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7. Pigs

Here's how animal handlers use pigs:

Handle,dogs pigs, donkey, and horses.
Trained in oral dosing and restraining dogs and cats, IP and SQ injections for mice and guinea pigs.

8. Snakes

Here's how animal handlers use snakes:

Care for over 50 reptiles including some venomous snakes.
Have experience with many animals such as cats, dogs, birds, and snakes.

9. Educational Programs

An educational program is a program primarily concerned with the provision of education, including but not limited to early childhood education, primary and secondary education, post-secondary education, special education, vocational training, career and technical education, education for adults, and any program managed by an educational agency or institution.

Here's how animal handlers use educational programs:

Assist in conducting educational programs for schools, scouts, libraries, birthday parties, and more.
Write, and edit dialogue, scripts both bird, reptile, and Eco-Safari educational programs.

10. Animal Enclosures

Here's how animal handlers use animal enclosures:

Assisted in the design and construction of new animal enclosures and exhibits.
Ensured appropriate daily enrichment and maintenance of a variety of animal enclosures.

11. General Maintenance

General maintenance is the regular check-up and repairs of machinery, buildings, and other mechanical equipment. General maintenance is performed by repair workers who are skilled to handle the day-to-day defects produced in the machinery. General maintenance aims to make sure the items remain in the best operational conditions. Usually, a set of planned activities are performed regularly by an expert to monitor the maintenance.

Here's how animal handlers use general maintenance:

Provide general maintenance of grounds in and around exhibits and associated facilities;.
General maintenance, keeping boarding facility and hospital clean and in order.

12. General Care

Here's how animal handlers use general care:

Oversee general care and safe keeping of animals.
Assisted with hygienic responsibilities in regards to prepping the animals and taking general care.

13. Medical Care

Here's how animal handlers use medical care:

Maintained sanitary and organized conditions for medical care and animal comfort.
Provided non-crucial medical care for animals.

14. Food Preparation

Here's how animal handlers use food preparation:

Assisted in cleaning and maintenance of cages*Assisted in food preparation, and capture and transport of animals
Assist with the care and food preparation for marine mammals, fish, birds and reptiles.

15. Educational Presentations

Here's how animal handlers use educational presentations:

Spearheaded the development of scripts for educational presentations.
Delivered educational presentations about California native wildlife and conservation to children.

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List of animal handler skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an animal handler resume and required skills for an animal handler to have include:

Animal Handling
Goats
Animal Species
Exotic Animals
Zoo Animals
Animal Welfare

Pigs
Snakes
Educational Programs
Animal Enclosures
General Maintenance
General Care

Medical Care
Food Preparation
Educational Presentations
Shelter Animals

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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