Animal Health Technician; Mounted Patrol Inspector

Find Your Future With Us at USDA – Animal Plant Health Inspection Service Job Summary

If selected as a Mounted Patrol Inspector (also known as a Tick Rider), you will make unassisted horseback patrols through rough and remote terrain in an assigned sector along the United States‑Mexico border. This Open Continuous Announcement allows acceptance of applications for 90 days with eligible applicants being referred as vacancies occur. The first cut-off for applications is June 15.

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the cut-off date following your application submission (see Additional Information for dates), including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below.

Selective Placement Factor
:
Candidates must meet the selective placement factor described below. By confirming you meet the selective placement factor you are also acknowledging that you will provide sufficient detail in your resume to describe your experience performing the full range of activities described in the selective factor.

Applicants must have knowledge, skill and ability to ride horseback sufficient to track, rope, and subdue wild, and/or fractious, unpredictable livestock in rough and remote terrain for the purpose of inspecting, apprehending, and treating stray, diseased, and/or distressed animals. This work is completed independently.

For the GS‑07 Level
:

• Applicants must have one year of specialized experience (equivalent to the GS‑06 level) that may have been obtained in the private or public (local, county, state, Federal) sectors and demonstrates:
  • Independently working with livestock in a feedlot, farm, or ranch setting, including inspecting the premises for irregularities.
  • Interviewing livestock owners and other involved parties to obtain information for investigations and documenting findings.
  • Reading and interpreting records and reports to determine applicable information and courses of action.
  • Monitoring the activity of livestock to identify risk, inspects and detects problem areas.
• Successful completion of eighteen (18) semester hours of related graduate education obtained from an accredited college or university. Qualifying graduate courses include: agribusiness, agricultural chemistry, agricultural development, agricultural economics, agricultural education, animal breeding, animal genetics, animal health, animal nutrition, animal physiology, animal products, animal reproduction, animal toxicology, animal welfare, biological and agricultural engineering, beef cattle production, dairy herd management, dairy marketing, equine production, farm management, feeding management, meat science, physiology of lactation, poultry science, ruminant nutrition, swine production, and wildlife and fisheries sciences.
• Equivalent combinations of education and experience are qualifying for this grade level.

Combination of Education & Experience at the GS‑07 Grade Level
:
Applicants may combine successfully completed education and specialized experience to meet total qualification requirements. The total percentages must equal at least 100 percent to qualify for that grade level. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, Ameri Corps) and other organizations. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies and can provide valuable training that translates directly to paid employment.

All qualifying experience, including volunteer experience, will be credited.

• Inspects premises in and bordering the quarantine zone, and investigates additions to or losses of livestock from such herds.
• Makes periodic inspections of vacated premises to detect bad fences, cattle tracks, or other evidence of illegal use of the premises.
• Rides horseback and checks all fences in and bordering the assigned sector to ascertain that they are adequate to prevent intermingling of livestock and consequent exposure to disease carriers.
• Collects physical information, which may involve sign‑cutting and tracking techniques, and uses this information to detect and apprehend stray or smuggled Mexican livestock.
• Assists with inspection and testing of livestock, poultry, and other avian species on ranches, farms, auctions, markets, etc., to detect animal diseases and parasites.
• Makes arrangements with owners and independently draws blood samples from animals and poultry, conducts necessary serologic tests, tags, brands, appraises receptor animals, and reports findings.
• Oversees the cleaning and disinfection of vehicles and premises that are contaminated by disease organisms or as a precautionary measure.

Position

Start Date:

06/01/2026

Position Close Date: 09/01/2026

Salary Offered: 50,460 – 76,476 USD Per Year

All employees may be asked or assigned to participate in rotating temporary duty assignments to support emergency programs at some point during their careers with APHIS.