Who works in wildlife conservation?
There are many ways to work in wildlife conservation, whether you’re in the biology field or supporting an organization in nontraditional ways. Discover some paths you can take in this exciting field.
Dr. Claire Erlacher-Reid, senior staff veterinarian at SeaWorld Rescue, performs a health check on a manatee as they prepare it for release.
Exotic veterinarians
When you think of wildlife jobs, a veterinarian may be one of the first ones to come to mind. But taking care of wild animals is a bit different than caring for your cat or dog. To work with wildlife, you’ll need to study exotic animals through a college or university.
But before enrolling in a program, Peter suggests interviewing local veterinarians at your zoo or vet clinic to see if you’d be a good fit.
“I had someone talk to me who was sure he wanted to become a vet, and I said, ‘see if you can volunteer at your local vet,’’ Peter said. “He couldn’t stand the sight of blood!”
Conservation managers
If you’re more of a big picture person, consider looking into conservation management. People in this field study animals in a certain area and help guide a conservation plan.
“Some days they’re writing papers all day, some days they’re walking around, putting medicine on prairie dog mounds and some days they’re riding around with binoculars, counting how many bison they see in a certain area,” Dr. Rae said.
These actions help inform how conservation efforts are going and what organizations, such as the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife, need to focus on. Individuals in these jobs typically have a bachelor’s degree in natural resources, biology or related fields.
Filmmaker and Wildlife Biologist Ben Masters and Dr. Rae are checking out a trail camera to see if it’s captured any looks at the elusive ocelot.
Wildlife biologists
While filming Mexican gray wolves in New Mexico, Dr. Rae and Peter worked with wildlife biologists. These biologists performed checkups on the wolves, outfitted them with GPS collars and released them back into the wild.
Since this job is very hands-on, “these are exciting adventure-filled jobs,” Dr. Rae said.
Many in this field have a bachelor’s in biology or related studies.
Greg Brashear (left) and Christian Cave (right) became friends because of their mutual love of wildlife. Each with their own social media channels, they both educate followers about all things reptiles and amphibians that live in and around Georgia.
Wildlife educators
If you enjoy sharing your passion for wildlife with others, a career in wildlife education may be for you. Many conservation organizations have educators who work to inform folks about animals and their ecosystems.
“I think the way conservation is guaranteed to continue to be successful is by educating people about it,” Dr. Rae said.
Degree requirements vary for these jobs, but people who work in them typically have a background in conservation.
Park rangers
One of the most visible conservation jobs are park rangers. These individuals work in local, state and national parks in various capacities, such as giving tours, enforcing park rules and educating visitors about the park and its wildlife. Their primary goal is to protect the park’s natural resources, wildlife and ecosystem, as well as its visitors.
“If I meet someone like me who enjoys spending as much time as they can in the great outdoors, I sort of push them in that direction,” Peter said.
To learn more about becoming a park ranger, visit parkrangeredu.org.
Naturalist David Mizejewski with the National Wildlife Federation has been a guest on Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom, including providing a number of tips for website articles. Image courtesy of the National Wildlife Federation.
Naturalists
If you enjoy observing the natural world, a career as a naturalist may be for you. These individuals learn about local flora and fauna. They’re great record keepers, taking notes of how the environment changes. A great way to get into this field is to study ecology, or the relationship between living things and their environment.
Read this story on building a wildlife garden from naturalist David Mizejewski of the National Wildlife Federation, to get an idea of what a naturalist works on.
Which conservation job is right for me?
If you’re considering a career in conservation, Peter suggests thinking about your personality and what the job entails.
“What level of discomfort can you handle?” Peter said. “Do you mind sleeping in a tent in the snow or in a rainstorm? Or do you mind being surrounded by mosquitoes while you’re trying to talk on camera? These are things people generally don’t think about.”
See if you can volunteer at a local organization to get an inside scoop on what the job is really like.
“Learn as much about it as you can beforehand, and if you’re still passionate about the direction you want to take, then get educated and work hard,” Peter said.
