Erinne Hillman
Dunedin,FL
Summary
Dedicated animal care and education professional with experience in wildlife rehabilitation, veterinary assistance, aquarium husbandry, ambassador animal training, and public education. Experienced in leading educational programs for children and guests through live animal encounters and conservation interpretation. Skilled in animal handling and restraint, operant conditioning, enrichment, behavioral observation, and guest engagement. Currently pursuing a B.S. in Animal Health & Behavior at Unity Environmental University.
Overview
2
2
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Veterinary Assistant
Sunshine Animal Hospital
01.2026 - Current
- Safely restrain and handle patients during exams, treatments, and procedures
- Assist with medication administration, laboratory testing, and sample collection
- Monitor patient behavior and maintain accurate medical records
- Support daily clinical operations, including treatment preparation and sanitation
Wildlife Rehabilitation Intern
Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife
06.2025 - Current
- Provide daily care for native wildlife, including birds, reptiles, and mammals undergoing rehabilitation
- Assist with medical intake, transport support, diet preparation, feeding, medication administration, enclosure sanitation, welfare checks, and release preparation
- Apply species-appropriate handling and restraint techniques to reduce stress and support safe care
- Provide operant conditioning and desensitization training for ambassador animals, including a red fox and a Virginia opossum
- Assist with the Virginia opossum foster program, providing housing, behavioral observation, diet preparation, record keeping, and developmental monitoring
- Educate members of the public about wildlife rehabilitation, native species, and conservation
Animal Care and Education Specialist
Tarpon Springs Aquarium & Animal Sanctuary
06.2025 - 11.2025
- Delivered solo reptile education programs both on and off-site, featuring snakes, monitors, turtles, and tortoises
- Served as narrator for live dive shows, educating guests on shark and fish behavior, animal care, and conservation topics
- Developed and taught “Tuesdays Are for Tots,” an early childhood environmental education program
- Performed daily husbandry for a diverse collection of reptiles, birds, fish, elasmobranchs, invertebrates, and farm animals
- Prepared diets, conducted feedings, and monitored animal behavior and condition
- Assisted with operant conditioning and handling of resident and display animals, including the early training of an American crocodile
- Performed physically demanding husbandry tasks, including lifting, deep cleaning, enclosure maintenance, and animal transport support
Lead Instructor & Animal Care Assistant
Ecological Marine Adventures
01.2024 - 10.2024
- Taught marine biology, conservation, and ecology through interactive lessons for children ages 3–15
- Led field activities including swimming, fishing, species identification, and hands-on marine research
- Led public programs, educational presentations, and field trips featuring live animal encounters and conservation interpretation
- Transported and supervised children during educational field activities and water-based programs while maintaining safety procedures and group management
- Provided husbandry for aquatic animals and small reptiles, including habitat maintenance, feedings, and behavior monitoring
- Assisted with water-quality testing, including salinity, temperature, pH, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate
Education
B.S. - Animal Health & Behavior
Unity Environmental University
Skills
- Educational program facilitation
- Conservation interpretation
- Guest engagement and live animal presentations
- Ambassador animal handling
- Operant conditioning and desensitization training
- Animal handling and restraint for mammals, reptiles, birds, hoofstock, and aquatic species
- Wildlife rehabilitation support
- Veterinary assistance, medication administration, and sample collection
- Enrichment development and behavior monitoring
- Water-quality testing and aquatic system maintenance
- Record keeping and basic computer proficiency
- Open-water diving and water safety procedures
- Enclosure maintenance and physically demanding animal care operations
Certification
Open Water SCUBA Certified, 2025
Species Experience Summary
Reptiles, crocodilians, teleost fish, elasmobranchs, birds, small mammals, marsupials, bobcats, foxes, hoofstock, marine invertebrates, and a variety of native wildlife species.
Timeline
Veterinary Assistant
Sunshine Animal Hospital
01.2026 - Current
Animal Care and Education Specialist
Tarpon Springs Aquarium & Animal Sanctuary
06.2025 - 11.2025
Wildlife Rehabilitation Intern
Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife
06.2025 - Current
Lead Instructor & Animal Care Assistant
Ecological Marine Adventures
01.2024 - 10.2024
B.S. - Animal Health & Behavior
Unity Environmental University