How To Apply

Application

A student intern MUST be receiving academic credit from, or fulfilling an academic requirement for an accredited educational institution. In most instances, student interns are upper division majors or minors in the areas of biological science, horticulture, pre-veterinary medicine, education, conservation biology or related disciplines.

Internships are unpaid and are 10 to 14 weeks in length and 30 to 40 hours per week.

Applications MUST Include:

• Completed application form
• Cover Letter including a paragraph explaining why you are interested in an internship at the Minnesota Zoo;
• Resume;
• Official Transcripts; and,
• Letter of recommendation from an advisor or supervisor

Please note: Incomplete application packets will not be considered.

Application Deadlines:

All application materials must be received by the following deadlines unless otherwise noted in the internship descriptions.

Internship Period	Application Deadline
Spring Internship: (February - May)	DUE December 1st
Summer Internship: (May - September)	DUE March 15th
Fall Internship: (September - November)	DUE August 1st
Winter Internship: (November - January)	DUE October 1st

 

Behavior Management Internship

This internship includes work with the Minnesota Zoo’s behavior management program and the Close Encounters animal team.

The Minnesota Zoo strives to maintain the highest standards of animal welfare/well-being, such that the biological, behavioral, and social needs of the individual animal are met. This is achieved, in part, through behavior management (animal enrichment and training). Behavior management aims to draw out animals’ natural behaviors and abilities with stimulating environments that provide the animals with behavioral choices and encourage them to explore and interact with their surroundings.

Year-round Internship Opportunities:

This internship involves approximately 30-40 hours/week for 10-14 weeks. The work schedule is flexible.

Responsibilities for the Behavior Management/Close Encounters Internship include conducting behavioral observations, recording and entering behavioral/enrichment data, working on enrichment initiatives as well as assisting with the daily care of the Close Encounters program animals.

Duties to include:

• Learn about enrichment and husbandry training in zoos & aquariums
• Research the natural history of the Zoo’s animals for behavior management goal planning
• Learn and practice methods of observation
• Conduct daily behavioral observations
• Develop and evaluate a new enrichment initiative and/or behavior study as an independent study project
• Clean animal enclosures
• Prepare and feed animal diets
• Handle and interpret animals in the Close Encounters collection (armadillo, tamandua, African crested porcupine, screech owl, kestrel, African grey parrot, and various reptiles and bugs). 
• Provide interpretation to Zoo guests about the animals and behavior management

For more information, please contact:
Internship Coordinator, Human Resources
13000 Zoo Boulevard, Apple Valley, MN 55124
E-mail: Human.resources.mnzoo@state.mn.us
Fax: 952.431.9211
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