Title: Associate Marine Mammal Trainer

Hometown: Sun Prairie, WI

Education: Bachelor of Science in Biology – Emphasis in Organism Ecology. Minor in Chemistry.

Hobbies/Favorite Past Times: Scrapbooking, playing with my dog, running, volleyball & swimming

Bio:

Growing up, I have always wanted to work with marine animals. First, I have always loved learning about the oceans and the creatures that grew in them. Second, I love water! I was a competitive swimmer since fourth grade through my senior year in college.

After high school, I pursued my collegiate career at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. Shortly after starting, I began to doubt my ability to actually become a marine mammal trainer and began to focus on other possible careers with animals (veterinarian, rehabilitation specialist, etc.). My junior year I did a wildlife internship with the Four Lakes Wildlife Center (Madison, WI). They too were a rescue, rehab, and release facility that specialized in small mammals, songbirds, and raptors. I received the unique experience to work with several types of animals and help out with several of their releases. After my internship I thought that this would be something that I would want to do for the rest of my life, so I decided to stay on as a volunteer. As graduation grew near I found myself constantly thinking how much I wanted to work with marine mammals and train. Despite the odds against me I decided to go for it and give it a shot. What did I have to lose; at the very least I can be content knowing I tried. Right before graduation, I began to fill out any and every application for marine mammal training internships for the fall of 2011.

I had filled out several applications and ultimately I chose an internship at Clearwater Marine Aquarium due to their unique mission of rescue, rehab, and release, which is near and dear to my heart. I loved the internship it gave me not only a large amount of information on animals, but also training concepts. After I finished I decided to stay on as a volunteer and continue my learning in the hopes that one day I would become a trainer somewhere. Shortly after an opportunity presented itself, a job posing for an associate training position had opened up. After the swim test and interviews I finally received my big break, I was hired in February 2012! Currently I am one of the associate trainers that work with our Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, North American river otters, African great white pelicans, and nurse sharks! My motto: Better to have tried and failed than not try at all!

Name: Erin

Title: Associate Marine Mammal Trainer

Hometown: Opelousas, Louisiana

Education: Bachelor of Science – Animal Science

Pastimes/Hobbies: Horseback Riding

Bio: “I was born in Opelousas, Louisiana. There, I lived on a horse and cattle ranch where I first learned to ride horses before I could even walk! We lived there until my family and I moved to the Bay Area in Northern California. Through high school I worked at a vet clinic, starting as a volunteer when I was 14, and then continuing as a vet tech by the age of 16 up until I graduated. I then went to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo as an animal science major. After my freshman year, I did a summer internship at Dolphin Quest Bermuda where I learned a lot about marine mammal training. This was an extremely beneficial and hands on internship. Next I completed a summer internship after my junior year with the Navy Marine Mammal Program in San Diego, CA. This was also a very hands-on experience in which I was able to further develop my skills in dolphin training, and learn to interact and work with California sea lions. I finished my bachelor’s degree in 2011. Just before coming to CMA, I was a zookeeper at a small, nonprofit zoo in Paso Robles, CA called Zoo To You. This was a very fun position in which I was able to work with all sorts of animals, from mountain lions, tigers and bears to primates, birds of prey and various hoof stock. Outside of work, I continue to enjoy horseback riding. I also love taking my Great Dane, Max, to the beach on my days off!”

Title: Supervisor of Marine Mammals

Hometown: Georgia

Hobbies/Favorite Past Times: Yoga, reading, going to the beach, listening to music, talking with good friends, and visiting with my family!

Bio:

“I grew up in a very small town in Georgia on an old working farm with cows.  I went to Georgia College & State University where I received my B.S. in Psychology.  For as long as I can remember I said I would work with dolphins!  After college I did a couple of internships at various places, looking to find a place that fit me.  I was hired after my internship at Dolphins Plus in Key Largo, FL in 2004.  Dolphins Plus is a deep-water interaction facility where I gained most of my knowledge of training and caring for marine mammals.  In 2011, I began working for CMA as the Supervisor of Marine Mammals.”

Name: Emily

Title: Associate Marine Mammal Trainer

Education: Bachelor’s in history and government, Associate’s of science in zookeeping technology

Bio: Hi my name is Emily, and I’m an associate marine mammal trainer here at CMA. My background was originally in zookeeping. After getting my bachelor’s degree in history, I went back to school for an associates degree in zookeeping technology. While studying for that degree, I started volunteering in the elephant barn at the local zoo and eventually got hired first as a seasonal animal keeper, then as a relief keeper for all the animal areas in the zoo. I worked primarily with big cats, bears, primates, small mammals, and some birds and reptiles.  I then accepted a position as an elephant keeper at another facility where I helped care for one bull elephant and two females in a mostly free contact handling system. Although I liked the animals very much, I found that the free contact handling system was not for me, and decided to try for an internship with marine mammals at CMA, where one of my fellow elephant keepers had interned and volunteered. I moved out to Florida to do my internship, continued as a volunteer afterwards, and recently got hired on as staff working with these amazing animals!