Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

Sydney Spence

Asheville

Summary

Dedicated animal professional with ten years of experience caring for a variety of primates. Provides compassionate attention to wellbeing and medical needs to foster overall animal health. Committed to wildlife conservation with a strong interest in primate conservation. Experienced zookeeper with broad knowledge in animal behavior, enrichment activities and exhibit maintenance. Strengths include strong work ethic, problem-solving acumen, and ability to handle stressful situations effectively. Previous roles have demonstrated clear improvements in animal welfare standards, while actively engaging audiences through educational programs on conservation issues.

Overview

11
11
years of professional experience

Work History

Farm Laborer

Hawkins Farms
Hendersonville
06.2024 - Current
  • Protected herds from predators using trained dogs.
  • Cleaned out barns, stalls, pens, and other animal enclosures on a regular basis.
  • Cared for livestock, including feeding, watering, and providing medical attention when necessary.

Bird Of Prey Volunteer

Western North Carolina Nature Center
Asheville
01.2024 - 09.2024
  • Provided daily husbandry and record-keeping for the barn owls and turkey vultures, while educating the guests on their habitats, behavior, and conservation efforts.

Surgical Technician

Asheville Humane Society
Asheville
01.2023 - 01.2024
  • Part of a small surgical team to successfully implement a spay and neuter program for the shelter, which greatly reduced the number of days the dogs and cats spent in the shelter.
  • Assessed canine behavior to determine appropriate methods and techniques for pre-medicating and inducing them safely.

Zookeeper II

Chattanooga Zoo
Chattanooga
01.2021 - 01.2023
  • Fostered a small training team, working with the macaws and cockatoos for stress-free husbandry and outreach events.
  • Primary swing keeper responsible for a troop of seven chimpanzees.

Veterinary Technician

Humane Society of Western Montana
Missoula
01.2020 - 01.2021
  • Lead surgical technician responsible for all technician duties for off-site spay and neuter clinics.

Falconry Assistant

The Peregrine Falcon Institute
Missoula
01.2019 - 01.2020
  • Assisted the executive director in transporting and setting up his falcon for flight.

Veterinary Technician

Pruyn Veterinary Hospital
Missoula
01.2018 - 01.2020
  • Experienced in venipuncture, and trained in laser therapy.
  • Provided emergency first aid to injured or ill animals upon arrival at the clinic.

Zookeeper I

The Chahinkapa Zoo
Wahpeton
01.2017 - 01.2018
  • Transported a female Bengal tiger and assisted the zoo veterinarian in an emergency exploratory surgery, resulting in the removal of her uterus.
  • Assisted the migration of two white rhinos into their new enclosure.

Sloth Technician

The Sloth Institute
Manuel Antonio
01.2016 - 01.2017
  • Tracked and monitored wildlife with the use of radio telemetry equipment.
  • Reintroduced brown-throated three-toed sloths and Hoffman's two-toed sloths.
  • Completed 1,137 hours of fieldwork tracking and completing ethograms on the individual collared sloths, and analyzed data on their environment.

Bear Keeper Intern

Fortress of the Bear
Sitka
01.2016 - 12.2016
  • Educate guests regarding the conservation, legislation, and history of resident brown and black bears.
  • Participated in the training of eight bears to aid in husbandry and health exams.

Zookeeper

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo
Gainesville
01.2014 - 01.2016
  • Galápagos tortoise trainer.
  • Trained on how to properly handle and feed venomous snakes.
  • Prepared the zoo for AZA inspection and accreditation.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Ecology And Conservation Biology

Mars Hill University
Mars Hill, NC
12-2026

Zoo Animal Technology - Associate of Science

Santa Fe College
Gainesville, FL
05.2016

Environmental Biology -

The University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, MS
12.2013

Skills

  • Public education
  • Wildlife rehabilitation
  • Animal husbandry
  • Animal handling and restraint
  • Veterinary assistance
  • Animal training
  • Animal behavior knowledge
  • Field work

Timeline

Farm Laborer

Hawkins Farms
06.2024 - Current

Bird Of Prey Volunteer

Western North Carolina Nature Center
01.2024 - 09.2024

Surgical Technician

Asheville Humane Society
01.2023 - 01.2024

Zookeeper II

Chattanooga Zoo
01.2021 - 01.2023

Veterinary Technician

Humane Society of Western Montana
01.2020 - 01.2021

Falconry Assistant

The Peregrine Falcon Institute
01.2019 - 01.2020

Veterinary Technician

Pruyn Veterinary Hospital
01.2018 - 01.2020

Zookeeper I

The Chahinkapa Zoo
01.2017 - 01.2018

Sloth Technician

The Sloth Institute
01.2016 - 01.2017

Bear Keeper Intern

Fortress of the Bear
01.2016 - 12.2016

Zookeeper

Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo
01.2014 - 01.2016

Bachelor of Science - Ecology And Conservation Biology

Mars Hill University

Zoo Animal Technology - Associate of Science

Santa Fe College

Environmental Biology -

The University of Southern Mississippi
Sydney Spence