Endangered Leopards Find A New Home

CWPZoo has recently been the recipient of two very special and endangered big cats.

Zoo to Open March 20

The Catoctin Zoo will open for the 2013 season on March 20th weather permitting.

The zoo will be open daily 10 – 4 with the last admissions taken at 3pm.

Venomous Animal Safety and Husbandry Training Seminar

COMING THIS SUMMER!

3rd Venomous Animal Safety and Husbandry Training Seminar

June 13-16, 2013
Instructors, Venomous Handling Demonstrations and Lectures and Hands on Workshops

The 3rd Seminar on Venomous Animal Safety and Husbandry will be held starting Thursday, June 13th with an evening Ice Breaker, through Friday, Saturday and Sunday the 16th with three whole days of classes held at the Frederick Community College, Opossumtown Pike, Frederick Maryland and hands on labs at the Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo near Thurmont, Maryland.

This seminar is for professional and serious advanced herpetoculturists and is limited to 40 students.

The instructional dialogue and hands on workshop covers Basic Taxonomy, Phylogeny, Zoogeography and Toxicology, Facility Design from Total Environment to Necessary Enclosure Enrichment, Handling Methods and Tools, Species specific Husbandry including Operant Conditioning, Regulation and Transportation, Nutrition, Health Care and Quarantine Procedures, Crisis Management
including Envenomation Prevention and Protocols and Staff Training as it relates to venomous reptile safety and husbandry.

The Ice Breaker Snacks, two breakfast Drinks and Buns, two Box lunches, a Western Maryland’s Mountain Man’s Ribs and Beef BBQ and an Eastern Shore Crab Feast with all the fix’ins are included with your registration. For the first time this year, a copy of all the papers and reference material used will be distributed free to all registered students and instructors.

The list of confirmed instructors to date include: Randal Berry, Doug Hotle, Rob Carmichael, Jessi Krebs, Dr. Dan Keyler, Dr. Jim Murphy, Dr. Sam Seashole, Dr. Ed Smith, Don Middaugh, Clyde Peeling, Al Coritz, Lauren Augustine and Jared Watts.

The registration is $435/student on or before Saturday, May 18th. Registration after May 18th is $485/person.

To Pay by check, send a check made payable to Global Wildlife Trust, Inc. and send to:
Catoctin Wildlife Preserve
13019 Catoctin Furnace Road
Thurmont, Maryland 21788

To pay by phone call 301-271-3180 (Press 0 to avoid the recordings.) and giving your Visa/MasterCard/ Discover card information to the office staff.

To Pay Online via PayPal simply click on the button below:

 The suggested hotels are the Best Western Historic Frederick, 420 Prospect Blvd., Frederick, Md. 21701 ( three miles from the college) where they are holding a block of double queens, king and king suites at $89/night. These must be reserved three weeks in advance (before May 22nd) for these prices. Phone 301-695-6200 mention Venomous Seminar. Also convenient and affordable is the Motel Six, Thurmont, Maryland 21788 (two miles from the Zoo) at about the same prices.

- Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.-

 Seminar Coordinator: Richard Hahn, Executive Director, Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo

Program Chairman: Doug Hotle, Curator of Herpetology, Albuquerque BioPark

Primary Lab Instructor: Don Middaugh, Curator of Poikilotherms, Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo

New Positions Available

CWPZoo is currently looking to fill two full time animal care positions, a Safari Manager and a Feline/ Primate Specialist. You will be part of a team working under the supervision and training of the General Curator and Ass’t Director of Zoological Affairs.

Qualified applicants must have at least four years paid experience in the zoological animal care field. A four year degree in biological sciences or related field is helpful but not required. These positions are intended for a person who has mastered all basic husbandry techniques and zoo protocols and is looking to continue their professional growth. You must be able to lift 60lbs with ease.

We place a high value on employees who are team players, understand the connection between an institution’s staff and the visiting public, are safety conscious, have good animal management and husbandry skills, know how to and do apply environmental enrichment diversions for the animals in their care.

Salary commensurate with experience, liberal leaves, paid vacation and assistance with conference expenses after one year and flexible work schedule. Some assistance with relocation is possible.

Global Wildlife Trust, Inc. dba Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo is 501(c)3 corporation with a 50 acre park like zoo and large animal safari. We specialize in primates (15 species) and poikilotherms (over 120 species of reptiles plus amphibians, fish and invertebrates). We have a diverse collection including large ungulates and felines, birds, and unusual small mammals.

Positions are open until filled. Salary commensurate with experience.

How to apply:

Email your resume with beginning salary desired to: rhahn@CWPZoo.com

Gift Giving for the Animal Lover

You know that person, the one who has all the latest gizmos and gadgets; the latest smartphone, iPad, computer, video game, DVD, etc. But you also know that person loves animals. What do you give them? (more…)

Can you help with any of these items?

Donations requested to replace and repair after storm damage

The Singing Dogs were safe inside their concrete den when the tree came down.

Hurricane Sandy took our lovely forest and turned it on our heads, bringing down dozens of trees on fences, pathways, aviaries, barn roofs and electrical wires. (more…)

Zoo Hit Hard by Hurricane Sandy

High winds bring down dozens of trees. Volunteers needed for clean up efforts.

Catoctin Wildlife Preserve and Zoo is temporarily closed as staff and volunteers clean up after Hurricane Sandy. (more…)

New Babies on Display!

Baby Bison, Collared Peccaries and Eurasian Wild boar now on display in the ZooBabies exhibit. (more…)