Wildlife Biologist
Conservation and Wildlife Management
Why I chose wildlife biology
A deeper look into Wildlife Biologist's and Zoologists
Zoologists and wildlife biologists 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. The roles and abilities of wildlife biologists and zoologists are very similar, but zoologists 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 particular at-risk species. Wildlife Biologists also do applied work, such as that involving the conservation and management of wildlife populations.
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Both careers conduct research for many purposes. Many zoologists and wildlife biologists work to increase our knowledge and understanding of wildlife species. Many wildlife biologists researched ways to encourage abundant game animal populations in order to increase recreational hunting and tourism. Today, many work with public officials in conservation efforts that protect species from threats and help animal populations return to and remain at sustainable levels.
Duties
- Develop and conduct experimental studies with animals in controlled or natural surroundings
- Collect biological data and specimens for analysis
- Study the characteristics of animals, such as their interactions with other species, reproduction, population dynamics, diseases, and movement patterns
- Analyze the influence that human activity has on wildlife and their natural habitats
- Research, initiate, and maintain ways of improving breeding programs that support healthy game animals, endangered species, or other wild populations of land or aquatic life
- Estimate, monitor, and manage wildlife populations and invasive plants and animals
- Write research papers, reports, and scholarly articles that explain their findings
- Give presentations on research findings to academics and the general public
- Develop conservation plans and make recommendations on wildlife conservation and management issues to policymakers and the general public
Specilizations
- Botanists: study plants, including their growth, diseases, and structures. Agronomists study the particular plant science concerning crop production.
- Ecologists: study ecosystems, which include all relationships between organisms and the surrounding environments.
- Evolutionary biologists: study the origins of species and the changes in their inherited characteristics over generations
Wildlife biologists specialize in studying wildlife according to the type of water or land where the wildlife lives. The following are examples of those who specialize by habitat:
- Limnologists: study organisms that live in freshwater
- Marine biologists: study organisms that live in saltwater
- Terrestrial biologists: study organisms that live on land, including plants and microbes
Education
Students typically take zoology and wildlife biology courses in ecology, anatomy, wildlife management, and cellular biology. They usually take courses that focus on a particular group of animals, such as herpetology (reptiles and amphibians) or ornithology (birds). Courses in botany, chemistry, and physics are important because wildlife biologists and zoologists must have a well-rounded scientific background. Wildlife biology programs may focus on applied techniques in habitat analysis and conservation. Students should also take courses in mathematics and statistics, given that wildlife biologists and zoologists must be able to do complex data analysis. Knowledge of computer science is important because zoologists and wildlife biologists frequently use advanced computer software, such a geographic information systems and modeling softwares, to do their work.
Courses leading to careers in wildlife biology:
- Mathematics (algebra, geometry, trigonometry, calculus, etc)
- Earth Science
- Biology
- Zoology, Ecology, Botany
- Geology
- Hydrology
Important Qualities
- Communication Skills
- Critical-thinking Skills
- Emotional Stamina and Stability
- Interpersonal Skills
- Observation Skills
- Outdoor Skills
- Problem Solving Skills
Salary
- Federal government (excluding postal service) - $74,190
- Research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences - $61,330
- Management, scientific, and technical consulting services - $56,590
- Colleges, universities, and professional schools (state) - $56,330
- State government (excluding education and hospitals) - $54,520
A Day in the Life of a Wildlife Biologist
Wildlife Biologists work with various Forest Service experts such as hierologists, geologists, and foresters to help protect the varied wildlife resources. They may participate in investigations and surveys to determine how to restore and protect the wildlife habitat. Some of this involves finding out what effects management policies are having on wildlife populations and their habitat. Wildlife biologists spend some of their time writing reports and making formal presentations of the results of their investigations on how to best manage and protect wildlife resources and habitats.
Works Cited
A
7014 Wildlife Biologist, Encyclopedic Dictionary of Landscape and Urban Planning. 2010.
B
19-1023 Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. May 23rd, 2016.
C
Summary, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 23rd 2016.
D
Internship Opportunities, Internship Opportunities. May 23rd, 2016.
E
Intern, Veterinary Hospital, Association of Zoos and Aquariums. May 23rd, 2016.
F
Kids.gov A Safe Place to Learn and Play, Wildlife Biologist. May 23rd, 2016.
G
2003-2016 Study.com
H
Career Story: Wildlife Biologist at a National Wildlife Refuge, May 23rd, 2016.
