Facility: Worldwide Animals

Job Title: Animal Keeper/Ranch Manager

Location: Santa Clarita, CA

Pay: Minimum Wage

Description: Responsible for the care and management of a film industry animal training facility. Duties include: feeding and cleaning of animals including dogs, hoofstock, birds, reptiles and insects, providing enrichment to animals, and maintaining ranch supplies and stock. Schedule is flexible but seeking someone that wants at least 4 days a week.

Hours are 8am-5pm with a 2 hour midday break. Opportunity to learn film animal training is possible but not required.

Keeper/Trainer Position – Lion Habitat Ranch (Las Vegas, NV)  5-14

Are you a self‑starter who brings ideas to the table? Do you thrive in a workplace where teamwork, humor, and resilience help you navigate even the toughest days? If so, you may be an excellent fit for the Lion Habitat Ranch.

We are a non‑profit zoological facility accredited by the Zoological Association of America in Las Vegas, NV, dedicated to expanding educational programming, strengthening enrichment opportunities, and deepening our connection with the community. Over the past year, we’ve grown our training and enrichment initiatives, increased keeper led themed events, and received Haas Foundation grants to support student engagement within the Clark County School District. With new events and potential expansion on the horizon, it’s an exciting time to join our team.

Position Overview

The Keeper/Trainer position is a full‑time, hourly role (five eight‑hour shifts per week). This role is hands‑on, physically demanding, and essential to the daily operation of the ranch. Responsibilities include:

Animal Care & Training

• Daily husbandry: feeding, weighing, diet preparation, cleaning, and exhibit maintenance
• Training and enrichment for lions, psittacines, ratites, tortoises, and our beloved guard dog, Diesel
• Monitoring animal behavior and welfare, reporting concerns promptly

Guest Engagement & Tours

• Interacting with visitors and answering questions
• Leading or assisting with tours, educational presentations, and guest experiences
• Sharing stories about our animals and promoting conservation awareness

Maintenance & Facility Operations

• Assisting with general ranch maintenance, including cleaning, repairs, and upkeep of animal areas and public spaces
• Supporting horticulture tasks such as watering, trimming, raking, and maintaining plant life throughout the property
• Helping ensure the ranch remains clean, safe, and presentable for guests and animals alike

A typical day begins with essential feeding, cleaning, and facility upkeep, followed by guest interaction, tours, and ongoing operational tasks that support the ranch as a whole.

Qualifications Education & Experience

• High School Diploma or GED required
• Bachelor’s degree preferred
• Prior experience in a zoological setting and familiarity with operant conditioning are strong advantages

Physical Requirements

• Ability to bend, reach, climb, lift, push, pull, and carry at least 50 lbs
• Comfortable working outdoors in a desert environment with extreme heat, cold, dust, and wind
• Able to stand for long periods and perform physically demanding tasks throughout the day

Interpersonal Skills

• Outgoing, creative, confident, and self‑motivated
• Able to work independently and as part of a team in a fast‑paced environment
• Strong public speaking and guest‑engagement abilities

Vaccination Requirement

• Must be fully vaccinated for COVID‑19 and have received at least one booster shot

Compensation & Benefits

• $17/hour
• Health benefits available after 60 days
• Eligibility for retirement savings at 6 months
• Eight free general admission passes per year
• Additional supplemental benefits currently in development

How to Apply

Please email your cover letter, resume, and three professional references to LHrvolunteers@gmail.com.
This position will remain open until filled.

Join our team and help support every aspect of the Lion Habitat Ranch from animal care to guest education to the behind‑the‑scenes work that keeps our mission thriving.

