Wildlife managers work on a variety of projects, which requires a broad background in the biological and conservation sciences. When taking blood tests and examining animals, for example, these professionals must possess some of the skills of veterinarians; when working in the laboratory, they need the technical know-how of zoologists. They also work regularly with fellow biologists and natural resource managers to evaluate animal habitats. Many wildlife managers either work on wildlife refuges or work to create sanctuaries where threatened or endangered animals are protected. In protected or regulated areas, they study the overall health of animal species, appraise the effects of pollution on certain species, and conduct field and laboratory tests to derive scientific results.
Another aspect of a wildlife manager's job is the creation and enforcement of public land use. They may patrol protected areas to maintain the well-being of animals and their surroundings, and enforce hunting regulations and quotas. Public relations work is another essential aspect of their work. Wildlife managers conduct public information tours, write announcements and articles, and serve as environmental specialists to legislatures.
Related Professions
- Zoologist
- Marine Biologist
- Microbiologist
- Veterinarian
- Anatomist
- Geneticist Dairy Scientist
- Physiologist
- Botanist
- Mycologist
The minimal educational requirement for a career in wildlife management is a bachelor of science (BS) degree in wildlife biology. Much like other career areas in the biological sciences, an advanced degree is becoming the standard criterion for employment. According to Chronicle Guidance Publications, less than 30 percent of recent graduates with a bachelor's degree found employment as wildlife managers, while those with a master's degree have a 60 percent to 70 percent chance of finding employment. In addition, a master's degree is the standard requirement for a career in research.
There are degree programs in wildlife management/wildlife biology throughout the country, mainly in forestry departments of large colleges and universities. Some students can substitute a degree in zoology or botany, with additional courses in the life and animal sciences.
First- and second-year wildlife management students typically take courses like geometry, algebra, calculus, chemistry, physics, biology, botany, geography, English, communications, and other liberal arts courses. Advanced courses include genetics, biometrics, wildlife ecology, statistics, computer courses, and mammalogy. Students are required to conduct laboratory experiments and fieldwork in many courses. Graduate students conduct focused research under the supervision of an advisor. They must usually write a publishable thesis on their own original research and pass an oral and/or written examination.
Professional Certification
The Wildlife Society offers its members the title of Certified Wildlife Biologist. Members must meet Wildlife Society standards of education, experience, and ethics. Recent entrants into the field with little experience may be eligible to become an Associate Wildlife Biologist. Contact the Wildlife Society, listed at the end of this chapter, for further details on these certification programs.
Setting
Wildlife managers divide their time between administrative duties, and laboratory and outdoor work. Wildlife managers need to be in good physical condition; their work often requires them to spend time in the back country with minimal amenities. They must also handle large and sometimes dangerous animals, walk great distances and carry heavy loads. Due to the rigorous physical requirements, most employers require their wildlife managers to pass a physical examination. Much of their work takes place in public parks and forests, or designated wildlife sanctuaries or refuges. An appreciation for the outdoors and the willingness to work and live in a rural setting is necessary. Wildlife managers also function as wildlife spokespeople. They give public speeches, tours, and presentations, interact with the media, and occasionally must testify before legislative bodies.
Working hours can vary greatly, depending mostly on where the wildlife manager is working. Office and laboratory duties usually require wildlife managers to work a regular 40-hour week. When conducting research, or tagging animals in the back country, wildlife managers may be required to work more hours.
Employment Statistics and Major Employers
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the employment outlook for biological scientists, including wildlife biologists, is expected to grow slightly faster than the average for all occupations. Because most wildlife biologists work in government and government-dependent private companies, they are fairly well insulated from cyclical fluctuations in the job market.
A number of private, nonprofit conservation organizations also hire wildlife managers/biologists. The Nature Conservancy, which operates more than 1,400 nature preserves in the United States, Canada, and Latin America, employs many wildlife managers. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which is dedicated to protecting endangered wildlife and wild lands throughout the world, also employs a number of wildlife biologists. At present, a large share of its resources are being used in Latin America where the WWF has helped create and monitor a number of national parks and wildlife preserves. Other organizations that employ wildlife managers are the Wilderness Society, the Sierra Club, and the National Wildlife Federation.
Wildlife managers find employment in such commercial industries as timber, ranching, and mining companies. Employment opportunities also exist in private wildlife sanctuaries, game preserves, and zoos, as well as biological laboratories, and consulting firms.