Resume
157 Rod and Gun Club Road
Millville, Pennsylvania, 17846 Ariel Sikalias
Home: (570)-458-4535 Email: arielsikalias@gmail.com
Cell: (570)-854-7996
Career Objective My plan is to attend Delaware Valley University, and graduate with the major Small Animal Science. I plan to become a wildlife biologist or zoologist.
Education Millville Jr./Sr. High School, Millville, PA 17815
Graduated June 2016.
Delaware Valley University, Doylestown, PA 18901
Graduated 2020
Air National Guard
Overall G.P.A. – 4.0
Work Experience Internship with the National Aviary located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was a non paying internship, but prepared me for my future as a wildlife biologist. I worked as an intern with the National Aviary from my sophomore year of college to my senior year. Delaware Valley University requires students to participate in an internship, and it benefitted me in teaching me more than I already knew.
Community Service Participated in two Millville Music Booster Spaghetti Dinner’s for the community,
around ten hours total. I also [articipated in around six to seven fundraising events for Mostly Mutts Dog Shelter as well as Helping to Rebuild Kidsburg. I had participated in dressing as a clown to decorate little kids faces. I participated in one Mill Green Church Spaghetti Dinner. Lastly, I participated in face painting at two of Milll Green Church block parties.
Special Skills. Since college, I have gained many different skills. Some are skills required to be able to work as a wildlife biologist. I have good communication skills from presenting presentations/projects. I have good outdoor skills from working with and caring for the animals in an outside environment. I also gained emotional stamina and stability from observing these animals.
Extra Curricular Activities
I had been a cheerleader for four years at Millville High School, and four years at Delaware Valley University. I participate in a lot of community service, as well as working with the ASPCA.
References
Miss Williamson, Biology Teacher
(570) 458 - 1245
18 Hill Road
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, 17815
gwilliamson@millville.k12.pa.us
Sherry Miller, Animal Science Professor
(570) 441 - 6709
700 E Butler Ave
Doylestown, PA, 18901
Susan King, Math Professor
(570) - 445 – 2312
700 E Butler Ave
Doylestown, Pa, 18901
05/20/2016
Ms. Emily Hamilton
NEOGOV
Manager
State of West Virginia Wildlife Biologists
Dear Ms. Hamilton,
I had come across your job openings for Wildlife Biologists in West Virginia. I was excited to see that there were jobs available for applying for, and I would greatly appreciate if we could talk more face to face, and hopefully have an interview.
My past work experience includes an internship with the National Aviary. I worked with animals of all kinds. It wasn’t exactly a position as a wildlife biologist, but it was very similar as they had me working the same areas and specializations as a wildlife biologist would. I gained knowledge of understanding animals and their environments. I gained communication skills, emotional stability, observation skills, outdoor skills, critical-thinking and problem solving. This internship taught me a lot, and it only added to my education from Delaware Valley University.
Previously, I have attended Delaware Valley University, and graduated with a masters degree in Small Animal Science. I was apart of the Delval cheerleading team for all four years. I worked on campus caring for the animals as a paid job. Delaware Valley has job openings for students in any major who have a love for animals and wanted to get a paying job working on campus. I chose to work with the animals because my future goal intended to be working with the animals and it seemed like the right decision. I ended up loving it and the animals.
Academically I excelled in almost all of my classes from freshman to senior year. I am confident that I have the type of knowledge you’re looking for, for this job opening as a wildlife biologist. I received many awards throughout my years at Delaware Valley University. In my sophomore year I was invited into the Honors Club where I made an oath that I will continue to work hard and excel in every subject to show the skills that I have, and how much of a hard worker I am.
My overall goal is to do what I love, and what I love doing includes working with animals. My goal is to become a wildlife biologist to study animals. The mind of animals fascinates me and I cant get enough. I aspire to be someone who makes a change in the world, especially in wildlife. I want to know more about animals and their environments, protect endangered species, and so much more. With this job as a full time wildlife biologist I think I can achieve all of my goals. I am able to bring my strong skills to the table to show you that I am someone who you would benefit from hiring. It is my pleasure to inform you of my previous experience and skills as an individual. I look forward to hearing from you, thank you for your time. You can reach me at my home phone: 570-458-4535 or my cell phone: 570-854-7996. I look forward to learning more about this great opportunity.
Sincerely.
Ariel Sikalias