Clint Hubbeling

“Working with animals is very unpredictable. There’s lots of moments, whether you’re trying to avoid snakes or alligators or getting peed on.”

Position: Assistant Facility Manager

Responsibilities: Keeping up with repairs, rebuilding, painting, general upkeep of property and assisting head facility manager, can range to wherever they need me. Any job that needs done that’s technical.

Clint has been working at Reptile Gardens since 1997 while he was in high school. He started out working concessions at the Green Parrot Café and gradually worked his way up. He quickly progressed into helping with painting and cleaning and getting the facilities ready to open. He worked in the reptile shows for four or five seasons and helped in the bird department taking care of the animals. He’s a “jack of all trades,” he said.

Best part of the job:

Clint said his favorite part of the job is not only the employees he gets to work with, but even the employers that he gets to work for. To work at a job as long as he has takes a lot of dedication and there has to be good management and he’s always enjoyed working there. The guests make the experience completely worth it as well.

“Seeing different guests from all over the world. We’re landlocked here in Rapid City, South Dakota in the Black Hills but the diversity that actually visit, gives you a taste of the different cultures and walks of life so that’s always fun.”