Wildlife biologists???
 

is neone in here a wildlife biologist, im almost positive thats what i would like to go to college for and do for the rest of my life it seems like a really neat job and sumthing i would enjoy and look forward to goin to each and everyday. i was just wondering if anybody knew what classes you would have to take and all the specs.

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

i' m not one but thats also the career i would like to go to college for... where u goin... i' m thinkin of vermilion up by ely, mn...:Dgood luck and hope u find the info your lookin for;)

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

i heard Penn State has one of the best courses in the state but Indiana University of Pennsylvania is my second choice followed by West Virginia University

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

I' m not one but my nephew is. He went to college and got his masters degree and became a wildlife biologist. It is NOT a good paying job. He makes less than teachers, he makes less than construction workers. Very few W.Bios. make good money. It is a labor of love for the many who don' t make much.

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

I' ve got a degree in wildlife management. For the last 10 years, I' ve been employed as an Environmental Engineering Specialist with the State Dep' t of Ag. For 18 years I was a County Conservationist. I' ve got to say that it has been very enjoyable. Last year I designed a 1/2 sq. mile empoundment for waterfowl that Ducks Unlimited ended up funding. Lately, we' ve been riprapping the Wolf River to develop sturgeon spawning habitat. I can honestly say that with some exceptions, I still get up, looking forward to going to work every day.
The other guys are right. The pay is not good. The hours sometimes suck. There are not many openings, what with tight state budgets and all. However, none of theguys I work with, myself included, got into this for the money.

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

I started out studying to be a wildlife biologist quite a few years ago, and switched when I got further information on the lack of jobs and the poor money. Plan on getting at least a masters or a doctorate if you want a good chance to do anything real interesting. You will have to be at the top of your class if you want a chance at one of the few jobs that come available. A good friend of mine who got his degree in wildlife biology, couldn' t get a job and went back to school and became a vet. Only the very best students are accepted into vet school, so even great grades do not guarantee a job.

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

A good friend of mine has a masters degree and is a biologist for Ducks Unlimited.
He does most of the vegetative work for DU here in Manitoba. He does field work to determine what types of vegetation are in certain areas and then uses a computer and landsat images to generate vegetative maps.
The pay isn' t great but he likes working there. Every spring he is itching to get out in the field and then by the end of summer he is ready for a little desk work. He pretty much spends all winter generating these maps.
The others are right. There aren' t alot of good jobs out there in this field and you pretty much need a masters degree at minimum so plan on being in school for a long time.

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

PENN STATE not only has one of the best in the state of PA but also the whole country. While there you also would get a chance to deal with some of the best biologists and animal experts in the world. Can' t go wrong with PSU. WE ARE!!! PENN STATE!!!

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

Welcome to the world of poverty! I am a wildlife biologist in La., and after 6 years of college, and 4 years experience, my gross salary is 25K a year. If you do plan on becoming one here is the way to do it right; (1) Find a girlfriend that has a rich family, or who is going to school to be a doctor, MARRY HER! (2) Start studying chemistry YESTERDAY!, (3) Start studying plant biology NOW!, (4) Apply with your local wildlife agency as a student worker/volunteer to gain experience and to get your name recognized - you need a foot in the door - this is the way to get it. I took care of #1 ;), wish I did numbers 2,3 and 4. Seriously, you can' t manage wildlife of any sort without knowing their diet and nutritional needs, and to do this you have to be able to identify these particular plants in the field (not as easy as it sounds). I love my job most of the time; however, conducting browse surveys in the summer heat leaves a lot to be desired. Good luck!

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

Roseaukaine,

Is there a place on the web to get info on how to identify browse plants prefered by deer? I know some of the obvious ones but would be interested in being able to identify many more prefered plants.

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

I have a degree in wildlife biology & law enforcement. I am a glorified Federal game warden. The hours can be long & odd. The pay is not too bad. I travel all the time and have seen some great country. Living life on the road does get old at times. If wildlife is what you like go for it.

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

I didn' t need to read that right now.... I' m eating a sausage pizza![:o][X(]

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

Treeguy, I know of no " online" sources for browse species of plants on the internet; however, one of the college extension agents or your local wildlife department in your area may have a browse species booklet that identifies browse species relevant to your particular locality. Otherwise, try other online sources like amazon.com and do a search. If you do find a site - please post it so we all can share;).

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

Hey Roseaukaine where did you go to school? I have a son who may head down that path.He hates chemistry though.But he loves the outdoors,I think it would be up his alley.

CB

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

Cajunhunter (neighbor:D), I went to school at Nicholls State University in southern Louisiana (Cajun Harvard:)). If your son is interested in this field of study, tell him to go after a masters degree in wildlife management from LSU after he graduates with a BS in Biology/Environmental Science from an accredited university (there are many), then go to work for the US Fish and Wildlife Service (Federal). They make great money, but he has to be willing to relocate where he is needed most (like Alaska!). He can get his masters degree while working for the state wildlife and fisheries (LDWF), and gain the necessary experience that the USFWS requires. He needs to certify with the Civil Service Dept. to apply with the LDWF. He must be prepared for the Louisiana Civil Service professional level examination - not the easiest thing in the world to pass (I did the first time:D). He must score a 86 or higher on the test, have a BS in Biology, Chemistry, or Environmental Science, and go through a stringent interview process. If he meets the overwhelming requirements - he can be one of the proudest lowest paid state employees in the country[:o]. But, like stated before, it' s a labor of love;). Good luck!

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

Hey, thanks for the info.Where you based out of now? I think he would really like to work in deer management.How hard is that to get into in the private sector.Any market for that at all??

Thanks,
CB

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

I thought about going into wildlife biology when I switched majors my freshman year, but then learned that only the top 10% of graduates get jobs, and most only get jobs after grad school. I' m a Natural Resource Management major, and have a summer internship doing GPS/GIS work, monitoring, and various other tasks with a county environmental service. There are some great jobs in the environmental field, but from what I' ve heard wildlife biology is very tough to get in on. Almost everyone wants to be a deer biologist, but very, very few are.

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

What Jeffmiller said! I am stationed in Terrebonne Parish. The demand is not that great for deer managers in the private sector. One needs credentials, and years of experience before he/she can get hired. Whitetails are the most researched of all animals - almost anyone could be a " deer biologist" (at heart anyway) if they take the time and educate themselves:eek:. There are many resources available online and through government agencies. Remember, their research is a public record - viewable to all who seek it;).

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

A good friend of mine has a bachlor' s degree in wildlife biology. He tried for four years after college to get a job in his field. Graduated top of his class from Iowa State. He' s a deputy now. Figures thats about as close as he' ll get. Lots of folks with his degree, very few jobs.

Don' t mean to rain on your parade. Just giving you my buddies experience. But make no mistake, an education is the only way to go which ever field you choose.

RE: Wildlife biologists???
 

Yes - no other way. An education is an absolute necessity, after that - a little luck, a lot of patience, and hard work is in order (unless you know someone[:@]). I was " lucky" . I had applied/inquired with the department several times over two years, went back to college and recieved another degree in secondary education. I was working as a HS Biology/Environmental Science teacher when they finally called (out of the blue[:o]). When I accepted the position, I went from 27K/year as a first-year teacher to 19k/year as a starting Biologist . The positions are very competative - that' s why the salary is so low. A biologist position is the lowest paying job for having one of the hardest curriculums/requirements of almost any other professional position that I know of. BUT, I do love my job - I learn something new every day and the benefits are excellent for a growing family (and I get to scout year-round:D).