Questions about becoming a Wildlife Biologist?
I was thinking of going to college to become a Wildlife Biologist. I have a few questions about it though. ~What exactly do you do in this field? I want to be able to go out and study animals in their natural habitat and this sounded exactly like what I was looking for. ~What classes should I take in high school? ~I heard you need to get a degree in Biology, Ecology, Zoology, Wildlife management, or Natural resource management. I am a little confused on how to go about doing this. I wanted to get the degree in Zoology probably. ~How many years will this take to complete to get the highest degree possible and get a degree in a couple of the subjects listed above? ~Which are the best colleges to go to for this in the USA? ~What are the starting salaries right out of college and after years of doing it, how much can you make? It is okay if you only know a couple of answers to these. ~This is the last question that may sound dumb but what is the order of degrees? From least to great in college? I want to do what Steve Irwin did which is studying animals in their habitats and making people aware of them and how to save them and such. I think he was a conservationist but do you have to go to college for this or is it a given when you become a wildlife biologist. Sorry it was so long! Thanks for the help! =)
Steps to become a (field) wildlife biologist?
Studying chemistry in high school will be beneficial because when you do a wildlife degree (eg zoology, conservation biology etc) you need to do first year chemistry so you'll find it easier if you already have some chemistry. Physics may not be a requirement, but that depends on the college you go to. The physical concepts you need for biology are covered in biology. Volunteering is how you break into this field unless you are super smart and end up an academic. For the rest of us, volunteering allows us to meet people working in the field and this job relies on networking. Volunteering while studying might allow you to go straight into a job when you are finished, this happened for a few of my friends. I don't know anything about certificates from wildlife societies, but it'll look good in your resume if you can get them. There may not be too much travel as a wildlife biologist, depends on which species you work with. Most people live in the area they work and maybe travel to a conference once in a while. But there could be opportunities in ecotourism for you... you could look into a tourism degree or combining tourism with science to help you specialise with wildlife. The other thing is journalism, combining science with journalism will qualify you to work in media and so you may become a professional wildlife photographer or travel writer etc. But it is ok to wait until you actually get to university to decide because you probably won't know what your skills are yet. There are many different areas in biology and most of us are surprised to find that we end up specialising in certain areas because we become interested in them or we have skills we didn't now about. If you enjoy writing, I'd think seriously about journalism... I want to write but didn't combine journalism and now I regret it.
If I wanted to become a wildlife biologist, what should I do first?
First off, understand that you’ll never get rich, monetarily, by entering this field. Your wealth will come in other ways. And you have to be okay with that. Many positions, especially working for agencies at the state level, may pay as low as 35K a year. Private organization might average around 53K. But people who enter this field generally fall into the “pick a career that you would do for free, and do that” category. They tend to love their work.So now that that’s out of the way…I don’t know how old you are but if you still haven’t entered college, do some research on where you can volunteer your time, working with animals. This may be state and federal wildlife agencies, universities, BLM (I had a lot of great opportunities with the BLM), forest service, non-profit organizations like wildlife rehab or raptor rehabs, Conservation groups, Sierra Club, at the zoo, etc… Contact all of them and get your name on their lists, as many are always looking for free help, which to you will be priceless. Keep a database of these places and stay in touch. All these groups know each other at the local level, so it’s a great way to network for opportunities once you’re established and have shown a willingness to help and be reliable. Even if you’re older, do the same at every opportunity.Obviously you should have had good grades in Biology and the natural sciences in high school. And yes, there’s math. You have to pass he basic courses at least. You also need to be a good writer, as there are will be reports that need to be written. Statistics doesn’t hurt either. After that, just find one of the many college programs anywhere in the country and try to get accepted. The work you do won’t always be glamorous, for sure. But occasionally you will be working on sexy projects that you never dreamed of.Good luck!
Questions about being a wildlife biologist?
Hi :) Im interested in wildlife biology and would like to know would this be a good job for me...i love animals and observing them, taking care of them and basically just going around looking at different animals and how they interact with their environment?...also, what are the specific dangers involved?...ive read also that some wildlife biologists have encountered dangerous people aswell, are these people poachers or something else?.... is there alot of maths and chemistry involved when studying to become a wildlife biologist or even after you have become one?...do you still get to spend alot of time with family and friends?...is it a competitive field?...and whats the salary like, particularly for hands-on jobs? all answers are appreciated...thanks :D
What does it take to be a Wildlife biologist?
What should you major in? How many years in college (to get at least a Master's of Science in zoology), What subjects should you be good at, what classes would you take, What is the job like? Thanks in advance
A Wildlife Biologist..?
1) Yes, it is very fun. It is also a lot of hard work and long days. Your office is the outdoors, you get to trap and handle animals and assist in management efforts. Every day brings something new and unexpected. Every biologist position is different. 2) Salaries vary per position, generally you can expect to make between 30-90K/year depending on location, education, experience, and responsibilities. Obviously, the higher paying positions require more experience and education. Also, generally with more education there is less "hands on" activities and less time in the field. http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos047.htm 3)If you are interested in becoming a Wildlife Biologist you will need a minimum of a bachelors degree and a masters degree is recommended.A bachelors degree takes about 4 years, full time and a masters degree will take about 2 years to complete, depending on the program. 4)There are many good schools to choose from, some schools have better programs than others. Just make sure that the school is accredited. Any school with courses that qualify for certification through the Wildlife Society is highly recommended. http://joomla.wildlife.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=39&Itemid=182 If you are interested in pursuing this as a career option I would encourage you to volunteer/intern with a state or federal agency and get as much experience as you can interacting with professional biologists. Also, join a student subchapter of the Wildlife Society, a professional organization for Wildlife Biologists. Good luck to you!
What qualifications are needed to become a wildlife photographer?
Requirements:1: Being a good photographer2: Wildeness training3: Wildlife knowledge - depending on the kind of wildlifeSquirrels: Require a good knowledge of nuts, so you can track the ones tasted by squirrels.Birds: Require a good knowledge of flight patterns and habitats of the specific birds. Perhaps also knowledge of bird calls.Polar bears: Require hunting skills (defensive) and arctic training.Other bears: Require scouting skills, as you will be spending a lot of time in the wildernessFish: Require diving skills – preferable not beginners level.Snow leopard: Require really good patience
Conservation Biology vs Wildlife Biology?
Here is a listing of all the schools in the US that offer a zoology degree. http://www.a2zcolleges.com/Majors/Zoology.html Texas A and M is known for their wildlife program..I would suggest looking into that university for sure. If you ultimate goal is to become a vet...you would need to obtain your bachelors degree (4 year program) then apply to vet school and if admitted, attend for an additional 4 years. One key factor in this line of study is experience! I cannot stress it enough. Sometimes majors do not mean a whole lot as many of them can get you similar jobs..basically these degrees are interchangable, but mostly the field you end up in will depend on your "hands-on" experience. For example I have a degree in zoology and my job is wildlife or field biologist, but I specialize in ornithology. I suggest doing as much volunteer work and internships you can. Once you graduate you will qualify to be hired as a seasonal field technician/bio aide, etc. to gain experience and to see what field of study you are most interested in.