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Animal keeper skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted expert

Dr. Chase Runyan

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical animal keeper skills. We ranked the top skills for animal keepers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 17.1% of animal keeper resumes contained animal husbandry as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an animal keeper needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 animal keeper skills for your resume and career

1. Animal Husbandry

Here's how animal keepers use animal husbandry:

Balanced exhibit maintenance, animal husbandry, basic medical procedures, and visitor interpretation.
Perform basic animal husbandry, including medication administration if needed.

2. 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 keepers 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

3. Animal Exhibits

Here's how animal keepers use animal exhibits:

Assisted with design of animal exhibits to improve guest visibility and welfare of animals on exhibit.
Assisted in management and maintenance of animal exhibits and holding areas.

4. Exotic Animals

Here's how animal keepers use exotic animals:

Maintained and cleaned animal habitats; prepared diets, schedules, and enrichment for the exotic animals.
Worked with a wide variety of domestic and exotic animals

5. Animal Handling

Here's how animal keepers use animal handling:

Designed a volunteer animal handling program and handbook.
Implemented the above program by training all of animal staff, 15 animal handling volunteers, and three animal care volunteers.

6. AZA

Here's how animal keepers use aza:

Followed all USDA, FWC & AZA regulations precisely and adhered to extremely high standards of safety, cleanliness and professionalism.
Learned AZA regulations in depth through the re-accreditation of the zoo at time of internship, educated on breeding protocols.

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7. Administer Medications

Here's how animal keepers use administer medications:

Care for captive animals, clean enclosures, prepare diets, administer medications.
Feed, clean, administer medications as needed.

8. Medical Procedures

Here's how animal keepers use medical procedures:

Performed basic medical procedures such as giving shots and cleaning wounds.
Assisted veterinarian with medical procedures on all species.

9. Food Preparation

Here's how animal keepers use food preparation:

Sustained daily food preparation and socialization of sloths.
Assisted in cleaning and maintenance of cages*Assisted in food preparation, and capture and transport of animals

10. Animal Health

Here's how animal keepers use animal health:

Followed daily, weekly, and monthly reporting protocols for maintenance activities and animal health information.
Maintained daily records of animal health and diet, supervised and trained volunteers in animal care.

11. Natural History

Here's how animal keepers use natural history:

Leveraged natural history research and medical reports to develop tools and strategies to enrich animal lives and create beneficial human interaction.
Facilitated a smooth transition and relocation for the Animal Resources department during long-term shutdown of Natural History Museum for renovations

12. Animal Diets

Here's how animal keepers use animal diets:

Prepared animal diets and developed a strong knowledge and understanding of exotic animal nutrition.
Managed specific animal diets in consultation with a veterinarian.

13. Animal Training

Here's how animal keepers use animal training:

Clean exhibits Assisting in animal training Restraining animals Assisted in animal presentations
Presented department talks on basics of animal training and primate reproductive behavior * Completed Superbowl Hospitality Training

14. Animal Enclosures

Here's how animal keepers use animal enclosures:

Ensured appropriate daily enrichment and maintenance of a variety of animal enclosures.
Cleaned, maintained, and improved indoor and outdoor animal enclosures, service areas, public spaces and surroundings.

15. 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 keepers use educational programs:

Provided tours and presented educational programs, shows, and lectures.
Prepared meals and fed animals Cleaned dishes and animal cages Handled raptors Led tours for educational programs

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What skills help Animal Keepers find jobs?

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What soft skills should all animal keepers possess?

Dr. Chase Runyan

Associate Professor, Department Chair, Director of MIR/Research Scientist, Angelo State University

Adaptability will have a premium in the near future as new professionals enter the work force. Accountability in the agriculture sectors is also a highly valued asset.

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List of animal keeper skills to add to your resume

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

Animal Husbandry
Zoo Animals
Animal Exhibits
Exotic Animals
Animal Handling
AZA
Administer Medications
Medical Procedures
Food Preparation
Animal Health
Natural History
Animal Diets
Animal Training

Animal Enclosures
Educational Programs
Exhibit Maintenance
Veterinary Procedures
USDA
Farm Animals
Animal Species
Medical Care
Water Quality
General Maintenance
Snakes
Routine Maintenance
Training Sessions

Zoo Guests
Elephants
Public Education
Mowing
Animal Habitats
Health Issues
Pigs
Fresh Water
Educational Presentations
Individual Animals
Emergency Situations
Exhibit Design
General Care

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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