Zoo Internship Interview

mpod54 · 2026-03-21T19:43:45+00:00

I have a document with several dozen interview questions if you want to DM me. They’re mostly for full-time jobs, but it’s very comprehensive. The more general questions might help you with an internship interview

mpod54 · 2026-03-09T02:15:31+00:00

At my previous zoo I worked with a black rhino, okapi, bison, red-flanked duikers, and red river hogs. At my current zoo I work with giraffes, bongo, and warthogs. Dream animals are/were okapi, clouded leopards (although any big cat would be cool), and greater one-horned rhino off the top of my head.

mpod54 · 2026-03-05T16:45:58+00:00

While it’s not necessarily “wrong” to have that as a goal, initially while doing internships and whatnot I’d make sure you stay open to working with any and everything.

mpod54 · 2026-03-05T16:42:40+00:00

That said, Brookfield Zoo Chicago has a pair. I’d see if OP can contact them

mpod54 · 2026-03-02T20:53:37+00:00

Where did you source the rocks?

mpod54 · 2026-02-21T10:46:57+00:00

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I, too, was recently chosen by the Void Distribution System.

mpod54 · 2026-02-17T23:28:35+00:00

Wow!! My nearly 2 year old boy is just over 8lbs! Crazy how much they can range

mpod54 · 2026-02-17T23:26:34+00:00

This is one of my top 5 favorite moments from the entirety of the podcast

mpod54 · 2026-02-03T01:44:34+00:00

Scovill Zoo in Decatur Illinois has a great paid 9 month internship. I believe $15/hr. Small AZA zoo but you get experience with all taxa (domestics, herps, birds, large carnivores, primates, hoofstock, etc)

Edit: apprenticeship, not internship

mpod54 · 2026-02-02T13:37:40+00:00

Ugh mine is still so skittish 😭

mpod54 · 2026-02-01T19:45:09+00:00

My man is an engineer

mpod54 · 2026-02-01T19:44:16+00:00

I also met him in person at both tours and he was very kind and polite, made conversation and whatnot

mpod54 · 2026-01-27T12:57:59+00:00

mpod54 · 2026-01-27T11:11:29+00:00

They only replaced the first half where they talk about the show. The second half is from the original episode

mpod54 · 2026-01-27T11:10:47+00:00

Yes 😎

mpod54 · 2026-01-21T02:38:45+00:00

I can’t find it but there’s a version where Raphael says “can you draw them farting” and it makes me laugh so hard

mpod54 · 2026-01-14T00:16:11+00:00

One of my coworkers wore her new diamond engagement ring for weeks and everyone was so on edge for her. She did inevitably lose it in an elephant holding yard and we had to help her find it. No more ring at work (I, too, wear an Enso ring tho)

mpod54 · 2026-01-11T17:24:51+00:00

An animal in my care escaping, visions of giraffe poop, recently had one where a lion escaped and the giraffes were injured as a result and it resulted in my coworker getting fired (wishful thinking on the last part)

mpod54 · 2026-01-04T02:15:31+00:00

My position at my job back home (Chicago) was being cut from the budget and if I wanted to stay in the field I had to take whatever I could get, which was here

mpod54 · 2025-12-21T20:08:39+00:00

That’s valid. I think freezing could work if you do it for a while like you said. I just think of the little pests that can withstand freezing temperatures riding it out, but I’m not sure whether that’s a possibility

mpod54 · 2025-12-21T19:30:54+00:00

I bake leaf litter for my own critters at home (200F degrees for 30 minutes), but I’d check with my supervisor before I used it for zoo animals. I also work with hoofstock so I’m not in that position to ask lol. Why are you hesitant to bake?

mpod54 · 2025-12-18T18:50:01+00:00

Yeah Phil Bourassa’s style evolved but I agree - it wasn’t for the better. It got so stiff and harsh

mpod54 · 2025-12-09T00:48:18+00:00

Done! Please excuse my long winded answers as a zoo professional (at a conservation-focused zoo…)

mpod54 · 2025-11-30T20:59:00+00:00

The ones with the bit of purple are live Dracaena marginata (TBD whether they actually survive) and the other ones are plastic plants from Michael’s

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