A Day in the Life of a Dickerson Park Zoo Keeper
Dickerson Park Zoo's keepers are not assigned to specific animals. Instead, the keepers are assigned to the geographic areas that make up the zoo.
A typical "day in the life" of a zookeeper:
7:30 a.m.: Zookeepers begin their work days by checking on all animals under their care. Once it is established that all animals are fine, the usual husbandry begins. Animals are fed, exhibits and holding areas are cleaned and check-ups are made if needed. An animal's zoo diet is very carefully monitored to ensure it receives proper nutrition. Operant conditioning exercises may be practiced as well.
Operant conditioning gives the animals a choice to cooperate with zookeepers and veterinarians for examinations or blood draws. Using positive reinforcement, which is most often food-motivated, animals will receive benefits if they cooperate. This reduces stress levels on the animals, zookeepers and veterinarians, and costs for the zoo. Conditioning is practiced even if check-ups are not in the immediate future. By continuing conditioning practices, animals do not lose the good behaviors they have acquired.
9:45 or 10:00 a.m.: All zookeepers meet for morning meeting in the zookeeper building with General Curator John Collette to report the happenings of the zoo. These include supplies that need to be ordered, animals with notable changes in behavior or eating habits, indications of illness, etc.
After the meeting, zookeepers continue the feeding and cleaning routines and then break for lunch.
12:00 p.m. - 2 or 3 p.m.: Zookeepers work on repairs that need to be made, such as fences and habitat structures and continue with overall maintenance and operant conditioning.
4:30 p.m.: Zookeepers make sure that everything is stocked, secured and readied for the night. This is usually the end of a keepers' day.
Senior Keeper Ken Harmon comments that his favorite part of the day is the feeding, cleaning and the interaction with the animals that taking care of them brings.
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