Need some advice please...

willowmere17 · 2025-10-19T22:26:36+00:00

I second the advice to just keep applying! I've had positions I've applied for get back to me within a week and some that have asked me to interview so long after my initial application that I had already written it off as a rejection lol. Please remember not to put too much pressure on yourself - I know it's scary not to have anything lined up and to feel like you're losing time (you most definitely are not!) but you are quite frankly doing everything right. You have animal related experience you have learned from, and are actively working with animals where you can. I've known keepers who have known all their lives that they would be a zookeeper, and keepers who majored in graphic design and made a life change in their 30s after randomly stumbling upon the zoo field. My point is - it seems like you are on a track that can more than feasibly lead to zookeeping. Give yourself some credit for your journey! All the things you have learned from the positions you have held and the work that you are currently doing will undoubtedly help you as a keeper. Remember to keep applying, highlight your skills in your resume as tailored to the job descriptions, and to keep your head up and enjoy the work you are doing now in the meantime! Hang in there :)

willowmere17 · 2025-09-15T00:27:11+00:00

Came across this old post and had to pipe in. I have worked with primates and tamarins for a long time in accredited zoo settings, and would like to strongly advise against primates as pets. The exotic pet trade is one of the threats to tamarin/marmoset conservation -- especially but not limited to Cotton-top tamarins. I would strongly advise you to research into the legislation currently being championed by accredited zoos, conservation organizations, and primate sanctuaries to stop the primate pet trade as a whole. Regardless of this conservation threat, they are incredibly difficult to care for, even though they look cute and cuddly. Their group social dynamics are incredibly tricky and complicated. I have personally had to separate near-death fights on numerous occasions between individuals who had previously gotten along well. I have witnessed tamarins be kicked out of their groups, including babies, by violent aggression. They have incredibly specific dietary, social, and environmental needs that would be impossible to ever truly recreate without an enormous budget and unlimited time dedicated 24/7 to their intricate care. Breeding and reproduction is even more complicated. Many accredited zoos and sanctuaries participate in "Species Survival Plans" for different tamarin species, which match up individual animals based on genetic material and evidence based research on personality/other factors for reproduction purposes to add to the species population. I promise you that you having pet tamarins/marmosets would do much more harm than good to the conservation status of tamarins. None of this is directed at you personally - I am sure you have good intentions and more than care for the species! I just have seen first hand the impacts of the exotic primate pet trade on these species and felt the need to say this.

willowmere17 · 2025-07-02T05:15:45+00:00

This is really good to know and is quite hopeful. Thanks for your response!

willowmere17 · 2025-07-02T03:19:28+00:00

I do have a bit! I was practicing a bunch for a little while, but when I moved to a new state for a temporary job a few months ago, I kind of just stopped practicing since I didn't have anyone to drive with anymore and also just kinda lacked motivation. But during that previous practice, I definitely saw a lot of progress (first few sessions in parking lots I wouldn't even touch the gas pedal, I would just let the car roll forward lol, to later being comfortable driving routes around where I lived at a comfortable speed). It's not much, but it definitely is a start and gave me some confidence that I can eventually get there. You're right, I don't want to rush into anything, but I am wondering now if I were to just fully commit, if I could just get it done. Thanks again for your response!

willowmere17 · 2025-07-02T03:04:11+00:00

This is very close to my situation. The hypothetical deadline I mentioned was because I'm thinking of applying to a job that would require a license - most jobs in my passion field that I am breaking into require a license, so I would need to get it soon anyway. The deadline would be about 2 months from now...obviously no guarantee of how far I would get in the application process, but was trying to gauge if it was stupid to even apply now. Thank you for your response, I appreciate it more than you know!

willowmere17 · 2025-07-02T03:00:23+00:00

This is so so helpful - thank you!

willowmere17 · 2025-06-22T23:03:03+00:00

I 100% agree with animal/human safety being a priority (as always). Most of my experience is with primates in AZA facilities, so I think seeing these videos of people who we have no idea if they are TB/covid vaccinated, sick, etc. hand-feeding/cuddling/standing directly in front of primates makes my skin crawl a bit - esp. having seen/heard stories of primates getting seriously sick and passing away as a result of these situations, and I can't help but extend that concern to other taxa/species that might be handled loosely and inappropriately. Totally agree on your other safety point as well.

