What is a wildlife biologist? What do they do? How do you become one? To begin answering these questions, I’ll describe some of the common duties and responsibilities of a wildlife biologist. But first, let’s start with some general facts about this kind of career option.
Perhaps you were inspired by watching a TV programme about the red panda, or the migration of a herd of wildebeest. While wildlife biology is a fascinating field, it is competitive to begin with and there is certainly a lot to learn along the way. This article will provide an overview of how you can take your first steps in becoming a wildlife biologist.
How To Become A Wildlife Biologist
How Do I Become a Wildlife Biologist?
Becoming a wildlife biologist isn’t as easy as many other professions. You’ll need a lot of education and experience in just the right areas in order to succeed.
A lot of your success will depend on your area of expertise and connections. For example, you might have worked as a wildlife technician doing surveys on rusty blackbirds. There are many other people who have experience working with birds, but if a position somewhere just happens to open up for people with rusty blackbird experience, you’ll have an easy “in” for the job. If not, you may need to continue your job search.
Earning a Wildlife Biology Degree
If you want to become a wildlife biologist, you’ll need to get at least a bachelor of science degree, ideally in wildlife biology, wildlife conservation, wildlife management, or a related life sciences degree. These programs are offered only at certain colleges and universities across the country.
As an undergraduate, you’ll study subjects like animal anatomy and physiology, statistics, writing, mathematics, and wildlife management. If you choose to pursue a master’s degree or higher, you’ll conduct your own thesis research under the direction of a professor, and you’ll be expected to publish the results in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Most people foot the bill for their undergraduate degrees. You can pay for this out of pocket, with scholarships, or with student loans. Try to avoid taking out any student loans if you can, because the payments you’ll need to make once you graduate may be more than you can afford based on your salary.
Once you get to a master’s degree or higher, though, it’s common to get a tuition waiver and a basic living stipend as a teaching assistant or research assistant. This way, you don’t have to pay for your graduate degree.
Wildlife Biology Not For You? See Related Careers
Wildlife Biology Internships
Paid and unpaid internships are an important part of gaining enough experience to become a competitive applicant. Many nonprofits and government agencies offer internships.
Another popular option is volunteer work. Most people who go on to become a wildlife biologist have at least some volunteer work under their belts, whether it’s a weekend doing browse surveys for state biologists or even a year helping with research projects in Africa.
Careers for Wildlife Biology Majors
Working just to have the title of “wildlife biologist” on your business card is tough. Luckily, you’re not limited to just this narrow career path if you study wildlife biology. There are many career options available to you if you choose wildlife biology as your major, including:
Wildlife Biology Jobs
Wildlife Biologist
Study the relationships between wild animals and their environment.
Wildlife Manager
Help set harvest guidelines for state natural resource agencies.
Wildlife Law Enforcement Officer
Enforce existing wildlife laws, often working with hunters and fisherman.
Park Ranger
Protect and supervise wild areas and the recreational visitors who wander into them.
Wildlife Technician
Collect data for wildlife research projects, usually under the direction of a wildlife biologist.
Science Communicator
Teach the general public about science issues, including wildlife.
In addition, the skills you’ll learn while studying wildlife biology are highly transferable and can open the doors for many careers, even outside of the life sciences. As a wildlife biology major, you’ll learn how to interpret data and scientific studies, interact with the public, work independently, think critically, research, and write coherently — all of which are highly valued skills by any employer.
Is a Career in Wildlife Biology for Me?
Becoming a wildlife biologist is tough. You’ll need to be willing to make sacrifices, whether it be living away from your family for months at a time, dealing with rejection, or watching your peers advance their careers more quickly.
That said, if you’re willing to deal with these issues and the natural world is important to you, a career in wildlife biology can be one of the most rewarding there is. You might be able to say that you helped an endangered species survive, that you sparked an interest in wildlife among children, or that you helped balance the natural world with that of the human world — all while having a blast.
