CAREERS IN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT Agriscience 381 Wildlife and

CAREERS IN WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT Agriscience 381 Wildlife and Recreation Management #8989 -A TEKS: (c)(1)(A) and (c)(1)(D)

Introduction Careers in wildlife include a wide range of science, research, and development of natural resources. There are many career opportunities available in the field of wildlife management.

Wildlife Management Wildlife management ensures that wildlife species serve the ecological, commercial, recreational, or scientific purposes determined by state law or public interest.

Wildlife management techniques include: • manipulating wildlife habitat, • establishing hunting seasons, • setting regulations, • collecting wildlife population data, and • educating the public about wildlife conservation.

Wildlife Manager’s Duties Wildlife managers implement management techniques to meet the objectives of wildlife management. The challenges are complex and require that managers have expertise in a variety of areas. Some require specialization.

Most entry-level wildlife management careers fall into one of the following three areas: • wildlife management and biology, • research, and • public relations. Photo by John & Karen Hollingsworth courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Wildlife managers must be able to count animals, control populations, recommend hunting seasons, be public relations specialist, and educate people. Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Wildlife managers like those employed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department or U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service must also work to enforce the laws and regulations. Photo by John & Karen Hollingsworth courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

As mentioned, a wildlife manager’s work involves some degree of public relations. Some wildlife jobs deal exclusively with public relations. Photo by David Maple courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Successful wildlife management depends largely on facts obtained by scientific research. A wildlife biologist performs basic or applied research to obtain data.

Subject areas for research include physiology, genetics, ecology, behavior, disease, nutrition, population dynamics, land use change, and pollution. Photo by Bobby Brown courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Educational Requirements for Employment Wildlife science is based in biological science, but also involves many other disciplines.

Skills needed by wildlife science professionals include: • understanding of biological concepts, • oral and written communication skills, • the ability to work well with others, and • understanding natural resource conservation in relation to other human activities.

Preparation for a career in wildlife management can begin in high school. Course work should include biology, chemistry, physics, math, and computers. Courses in plant science, soil science, animal science, environmental science, and wildlife and recreation management would also be beneficial.

College is essential for most wildlife management occupations.

In college, areas of study vary, but should include and not be limited to: • population and ecosystem processes, • sampling procedures, • wildlife anatomy/morphology, • plant identification, • library research, • communication skills, • computer skills, and • management.

This training should prepare a person for an entry-level wildlife position requiring a bachelor’s degree. A degree program should also include an internship opportunity, which would provide practical experience.

A person pursuing training as a wildlife manager should spend time outdoors to understand wildlife and the environment. The job opportunities have increased over the years due to the increase in national policies on endangered species, marine mammals, and environmental quality.

Employment in the wildlife management field will fit into one of five basic levels of education: • no skill (no formal education), • high school diploma/GED, • technical training, • college, and • graduate school.

Employment will fall into one of three sectors: public, private, and non-profit. Employment in the public sector is open to all levels of education.

Private sector jobs focus on profitability and look to employ only college-trained individuals. The non-profit sector is open to all levels of education and often looks to volunteer work with no payment for services.

Wildlife Related Jobs Below are examples of jobs that are related to wildlife. • Fish and Wildlife Technician • Refuge Manager • Wildlife Researcher • Fish Culture Technician • Wildlife Public Relations • Fishery Biologist/ Hatchery Manager • Resource Coordinator • Wildlife Biologist • Zoologist • Law Enforcement

Fish and Wildlife Technician A fish and wildlife technician may work independently or under the supervision of a wildlife biologist. A technician performs tasks related to wildlife management, determines proper regulations for improvement of wildlife conservation and management, and repairs and maintains equipment.

This position usually requires a high school education or a GED. Individuals with mechanical skills are usually given preference for this position. Photo by John & Karen Hollingsworth courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Wildlife Researcher Wildlife research requires individuals with a high degree of academic ability and self-discipline. The research obtained provides facts in which management decisions are made. Photo courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. the

Wildlife Public Relations The job of wildlife public relations is to inform and educate the public with regards to wildlife management. Some degree of public relation skills is necessary. Photo by Debbie Mc. Crensky courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Resource Coordinators Resource coordinators have the responsibility to ensure that activities on public lands comply with state and federal regulations. These individuals are trained in a specific natural or cultural resource discipline such as archeology, botany, conservation biology, ecology, range science, land acquisition, data management, computer science, history, or historic architecture.

Zoologist A zoologist, or life scientist, normally works with several animal species. Their major tasks are research and development. Photo by Ron Garrison, San Diego Zoo, courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Agriculture, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Public Health Service, the National Park Service, zoos, and museums often employ zoologists. The trend toward more leisure time for the American public is creating a better employment outlook for zoologists.

Refuge Manager A refuge manager uses the best science and technology to manage a wildlife refuge. Threatened or endangered species are particular concerns of refuge management. Photo by Art Sowls courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Fish Culture Technician A fish culture technician works with the production food or game species. of fish Photo by Robert Pos courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The three areas of employment are in fish hatchery technology, fish wildlife conservation technology, and experimental biology technology.

Fishery Biologist/Hatchery Manager A fishery biologist manages the habitats, spawning, and growth of fish. A fish biologist should study aquatic biology, oceanography, and fish culture. Photo by Robert Pos courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

A fish hatchery manager oversees fish breeding operations. Use of artificial propagation will increase the production of some fish species. Photo by Robert Pos courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Wildlife Biologist A wildlife biologist designs and conducts studies on wildlife resources. This biologist may work with big game, small game, birds, and non-game species and/or urban wildlife. Photo by Jim Akaran courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This position requires a college degree in wildlife science, wildlife management, or a closely related field.

Law Enforcement Law enforcement includes jobs as a game warden, conservation officer, water patrol officer, or park ranger. These professionals dedicate their lives to protection of fish, forests, and wildlife resources. A post high school education is necessary for most law enforcement careers. Photo by Steve Hillebrand courtesy of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Qualifications Careers in wildlife management require a strong interest in wildlife. The individual must be sensitive to the esthetic values of natural resources and have a sincere interest in science.

The individual must also be in excellent physical and mental health. He/she should like and understand people as well as wildlife. A wildlife manager should be able to assume responsibility and complete tasks without supervision.

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