Start Your Career With Us

Fossil Rim invests in the future by providing formalized training to foster talented young people into the professions of wildlife conservation and education, veterinary medicine, and the care and husbandry of wildlife. Many of dedicated, intelligent and hardworking Fossil Rim interns go on to work in the zoo, wildlife and conservation fields. Providing quality hands-on conservation training is one of the efforts of which Fossil Rim is most proud.

"An internship at Fossil Rim is a sure-fire way to jumpstart your career in the conservation field. Whether you are interested in the animal care aspect or the education side of wildlife biology Fossil Rim offers internships that give you hands-on experience like no other. If you are looking for an internship where you follow around a supervisor all day and get coffee, you are in the wrong place. Fossil Rim interns are trained by full-time staff to be able to carry out daily tasks on their own." "The internships offered in animal care will allow you to gain experience in feeding, monitoring, collecting data and much, much more. The internships in the education department will allow you to hone your public speaking skills while leading tours, camps and other programs for the public of all ages." Melissa Frank Past intern at Fossil Rim

Frequently Asked Questions

Conservation Education Internship

Two or more years of undergraduate college work required in wildlife management, conservation biology, education or a related discipline. College graduate preferred. You must also have a valid driver’s license.

Conservation Education Internships

Internships last between 3 and 6 months; throughout Spring, Summer and Fall. Stipend and on-site housing are provided.

If you want to have up-close animal interactions while educating the public then the Conservation Education Internship is for you! At Fossil Rim Wildlife Center you’ll promote environmental education and wildlife conservation through a diversity of compelling learning experiences, including fun interactive programs, hikes and games.

The Conservation Education Interns work with camps, schools, families and other audiences to present a variety of educational programs. You will be trained in giving guided tours which explore our 9.5 mile Scenic Wildlife Drive, providing you, as well as our guests, with personal encounters with many of our endangered animals.

Interns also help care for the program animals: snakes, tarantulas, hissing cockroaches and a hedgehog, with more to be added. The wide variety of teaching opportunities and educational training provides the Conservation Education Intern with an exciting array of new skills and experiences that will benefit the intern in the future.

To apply for our 2013 Conservation Education Internships, please send a cover letter, resume and list of three references to:

Please contact:
Camp Coordinator
Education Department
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
2155 County Road 2008
Glen Rose, TX 76043
Fax: (254) 897-3785
E-mail

---

Animal Care Internships

At least two years of undergraduate college work in wildlife management, conservation biology, or a related scientific discipline. You must also have a valid driver’s license.

Animal Care Internships
Spring: January – May
Summer: May – August
Fall: September – December
Housing and stipend are available

The Whitfield Collins Carnivore Intern

The Whitfield Collins Carnivore Intern is given the day to day responsibility of several groups of animals. These include, but are not limited to: Mexican wolves, red wolves, maned wolves and coatimundi. Intern will be required to assist with hand raising of neonates when necessary.

Duties will include:

Preparation and feeding of diets; purchase and/or ordering of diets and supplies; clean up, maintenance, and stocking of food preparation room; monthly diet inventory report; general cleaning and maintenance of animal enclosures and grounds; general monitoring of animal health and well being; specific veterinary procedures (monthly worming, fecal sample collection, administration of medications, etc.); behavioral observations as needed; participation in enrichment projects; daily record keeping; completion of expenditure forms; and completion of independent project.

Children’s Animal Center Internship

If you want an internship that gives you experience with a wide array of animals then the Children’s Animal Center internship is for you! When you think of a Children’s Animal Center images of goats arise, and we do have goats…Nubian and Pygmy, but that’s not all! We have birds such as our Blue and Gold Macaws, Eclectus Parrot, an Emu named Einstein, Bare-eyed and Moluccan Cockatoos. Or maybe reptiles are more your fancy? We have African Spurred and Texas Tortoises. And at times there will be wolves to care for, too.

Some of your responsibilities include, but are not limited to: the daily cleaning and upkeep of the Children’s Animal Center, diet preparation, interacting with the public, and helping vet staff with the Children’s Animal Center animals. You’ll also get to participate in enrichment and training with the various animals and help out Fossil Rim by putting together an independent project to be completed by the end of your internship. The Children’s Animal Center is located exactly half way through the park drive at the Overlook which means you get to drive past Zebra, Giraffe, Ostrich and much more everyday on your way to work in your personal work vehicle! Children’s Animal Center internships are offered in the Spring, Summer and Fall of each year.

The Black Rhino Keeper Internship

The Black Rhino Keeper Intern is given the day to day responsibility of the Black Rhino herd.

Duties will include:

Preparation and feeding of diets; cleaning and maintenance of the Black Rhino barn, yards and mechanical room; stocking of feed, hay, alfalfa and produce; monthly inventory reports, daily reports for feed consumption, health notes and training schedules; general monitoring of animals’ health and welfare; specific veterinary procedures (quarterly worming, fecal sample collection, assist with blood collection, ultrasound procedure, semen collection and administration of medications); behavioral observations as needed; participation in enrichment projects; and completion of independent project during internship.

Avian Internship

The Avian Internship is focused around the breeding season of the highly endangered Attwater’s Prairie Chicken. This breeding program is paramount in the reintroduction and recovery of this grouse species. In addition to the daily feeding routines, interns take part in cleaning equipment and enclosures, making visual observations, recording embryonic and chick development, and coordinating daily assessments and treatments with the veterinary staff. Healthy chicks are then slotted for future breeding seasons or for the annual U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service release program.

Resumes are accepted year-round for this position but interviewing is conducted between October and January. Applicants must be available from early March through July – August. Candidates should have an interest in and dedication to wildlife preservation. Strong communication and organization skills are necessary as well as attention to fine details. Being able to work independently but in a team atmosphere is also required. Similar to the other internships at Fossil Rim, on-site housing and transportation are provided.

Please contact:
Intern Coordinator
Animal Care Department
2155 County Road 2008
Glen Rose, TX 76043
Fax: (254) 897-3785
E-mail

---

Animal Health Veterinary Preceptorship

Veterinary preceptorships are available to senior level veterinary students for a 6 to 8 week period. Our preceptorship program emphasizes field immobilization techniques, preventive medicine, conservation-oriented research and an international perspective.

A letter of interest detailing your background and career goals, your curriculum vitae, the names of two people (with their phone numbers and email) we can contact as professional references and a prioritized list of three 6 to 8 week blocks of time which would be feasible for you.

Housing and stipend are available

Please contact:
Director of Animal Health
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
2155 County Road 2008
Glen Rose, TX 76043
E-mail

---

Tourism Internship

Applicants must have at least two years of undergraduate experience studying tourism or a related field. You must also have a valid driver’s license.

Tourism Internships Dates:
Spring/Summer: March 1 – August 31
Fall: September 1 – December 31

Housing and stipend are available

The Tourism Intern is given responsibilities in a wide variety of areas related to tourism. These include the tours, admissions, store, café, and lodging departments. The duties of the tourism intern include, but are not limited to; provide guided tours, educate and ensure the safety of guests throughout the park; provide interpretation about various endangered species and conservation; assist with guest lodging and meals; help with guests and employees at the various departments as needed; and complete an independent project relating to tourism.

Please contact:
Director of Tourism
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center
1789 County Road 2009
Glen Rose, TX 76043
E-mail