Jason Lipscomb
Laurel,United States
Summary
Positive and compassionate individual with deep understanding of animal behavior and welfare. Knowledge of animal nutrition and habitat maintenance combined with skills in cleaning and enrichment activities. Dedicated to creating enriching environments that promote animal health and well-being. I have worked with a diverse range of taxa ranging from crocodilians, komodo dragons, penguins, elephants, giraffes, venomous snakes and lizards, small mammals, birds of prey and more.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Naturalist
Watkins Nature Center
Upper Marlboro, MD
11.2025 - Current
- Assisted in designing educational materials for school groups visiting the center.
- Conducted regular habitat observations to ensure environmental enrichment for resident species.
- Supported volunteer training sessions by demonstrating animal handling best practices.
- Created training plan for bearded dragon and blue tongue skinks
- Conducted animal care duties for reptiles, birds, amphibians and invertebrates
- Constructed squirrel gym for wild squirrels
- Facilitated animal care for over 40 different animals
Mary Wilson Scholar
Maryland Zoo
Baltimore, MD
06.2025 - 07.2025
- Spent 8 weeks as a paid intern at the Maryland Zoo
- Assisted with the husbandry of large mammals, reptiles and birds including African Penguins, African Elephants, Giraffe, Gazelle, Warthog, Farm animals, Otter, Bobcat, Lions, Okapi, Sitatuanga and more
- Assisted in the care of Panamanian Golden Frogs with water changes and tank cleans
- Learned how to recognize different behaviors using the Maryland Zoo ethogram
- Learned training techniques used for large mammals
- Performed maintenance around the zoo including trash pick up
- Learned how to make AZA approved diets at the zoo's commissary department
Animal Ambassador Intern
Virginia Zoo
Norfolk, Va
01.2025 - 04.2025
- Performed husbandry task for numerous species including, but not limited to: Three-Toed Sloths, Prehensile-Tailed Porcupine, Green and Red Macaws, Birds of Prey, Small Reptiles and Amphibians, Small Mammals and more
- Created enrichment for small mammals, ectotherms, birds of prey, macaws, parrots, toucans, kookaburra and tawny frogmouth
- Hosted birthday parties at the zoo using animals in collection
- Responsible for keeping records on the different husbandry task performed
- Performed exhibit maintenance such as new perches for birds, light fixture changes, new exhibit construction and more
- Learned how to operate zoo owned vehicles
- Learned how to operate power tools such as drills and saws
- Facilitated keeper talks using live animals around zoo
- Trained small mammals, birds of prey and reptiles using pre-existing behaviors
Animal Science Summer Intern
Zoo Miami
Miami, FL
05.2024 - 08.2024
- Performed husbandry task for numerous ectotherms including, but not limited to: Komodo Dragons, Orinoco, American and African-Slender-Snouted Crocodiles, Tomistoma, Amazon Milk Frogs, Rio Fuentes Beaded Lizards, Green Anaconda and Black Caiman
- Was in charge of husbandry task for Puerto Rican Crested Toads, which are in a species survival plan, and also helped with the shipment of 80 tadpoles to Puerto Rico
- Performed husbandry task for Texas Horned Lizards
- Helped care for Orinoco Crocodiles, which are in a species survival plan, which included exhibit maintenance, training session observations, and feedings
- Observed and participated in Komodo Dragon feeding, training, and exhibit maintenance
- Responsible for the maintenance of the “Cloud Team’s” bug room which included cricket barrel cleaning, mealworm substrate changes, cricket, mealworm, and super worm feedings
- Responsible for changing the newspaper in various snake exhibits
- Assisted zoo veterinarian with prep stabilization before medical procedures on various reptiles in the collection
- Observed numerous target training sessions with multiple reptile species in the collection
- Created enrichment for Orinoco Crocodiles and Komodo Dragons
- Helped perform husbandry tasks for Tree Kangaroos, Koalas, Wombats, Cassowary, Dingoes, Warthogs, and Babirusa
- Helped perform husbandry tasks for Chimpanzees, Gorillas, Orangutans, Gibbons, and Lemurs
- Hosted keeper talks for the Orinoco Crocodiles and Komodo Dragons that were supervised by fellow keepers
- Learned how to use Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS)
Animal Care Summer Intern
Gator Country
Beaumont, TX
05.2022 - 08.2023
- Responsible for the daily care of a wide variety of species including, but not limited to: American Alligators, Siamese and Morelet’s Crocodiles, Monitor Lizards, Bearded Dragons, Venomous snakes and lizards, small mammals and turtles
- Responsible for exhibit maintenance of all animals in the collection
- Served as the host for animal shows by public speaking and descriptively educating the public on the animals in the collection through daily shows for special occasions such as birthday parties, camp groups, churches, corporate teams, family reunions, and other group-oriented requests that took place at the venue as well as off-site
- Served as a tour guide and boat captain for the swamp tours in the Texas bayou
- Performed husbandry duties for hatchlings, kits, and chicks
- Worked in the gift shop on site with selling of retail items
- Hands-on experience in handling large crocodilians, lizards, venomous and non-venomous snakes
- Responded to nuisance calls and assisted with the safe capture of alligators
- Responsible for landscaping such as mowing and cleaning numerous alligator, caiman, and crocodile ponds and wade pools
- Internship was May 2022-August 2022 and then June 2023-August 2023
- Kept animals clean and free of contaminants to promote optimal health.
- Monitored animal health to quickly recognize signs of illness and injury, seeking necessary medical attention.
- Prepared special diets for animals to accommodate specific health conditions and species-specific needs.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Liberal Studies
Frostburg State University
Frostburg, MD07-2026
High School Diploma -
Bowie High School – Honors Program
Bowie, MD06-2021
Skills
- Coaching plan development
- Behavior observation
- Data collection
- Positive reinforcement
- Animal handling
- Species identification
- Effective communication
- Personable and friendly
- Building relationships
Affiliations
- The World Wildlife Federation Fund 2024 – Present
- The Nature Conservancy Maryland/DC Chapter 2024 – Present
- Zoological Association of America 2024– Present
- Frostburg State University Fishing Club 2023 – Present
- Frostburg State University Geography Club 2023 – Present
- Frostburg State University Wildlife Society 2021- Present
- National Honor Society 2025-Present
Certification
- Maryland Driver’s License
- Texas Boating License
Timeline
Naturalist
Watkins Nature Center
11.2025 - Current
Mary Wilson Scholar
Maryland Zoo
06.2025 - 07.2025
Animal Ambassador Intern
Virginia Zoo
01.2025 - 04.2025
Animal Science Summer Intern
Zoo Miami
05.2024 - 08.2024
Animal Care Summer Intern
Gator Country
05.2022 - 08.2023
Bachelor of Science - Liberal Studies
Frostburg State University
High School Diploma -
Bowie High School – Honors Program
Certifications
- Driver's License
- NFHS Fundamentals of Coaching
- Boating license