Denise Souffrant CPAT-KA Ranch Manager | Lion Habitat Ranch www.lionhabitatranch.org | lhrvolunteers@gmail.com  501 (c) 3 Corp | ZAA Accredited | #47-1257138 Mailing/Donation Address: 12175 Bermuda Rd. Henderson, NV 89044

On-site Animal Caretaker Conservation Ambassadors' Wild Things Colfax, CA

Salary: $17.50 per hour

Description: Founded in 1988, Conservation Ambassadors' Wild Things is a well-established, non-profit wildlife center located in a beautiful forested rural area in Placer County, Northern California. Our mission is to provide lifelong housing and care for rescued animals, both exotic and native species, and educate the public doing outreach with our animal ambassadors, inspiring communities to respect and conserve wildlife. We are not open to the public. We are seeking an Animal Caretaker to join our team on a permanent, part-time basis, living on-site. This is five days per week, approximately five hours each day, plus one hour three evenings per week. If you would love the opportunity to work closely with a diverse range of animal species (we have approx. 85 animals here), enjoy working outdoors and living in a remote setting, and strongly believe in our mission, we'd love to hear from you. Responsibilities:

• Preparing diets according to protocols; feeding and watering animals.
• Cleaning and maintaining in and around animal enclosures (including raking, scrubbing, shoveling, waste removal, etc.)
• Cleaning and sanitizing food prep area.
• Reporting feed/supply inventory to be ordered as needed.
• Conceptualizing and implementing environmental enrichment with approval.
• Observing animals’ behaviors and wellness, and recognizing, identifying, and reporting any issues.
• Opening and closing rounds to check life, liquid, locks, and look around.
• Routine maintenance and special projects on facility.
• Potential for some participation in educational outreach opportunities.
• Complying with all safety protocols.
• Maintaining animal records.
• Performing other duties as assigned.

Qualifications: Exotic/native animal experience preferred, but will consider domestic as well. Must be someone who knows that animal care is hard (but rewarding) work.

• College degree preferred but not required.
• Valid driver’s license and insurance. Must have reliable transportation.
• Strong sense of reliability and dependability. Regular attendance necessary.
• Possess honesty and trustworthiness.
• Thoughtfulness in your approach to duties (i.e. not careless).
• Strong attention to detail and willingness to act on observations.
• Excellent observation skills.
• Critical thinking and common sense.
• Resourceful and ability to research applicable topics as needed.
• Ability to follow instructions precisely and learn quickly.
• Excellent animal sense (be in tune with animals in your care, intuition about animals’ behavior and health, calm demeanor, compassionate, ability to adapt to specific species’ needs without causing stress or harm).
• Safety conscious and ability to recognize, report, and resolve safety hazards.
• Not afraid to get your hands dirty, be efficient in tasks.
• Must have ability to lift 30 lbs and help with heavier items, bend, twist, walk up hills, push heavy wheelbarrows, etc.
• Be able to work outdoors year-round in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to work well independently and with others, maintaining a mature, friendly demeanor and positive attitude.
• Possess a good sense of humor (we like to joke around!).
• Must be interested in a long-term position.
• Must provide references.

How to Apply: Please send your resume and cover letter detailing why you would be the perfect fit for this role to programs@wildthingsoutreach.org. Application Deadline: Immediately

Saving Wildlife international is seeking an intern who is eager to learn, responsible, and has a positive attitude for our Summer 2026 Internship!

• Diet preparation and record keeping.
• Maintaining cleanliness of all assigned animal areas.
• Interacting with and helping with educational program clients.
• Maintaining cleanliness and organization of offices and barn area.
• Learning show scripts and performing show parts as assigned.
• Assisting with animal care, feeding, and training sessions as assigned.
• Office related duties.
• Other duties as requested.

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Must be willing to get dirty, pick up feces, and understand the demands of working with wildlife.
• Must be able to adapt to a fast changing environment.
• Must have a high school diploma or equivalent.
• Valid Driver’s License.
• Be able to commit to a 4 month time period.
• Must be willing to speak to an audience.
• Must be articulate and able to clearly speak, read, and write in English.
• Must be willing to listen and follow both written and verbal instructions.
• Animal experience preferred.
• Must be willing and able to work up to 40 hours a week, both indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions, and withstand heat of over 100 degrees F.
• Must be available to work weekends, evenings, and holidays.
• Must be respectful/professional of all staff and volunteers.
• Must be Willing to listen to feedback.
• Must work well both independently and with the team.
• Must be willing to learn and engage in learning during internship.
• Be able to lift 50lbs, kneel, bend and stand for an entire shift.