Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
Generic

Madaleine McDonough

Santee,CA

Summary

Dedicated wildlife and conservation educator with history of delivering exceptional care to animals in various settings. Passionately promotes health and optimal wellness by providing quality support. Careful to observe animals and communicate concerns to help optimize care.

Overview

6
6
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Education Program Aide

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
01.2024 - Current

• Provide support to a team of educator guides.

• Operates organization vehicles/mobile cart(s)

• Manage organization of materials and preparation for school trips, tours, and animal presentations.

• Pass trainings regarding safety, SDZWA missions, and school group management.

• Provides customer service to program participants

• Foresees program needs

• Prepares and ensures availability of program materials

• Otto Center Technician for Auditorium as needed

• Provides operational support for Education Programs

Assistant Trainer

Heartland Equestrian Center
10.2023 - 01.2024

• Aid in training of horses and ponies, both under saddle and ground training.

• Manage tacking and untacking horses.

• Bathe, groom, feed, and exercise horses.

• Participate in upkeep of barn and stalls.

• Manage feeding of horses and preparing diets.

Animal Care/Animal Behavior Intern

Lions Tigers and Bears Sanctuary
07.2023 - 01.2024

• Aid in medicating and husbandry of exotic and domestic animals (including lions, leopards, jaguars, black/brown/sun/moon bears, tigers, various birds/reptiles, livestock).

• Provide tours and presentations to guests and new volunteers, educating them about husbandry of exotic animals as well as conservation issues and the wildlife trafficking industry.

• Lead volunteers in weekly diet preparation, including supplements/vitamins, weighing and storing meat/produce, and storing diets for exotics (tigers, lions, jaguars, servals, leopards, and bears).

• Lead volunteers in care of livestock (emus, macaws, horses, donkeys, pigs), including exercise, shifting of habitats, diets, grooming, and maintenance of habitat.

• Aid keepers in shifting of wildlife to various habitats on property.

• Create an original enrichment activity for an exotic as well as educational materials to be utilized by the sanctuary moving forward.

• Complete and pass trainings such as exotic animal safety, sanctuary operations, and perimeter safety.

Educator/Animal Ambassador

SeaWorld
07.2023 - 10.2023

• Conducted informative and fact-based animal presentations to large groups of guests of all ages.

• Completed zoological training pertaining to various animals within the park.

• Maintained and enforced the safety of guests and animal exhibits throughout the park.

• Monitored guest and animal safety.

Head Lifeguard and Swim Instructor

YMCA
05.2022 - 07.2023

• Provided safe environment in and out of the pool for patrons and children taking lessons.

• Assisted in providing 400 SAW (Safety Around Water) classes and private lessons to ages 6mo to adulthood.

• Reported issues to Aquatic Director.

• Took a management role whenever Aquatic Director was not present. • Managed scheduling of staff each week.

• Responded to emergencies in the Y.

• Ran meetings with aquatic team.

Assistant/Volunteer

Royal Salute Stables
05.2018 - 07.2023

• Aid in exercise of horses at the stable as well as at shows.

• Aid in medicating and feed of pigs, mules, horses, donkeys, and other livestock.

• Groom animals and maintain their living areas.

• Keep tack clean and organized as well as barn area.

• Bathe animals, braid and brush tails and manes, condition and shampoo manes and tails.

Large Canine Handler

Always Unleashed
12.2020 - 08.2021

• Managed intake of dogs.

• Managed feeding and medication of 80+ large dogs.

• Basic cleaning and upkeep duties.

• Handled money exchange between trainer/hotel and patrons.

• Managed canine files and medical records.

• Communicated with veterinarians about canines medical history. • Aided groomer when necessary with bathing, brushing, and deshedding of dogs from 8 lbs to upwards of 150 pounds.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Conservation Biology And Ecology

Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ
05.2025

Skills

  • Animal Care- Domestic and Exotic
  • Behavior Observation
  • Medication Administration
  • Conservation and Wildlife Education

Certification

Emergency Animal Recall: Brown Bears and Polar Bears

  • Certificate in Emergency Animal Recall, Brown Bear Emergency Recall, and Polar Bear Emergency Recall from the SDZWA Academy.

Taxonomy and Systematics

  • Certificate of Taxonomy and Systematics from the SDZWA Academy.

Timeline

Education Program Aide

San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
01.2024 - Current

Assistant Trainer

Heartland Equestrian Center
10.2023 - 01.2024

Animal Care/Animal Behavior Intern

Lions Tigers and Bears Sanctuary
07.2023 - 01.2024

Educator/Animal Ambassador

SeaWorld
07.2023 - 10.2023

Head Lifeguard and Swim Instructor

YMCA
05.2022 - 07.2023

Large Canine Handler

Always Unleashed
12.2020 - 08.2021

Assistant/Volunteer

Royal Salute Stables
05.2018 - 07.2023

Bachelor of Science - Conservation Biology And Ecology

Arizona State University

Emergency Animal Recall: Brown Bears and Polar Bears

  • Certificate in Emergency Animal Recall, Brown Bear Emergency Recall, and Polar Bear Emergency Recall from the SDZWA Academy.

Taxonomy and Systematics

  • Certificate of Taxonomy and Systematics from the SDZWA Academy.
Madaleine McDonough