Zoo InternQuest is a career exploration program for high school students. For more information see the Zoo InternQuest Journals. For more photos see the Zoo InternQuest Photo Journal.

The striped hyena in front of us raised the mane on his back and crouched low, nervously keeping an eye on our group as he approached the treat his trainer had placed on the ground. I watched closely, entranced with how his trainer, Katie Springer, meticulously handled his nervous reactions by positively reinforcing him for his braver ones. Ms. Springer carefully encouraged the animal to come over, but always let him have a safe, open route back, so that he did not feel cornered.

“Being an animal trainer requires two things,” Heidi Moomaw, another animal trainer at the Zoo, explained. “Patience and timing.” Trainers have to be extraordinarily patient, as working with some animals can take years. In fact, the trainers at the Zoo have been working with the striped hyena for six years. Ms. Springer then expanded on the timing aspect of this as we tried to persuade the next animal, a wolf, to howl for us. When the trainers first started training him to do this, they would reward her right as she began to get into the position to howl. However, this merely taught her to go into a howling position. For this reason, rewarding animals at just the right moment is essential to an animal trainer’s job.

Working with animals in this way enables Ms. Moomaw and Ms. Springer to have a special relationship with them. It is thrilling to think that through observing and responding to the animal’s behavior, they can cultivate a high level of trust with a wild animal.

Both Ms. Moomaw and Ms. Springer attended Moorpark College to achieve their goal of becoming an animal trainer. Moorpark is the only school in the United States with an animal training program. In fact, there is a zoo right there on the grounds, so students get hands-on experience.

While a lot of work goes into being an animal trainer, Ms. Springer and Ms. Moomaw also have a lot of fun. Their job allows them to interact with a variety of amazing animals every day. The most exciting thing Ms. Moomaw has done through her job is to be a part of the Cheetah Run Safari at the Wild Animal Park, a special experience for guests. “It was exhilarating,” she said. “You stand there and you have to catch a cheetah that’s running towards you at sixty miles per hour!” Instead of waking up to a cup of coffee and a computer desk, Ms. Moomaw and Ms. Springer are able to wake up to romping cheetah cubs, howling canines, and chattering parrots. What a way to spend the day!

Becky, Careers Team

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