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Brittany Martin, Children's Zoo Keeper

Hometown: Austin, TX

Section: Children’s Zoo - Primary: Silvers

Favorite Quote: “Don’t sit upon the shoreline and say you’re satisfied, choose to chance the rapids and dare to dance the tide.” –Garth Brooks

Special Interests/Hobbies:

I love animal training, and I love to travel. I also love to write and hope to write a book someday!

What is your education, training, and previous institution(s) you attended before coming to the Houston Zoo?

I received a Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University in Wildlife Sciences – Natural Resource Collection & Management. I also worked for Walt Disney World College Program – Animal Kingdom and at the Fossil Rim Wildlife Center.

What animals do you train, and what is your favorite section in the Children’s Zoo?

I train the porcupines, a miniature zebu steer, and a Nigerian dwarf goat. My favorite section is silvers, which is the area with birds and mammals that we use for handling and sending out on educational programs is called.

What sort of advice would you give to anyone wanting to enter the zoo field?

Make sure to get lots of experience working with animals through volunteering and internships. Your animal care experience will count more than your education when you are getting started.

What is your favorite animal story?

This one is a sad but endearing story. When I was in high school, I raised goats for 4H and FFA shows. My first goat and I spent a lot of time together when I would train and exercise him every day for months before the show. After the final show, you are required to walk your goat into a giant pen and remove their collar and leave them with hundreds of other goats. I was crying as I said good-bye and left my goat in the massive herd. Several hours went by and I decided to return to the fence to see if I could catch one last glimpse of my goat. I stood at the fence for a few minutes and couldn’t pick him out of the crowd. I was about to give up. Then, out of nowhere, my goat jumped up right in my face. He had picked me out of all the people standing along the fence-line and came to say goodbye. It is stories and experiences like this one that make me want to work with animals!