CAREER CHOICE: WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST

CAREER PATHWAY: AGRICULTURE & MANUFACTURING

By: Cade Ewing4th hourED FOR CAREERS

Salary The average Wildlife Biologist makes

about $27 an hour, which is $56,500 a year

Education Requirements You would have to major in Life Sciences. You would also need at least a bachelor’s

degree in one of these subjects: Animal Physiology, Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Ecology, Entomology, Wildlife Science and Management

Job Requirements being pleasant with others on the job and

displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations

Work Context How often do you use email in this job? How often do you have telephone

conversations in this job? How important is it to work with others in

a group or team in this job? To what extent is this job structured for

the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?

Abilities The ability to listen to and understand

information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences

The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing

Work Activities Monitoring and reviewing information from

materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources

Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information

Skills Giving full attention to what other people

are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times

Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems

Knowledge Knowledge of plant and animal

organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar

Tools Dip net samplers; Gill nets; Jellyfish

scoops; Plankton nets Aerial nets; Odonata nets; Sweeping nets Scintillation vials; Specimen collection

jars; Water sample collection containers Animal traps; Culvert traps; Foot snares;

Mist nets Benthic samplers; Ekman dredges;

Multiplate samplers; Secchi disks

Technology Computer modeling software; HATPRO;

SAS software; Statistical software Data entry software; Database

management software; Microsoft Access; Relational database software

ESRI ArcView; Geographic information system GIS software; Mapping software

Tasks Study animals in their natural habitats,

assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry

Inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations

Description Study the origins, behavior, diseases,

genetics, and life processes of animals and wildlife.

Related Occupations Microbiologist Biologist Agricultural Technician Veterinarian Assistant and Laboratory

Animal Caretaker Animal Breeder

Outlook Information There is a predicted increase of 8,800 job

openings by the year 2018 Currently, there are an estimated 20,000

wildlife biologists in the U.S.