Wildlife Biology
10-07-2008, 11:09 PM
#11
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: arkansas
Posts: 276
RE: Wildlife Biology
i dont have much 2 cents to put in on this..but i too am wanting to become a wildlife biologist..im currently in the air force..i joined back in january and have five more years and while i was in i was wanting to get a degree in biology and be a wildlife biologist for the arkansas game and fish commission..but after hearing all this im having second thoughts on the choice i want to make. Im not really concerned about the money side of it..but i would like to be in the field and not wasting my time. About the only other thing that i may do when i get out is be an aircraft technician..since thats what im currently doing right now in the air force..and i will have 5 years experience on that so i could more than likely get hired anywhere..after i get my AMP license..but i really want a job that involves the great outdoors.
10-08-2008, 07:13 AM
#12
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 27
RE: Wildlife Biology
Yeah, man. All these guys are right. I'm a senior at Auburn University right now studying Landscape Architecture. I'm came into Auburn as a Wildlife Management student, just like you're wanting to. I even interned with the biologist at Callaway Gardens...his name is Cory Croft. He recommended I choose a different field. Like everyone said here, there is NO MONEY in this field. Even if you do somehow land a job, you'll never make enough to really enjoy yourself due to lack of (and still declining) funding for these programs. Your best bet would be to become some kind of ranch manager in Texas or something like that. Even so, you'll be working all the time and won't get much of a chance to actually hunt. My advice: pick a different major that you can tolerate and make some money. This way, you'll be able to afford to enjoy the deer woods on your own time...and maybe support a family too!
10-08-2008, 11:21 AM
#13
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,358
RE: Wildlife Biology
Many people say you have to love your job. I don't agree, in general. True you can't dislike your job because you spend so much time doing it for a large part of your life. There is a balance to strike.
I love hunting, outdoors etc, but I work as software engineer. Been doing this for close to 25 years. I far from love it. It's ok, I'm good at it and I get paid alot to do it!
The pay part lets me:
- take care of my family
- spoil my wife
- raise the kids comfortably
- buy toys!
- go on an occassional hunting trip
It's a nice balance.
I love hunting, outdoors etc, but I work as software engineer. Been doing this for close to 25 years. I far from love it. It's ok, I'm good at it and I get paid alot to do it!
The pay part lets me:
- take care of my family
- spoil my wife
- raise the kids comfortably
- buy toys!
- go on an occassional hunting trip
It's a nice balance.
10-08-2008, 12:29 PM
#14
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Hillsdale,IN
Posts: 552
RE: Wildlife Biology
Even though what you are wanting to do is competative, if you want it bad enough and stick with it you will be successful. You just need to do your part and dont give up and persue it untill you finally get to where you want to be. Im in my last year of Conservation Law Enforcement and it to is very competative, but that doesnt discourage me because it is all I want to do with my life. I will do what ever it takes because I really want this job and am willing to do whatever it takes. Keep your head up, and good luck.
10-08-2008, 04:17 PM
#15
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: ELK GROVE CA USA
Posts: 1,251
RE: Wildlife Biology
i will chime in with some advice.
pay is not great, but it is pay. the key thing IMO is if you like the outdoors and want a science job i would get the degree. the difference between a wildlife biology degree and biological science degree is 3 classes!! so any science degree will do you just fine..there are MANY MANY MANY jobs that you can get with a "science" degree.......my degree is in Biological Sciences and it allows me to be a : environmental scientist, biologist, wildlife biologist, food and drug investigator, environmental specialist, agricultural specialist, pharm representative..etc.etc.. etc....
so fact of the matter is to GET the degree...then go from there.....if you like animals is say 100% get that degree and work on getting a job to fit your lifestyle, finances, etc in the "science world"
if you want to persue a career in wildlife biology get on as an intern NOW (first year in college or even the summer out of highschool)...the necesity to get your foot in the door is a MUST...i am realizing this now ... holding a $30k piece of paper saying i have a degree and can't get a job.....getting your foot in the door in this cut throat world is a MUST ... MUST.. MUST.....be a student assitant, science tech..etc..etc..for state, feds, private sector etc...
