Wildlife Biology

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The careers of wildlife biologists span a wide variety of different and unique jobs that means that the pay can also span a wide range. One of the lowest paying wildlife biology jobs, that still require a bachelor’s degree, is zoologists. College Board and Career Outlook are just two of the websites that explain that a bachelor’s degree is necessary. They can make as little as $30,000 yearly (“Zookeeper: Job Duties, Outlook and Salary”). [c]There are a lot of good paying jobs out there for wildlife biologists, but a minor or focus while attending a university can mean the difference between making $30,000 and $100,000. One of the highest paying jobs is a high level marine biologist raking in around $100,000 yearly (Kramer 2017). While in the middle of the spectrum, a biologist still can make a living and potentially support a family, as Mary Hope Kramer puts it “If you're following your passion and plan to work with animals, you may not expect to make much money. But there are many positions in wildlife-related fields that offer an average compensation of $50,000 per year or more” (Kramer 2017). There is also room for growth. The average entry-level salary is $39,180 but increases to about $64,230 for the regular annual salary for workers (Droessler). So, whether someone is trying to make the big money or just looking to follow their passion for animals there is a place for them in the field of wildlife biology. They can breathe easy knowing that there is a niche for them on the other side of the years they spend at school. This is true in almost every career, but deciding early on what intrigues you most will help you decide on a specialty. This can be accomplished by simply volunteering, or finding jobs that expose you to different kinds of wildlife. Even if a student decides that they don’t want to be in the field conducting experiments, or in a lab testing collected specimens, careers like Fish and Game Wardens accept wildlife biology degrees.

“Fish and Game wardens patrol a designated area to ensure that rules associated with wildlife species are observed and enforced. They have the authority to arrest individuals found violating wildlife laws and seize their weapons. They may also assist wildlife biologists and others with research projects and data collection or assist in investigations of damage believed to have been caused by wild animals. A two-year degree is generally necessary for entry to this profession and prior law enforcement experience is considered to be a big plus” (Kramer 2017).

This should encourage those who don’t want to attend a 4-year university that there is still a place for them in the career. It also shows the diversity that those who may way to change theirs career from law enforcement have the potential for career growth.

Compared to other careers, the growth rate for wildlife biologists is low. According to study.com the projected job growth rate is 11% for all animal care and service workers. Even so, this should not deter the will of an adamant future biologist. With hard work and good grades, a job should present itself. The growth rate for the next decade looks like a 4% increase from around 22,000 current jobs ("What Is the Average Salary of a Wildlife Biologist?"). Only 880 additional jobs will be available according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. It may not seem like a lot of jobs but with the mounting crisis of environmental concern it is a good outlook. As the population of humans grow, The Occupational Outlook Handbook says that wildlife will be exposed to “threats such as disease, invasive species, and habitat loss” ("What Environmental Scientists and Specialists Do" 2015). As the population rises, so do problems such as pollution and climate change. It is important that Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists have an understanding of these factors to protect wildlife. They also need to be aware of animal’s migration habits and how the increasing sea levels and destroy wetlands. These factors are all detrimental and they need to develop conservation plans to combat these threats and protect wildlife’s natural resources ("What Environmental Scientists and Specialists Do" 2015). This highlights the importance of a job in this field. It is necessary to have people looking out for the environment to catch these potential threats in order to prevent the extinction of wildlife. As the world adapts to a changing environment, they will be there to study it. So, as long as there are animals living on the planet, there will be wildlife biologists. This all being said, do not let the statistics rule out a possible career in wildlife biology. It is crucial to the future of the worlds animals.

The duties of a wildlife biologist, like every other aspect of the career, is a variety of tasks that all work together to conserve animal populations and the environment in general. Like many careers the job duties can differ due to the work environment. All having to do with some kind of observe, study, and record data types of tasks. The Occupational Outlook Handbook describes the duties of a wildlife biologist as performing a variety of scientific tests and experiments. This is outlined in the article by Mary Hope Kramer.

“They take blood samples from animals to assess their levels of nutrition, check animals for disease and parasites, and tag animals in order to track them. Although the roles and abilities of zoologists and wildlife biologists often overlap, zoologists typically conduct scientific investigations and basic research on particular types of animals, such as birds or amphibians, whereas wildlife biologists are more likely to study specific ecosystems or animal populations, such as a particular at-risk species. Wildlife biologists also do applied work, such as that involving the conservation and management of wildlife populations. Zoologists and wildlife biologists use geographic information systems (GIS), modeling software, and other computer programs to estimate wildlife populations and track the movements of animals. They also use these computer programs to forecast the spread of invasive species or diseases, project changes in the availability of habitat, and assess other potential threats to wildlife. Zoologists and wildlife biologists conduct research for a variety of purposes. For example, many zoologists and wildlife biologists work to increase our knowledge and understanding of wildlife species. Traditionally, many wildlife biologists researched ways to encourage abundant game animal populations in order to increase recreational hunting and tourism. Today, many also work with public officials in conservation efforts that protect species from threats and help animal populations return to and remain at sustainable levels” ("What Environmental