Job description for Volunteers, Independent Study Interns, and Post-graduate Interns (6 months)

Volunteers

The Lubee Bat Conservancy requests that volunteers work 16 hours per month at the facility. Dates of volunteering are coordinated with the curator.
Rabies vaccinations are not required, and work tasks are selected to minimize the risk of exposure to direct animal contact. Volunteers without a rabies titer are not allowed to handle or touch the bats at the facility. Volunteers that have been vaccinated and have a current rabies titer have more options for training and working with the collection.
Volunteers fill the role of assistant keepers, and will work under the direct supervision of the team leader or senior keeper.
Volunteers can help keepers with the following tasks:
- Preparing and offering enrichment to the animal collection.
- Preparing the diet for the collection.
- Feeding the bat collection.
- Working in the browse garden.
- Assisting with record keeping activities.
- Assisting in regular building and grounds maintenance.
- Assisting the staff with education projects.

Independent Study Interns

Independent Study Interns work appropriate 80 hours at the facility, and this program is in conjunction with the Santa Fe Teaching Zoo.
Rabies vaccinations are not required, and work tasks are selected to minimize the risk of exposure to direct animal contact. Interns without a rabies titer are not allowed to handle or touch the bats at the facility. Interns that have been vaccinated and have a current rabies titer have more options for training and working with the collection.
Interns are trained in the following areas:
- Basic bat biology – PowerPoint introduction to bats and fruit bats species held in North America.
- Basic animal husbandry - Cleaning animal enclosures with appropriate protection equipment.
- Methods for inspecting bats from a distance for health related issues.
- Diet preparation for the collection and fruit bat nutrition.
- Enrichment options for fruit bats and enrichment preparation.
- The importance of record keeping and daily record keeping activities.
- Introduction to data entry into MedARKS and ARKS.
- Care and maintenance of the browse garden.
Interns will assist keepers in the following activities:
- Assist in a vet rounds procedure to view health check physicals.
- Assist in regular building and grounds maintenance.

Post-graduate Interns (6 months)

Post-graduate Interns work appropriate 6 months at the facility
Rabies vaccinations will be covered by the Lubee Bat Conservancy since this position is hands on, and will require animal contact.
Post-graduate interns are trained in the following areas:
- Basic bat biology – PowerPoint introduction to bats and fruit bats species held in North America.
- Basic animal husbandry - Cleaning animal enclosures with appropriate protection equipment.
- Methods for inspecting bats for health related issues.
- Bat handling techniques
- Diet preparation for the collection and fruit bat nutrition.
- Enrichment options for fruit bats and enrichment preparation.
- The importance of record keeping and daily record keeping activities.
- Introduction to data entry into MedARKS and ARKS.
- Care and maintenance of the browse garden.
- Introduction to the IACUC through “Working with the IACUC” course
- Research methods – Review specific SOP for bat anesthesia, collection of wing biopsies, and blood collection.
Interns will go through the same training and testing procedures as permanent keepers, and will be responsible for the following activities:
- Responsible for the daily cleaning, feeding, watering, and husbandry needs of all animals under their assigned care.
- Prepare animal diets as prescribed by the management.
- Prepare and maintain pen and daily records for each enclosure under their care.
- Assist the management and veterinarian with animal health care and disease prevention by medicating animals in their care, monitoring animal health during morning inspections, and participating in routine procedures such as vet rounds, band checks, etc.
- Clean and maintain the animal and keeper staff facilities.
- Participate in the Animal Enrichment Committee and implement the animal enrichment program for all animals at the facility.
- Assist maintenance personnel when working in or around animal enclosures and the facilities.
- Assist the director or curator with current projects that would facilitate further learning for the post-graduate intern.