hope that helps and good luck
pay is not great, but it is pay. the key thing IMO is if you like the outdoors and want a science job i would get the degree. the difference between a wildlife biology degree and biological science degree is 3 classes!! so any science degree will do you just fine..there are MANY MANY MANY jobs that you can get with a "science" degree.......my degree is in Biological Sciences and it allows me to be a : environmental scientist, biologist, wildlife biologist, food and drug investigator, environmental specialist, agricultural specialist, pharm representative..etc.etc.. etc....
so fact of the matter is to GET the degree...then go from there.....if you like animals is say 100% get that degree and work on getting a job to fit your lifestyle, finances, etc in the "science world"
if you want to persue a career in wildlife biology get on as an intern NOW (first year in college or even the summer out of highschool)...the necesity to get your foot in the door is a MUST...i am realizing this now ... holding a $30k piece of paper saying i have a degree and can't get a job.....getting your foot in the door in this cut throat world is a MUST ... MUST.. MUST.....be a student assitant, science tech..etc..etc..for state, feds, private sector etc...
hope that helps and good luck
10-09-2008, 08:14 AM
#16
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location:
Posts: 6,357
RE: Wildlife Biology
flyfishpj: Some things to consider. I'm not sure how much $$$ is available to you for college, but be advised that your out-of-state tuition costs are about 3 times higher than in-state tuition costs. Going to an out of state school is roughly equivalent to going to a private school. Things like dormitory expenses and books and fees may be the same for both in-state and out-of-state students.
Deciding on college majors is very difficult. My advice is to not fully commit to any specific major any earlier than you have to. In point of fact, REAL commitment can often be deferred until second semester Sophmore year or even later. Sure, you'll need to declare a major up front, but you can switch majors without too much pain later. It is important, however, to identify a general path. If you are pretty confident that your path lies along a science/engineering line, this would suggest that you'll need to be hitting the math and physics courses in your Freshman and Sophmore years. If you look at the requirements for many science and engineering majors, for example, you would likely see that the curriculum across several different majorsis substantially identical for the first three semesters. However, if your path lies in the humanities, then a different curriculum is called for during those first three semesters.
Something to think about is that is it a scientific fact that the decision making portion of the human brain matures late, beginning around 17 years of age. What this implies to me is that it is better to defer key life decisions until a point when one's decision making machinery is fully developed. Another point is that decisions are more likely to be good decisions when more information, more input is available. You are much more likely to have this additional information after 3 semesters of college than as a High School senior. I know that kids hate this -- they want to have the security of an explicitly defined path early. I say this based on my son who is a first semester Freshman at Texas A&M University and my 16-year old daughter who is a Junior in High School.
One more consideration just to keep in the back of your mind. Life is long. Things change, particularly careers change. Whatever it is you think you are educating yourself for -- a specific job or job description -- bear in mind that you are probably going to change careers two or more times in your life. Don't overly specialize. Don't slack off on any classes on the assumption that they are not relevant to your chosen major/career path. The idea of studying a range of subjects across multiple disciplines is a good idea.
Well, I'm going to do a complete dump of my college lore, in case it may help you. As I say, I've recently been through a lot of this with my son matriculating recently.
To the extent you have freedom of choice in this matter -- $$$ and admissions may limit your choices -- as an undergraduate attend a university that has the best general reputation; as a graduate student attend a university that has the best reputation in your chosen field.
Put some time into writing your admission essays and ask someone with writing skill -- not everyone has this skill, even simply in terms of knowing correct punctuation -- to review and guide revision of your essay.
Others may disagree, but I think it is preferable to go directly from High School to a four year college/university rather than to a Junior College or community college. My feeling is that the competition is stouter at the four year institutions, and at least to some extent you will lift your game to compete with your peers and hence work harder/learn more at the four year institution than at the Junior College. Additionally, college is not just about learning academic subject matter. It is also learning to handle yourself socially, getting exposed to new cultural influences, learning from others. This is best promoted away from home at a 4 year institution.
Apply early for dormitory rooms. If you wait too long, you may get assigned to a crummy dorm or not get a dorm room at all.
Deciding on college majors is very difficult. My advice is to not fully commit to any specific major any earlier than you have to. In point of fact, REAL commitment can often be deferred until second semester Sophmore year or even later. Sure, you'll need to declare a major up front, but you can switch majors without too much pain later. It is important, however, to identify a general path. If you are pretty confident that your path lies along a science/engineering line, this would suggest that you'll need to be hitting the math and physics courses in your Freshman and Sophmore years. If you look at the requirements for many science and engineering majors, for example, you would likely see that the curriculum across several different majorsis substantially identical for the first three semesters. However, if your path lies in the humanities, then a different curriculum is called for during those first three semesters.