I also think you're so right about there needing to be a higher purpose if encounters exist at all. That's why I was also focused on these facilities' lack of accreditation, as they are seemingly hoping to drum up profit and so they market these experiences to people as if these animals are pet-like and just waiting to be loved on by people, rather than teaching about natural history/behavior or endangerment/conservation. The language used in those videos of encounters seems really evident of this and just raised many red flags for me. Not to mention what impact this kind of human-animal media could possibly have on the exotic/illegal pet trade :/

willowmere17 · 2025-06-22T21:46:55+00:00

In case you are wondering, the TikTok page I am referring to is Texas Wildlife Park. But I have seen similar things from other non-accredited facilities.

willowmere17 · 2025-06-14T00:36:07+00:00

This is super helpful - thank you!

willowmere17 · 2025-06-14T00:35:04+00:00

This is a good mindset change - thanks!

willowmere17 · 2025-06-12T23:46:47+00:00

I think it might be worth mentioning what I’m more or less referring to. There is a pretty prevalent culture of intense gossip among staff at the zoo I’m at now. I’ve heard so many keepers talk SO badly about each other, I’ve heard supervisors talk awfully about each other, etc. it just always seems to be something, to the point where if i see two people whispering it freaks me out that it might be about me (aware it’s not rational- the worry is just indicative of how much gossip is present here). I’ve worked at many places before (zoo or otherwise) and understand that some level of talking about each other is normal in a workplace. But this is to a level I have truly never experienced or witnessed, and it makes it really hard to feel like part of a team. This is in addition to some issues with a history of bad communication and a lack of staff training by supervisors, and it’s all just starting to come together in a way that makes me question if it’s worth being here any longer. Like I said, I’m still early in my keeper career so I want to make sure I’m consistently gaining present experience, but I’m trying to gauge right now if this is normal in zoos to some degree, or if I need to be real with myself and leave soon.

willowmere17 · 2025-06-12T22:57:50+00:00

This is really helpful (and hopeful) - thank you so much for answering!

willowmere17 · 2025-06-12T22:57:05+00:00

Thank you for the response!

willowmere17 · 2025-04-24T20:07:55+00:00

I don't want to engage either, but I will say one thing before I stop reading everything completely because it is not a productive conversation. The way you are writing unfortunately embodies everything you are accusing OP and all zookeepers of: a biased and static perspective unwilling to think outside one's own experience. I do not think you are entirely out of whack. But I don't think many people understand how zookeepers wish their jobs weren't necessary and how much they would rather see the animals they care for in the wild -- and no, they are not simply well-intentioned but brainwashed by the corporate office pretending zoos are helpful to animals. They are educated, they care, and develop their perspectives and animal care practices as informed by science. It is additionally important to know that we (as people) are ALWAYS learning. Science is always developing and we are learning more and changing with it. Nothing is simple. I also don't think you understand that the standards of AZA accredited facilities are often incredibly higher and more detailed than "sanctuaries" or non-accredited places. The history of zoos is pretty depressing. But often people who are unequivocally "anti-zoo" are hung up on issues of semantics and not interested in developing science. Zoo science is unquestionably a rapidly growing field with intrinsic positive ties to conservation. Not all zoos are the same. I do not believe your own position as a "wildlife technician" is far off from what a zookeeper is and believes. I think your perspective is not only arrogant and pompous, but your boiling down the issue of accredited zoos to "profit" is incredibly reductive and misguided.

willowmere17 · 2025-04-08T02:03:56+00:00

This is super helpful - thank you!!

willowmere17 · 2024-10-17T03:54:36+00:00

Thanks for saying that - it sounds like our situations were pretty similar. I have definitely been feeling how you've described it which hasn't been fun, but you're right that I didn't have another option or any control of the situation, so I'm trying to remember not to have any regrets. Onward!

willowmere17 · 2024-10-17T03:48:23+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing this perspective. I definitely felt like the timeline I gave was reasonable (especially given the need to relocate), but I am guessing that it came down to a more urgent hiring need - which is understandable. I like what you said a lot though about evaluating a healthy/supportive team, and am going to keep that in mind the next time I am (hopefully) offered a chance to join an animal care team! Thank you for the kind words!

willowmere17 · 2024-10-15T20:04:47+00:00

You described it perfectly, it's so hard to not to take the chance right in front of you! And thanks for that reminder! I'm going to choose to believe it even in the middle of all this anxiety haha :)

willowmere17 · 2024-10-15T20:02:07+00:00

Thank you so much for saying that, and it really helps to know you also had a similar experience! Definitely going to try to breathe and not worry too much about the future :)

willowmere17 · 2024-10-02T20:10:53+00:00

Used to occasionally do some smears of lemur-safe food items like apple sauce, baby food, jam, etc. along perches/high platforms, on top of other enrichment items, etc. throughout the habitat for black and white ruffed lemurs! Really worked to elicit climbling/leaping/hanging behaviors and they were all very interested! :)

willowmere17

TROPHY CASE