Something to think about is that is it a scientific fact that the decision making portion of the human brain matures late, beginning around 17 years of age. What this implies to me is that it is better to defer key life decisions until a point when one's decision making machinery is fully developed. Another point is that decisions are more likely to be good decisions when more information, more input is available. You are much more likely to have this additional information after 3 semesters of college than as a High School senior. I know that kids hate this -- they want to have the security of an explicitly defined path early. I say this based on my son who is a first semester Freshman at Texas A&M University and my 16-year old daughter who is a Junior in High School.
One more consideration just to keep in the back of your mind. Life is long. Things change, particularly careers change. Whatever it is you think you are educating yourself for -- a specific job or job description -- bear in mind that you are probably going to change careers two or more times in your life. Don't overly specialize. Don't slack off on any classes on the assumption that they are not relevant to your chosen major/career path. The idea of studying a range of subjects across multiple disciplines is a good idea.
Well, I'm going to do a complete dump of my college lore, in case it may help you. As I say, I've recently been through a lot of this with my son matriculating recently.
To the extent you have freedom of choice in this matter -- $$$ and admissions may limit your choices -- as an undergraduate attend a university that has the best general reputation; as a graduate student attend a university that has the best reputation in your chosen field.
Put some time into writing your admission essays and ask someone with writing skill -- not everyone has this skill, even simply in terms of knowing correct punctuation -- to review and guide revision of your essay.
Others may disagree, but I think it is preferable to go directly from High School to a four year college/university rather than to a Junior College or community college. My feeling is that the competition is stouter at the four year institutions, and at least to some extent you will lift your game to compete with your peers and hence work harder/learn more at the four year institution than at the Junior College. Additionally, college is not just about learning academic subject matter. It is also learning to handle yourself socially, getting exposed to new cultural influences, learning from others. This is best promoted away from home at a 4 year institution.
Apply early for dormitory rooms. If you wait too long, you may get assigned to a crummy dorm or not get a dorm room at all.
10-09-2008, 08:39 AM
#17
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Alabama
Posts: 1,068
RE: Wildlife Biology
I moved to Auburn to pursue a degree in wildlife sciences, but heard from many graduates that finding a job was not easy at all.Pay was not good, job wasn't what they expected, didn't get to hunt and fish and be outside all the time like they thought they would. I changed to industrial engineering just to ensure I will have a very well paying job when I graduate. Like others have said, I don't think you have to like your job at all. I KNOW I won't like mine, because I won't be in the woods with a turkey call in my mouth or my bow in my hand every day. Hunting is the ONLY thing I truly love to do, and I had to grow up and be realistic in knowing I will never be able to do that for a living. Not fair at all, but life aint fair. You HAVE to look ahead and work your ass off for your future family and financial security. I will have a terrible job, I've accepted that. But when the weekends come I'll be able to hit the woods and still enjoy the outdoors. Those who get to do it every day are blessed, and I guess if you want something bad enough, and have faith that God will bless you with your desires, you'll get it. As for me, right now, I'm thinking about a good degree (that will never be taken from you), a great paying job, and supporting a family very soon.
10-11-2008, 10:40 AM
#18
Spike
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: So. Illinois
Posts: 92
RE: Wildlife Biology
flyfishpj-
First of all, I will agree that being a biologist (wildlife or otherwise) DOES NOT mean you will be out hunting and/or fishing allthe time. If you want to do that then become a guide or an outfitter. It also does not mean that you will always be out trapping and attaching radio collars to big bucks or bears or anything else. In fact, you will likely beat a desk a lot and in the beginning youmight even be doing some pretty menial things. But in most cases you will get theopportunity to make a real differencefor wildlife and/or improve the experience of hunters.
As far as college goes, the statement about out-of-state tuition is valid. However, there is an easy way to get around that. Just move there. Cut the umbilical cord to mommy and just set up residency. It only takes 6 months or a year. I actually went to LSSU and I did just that. I was 20 when I did it (not fresh out of high school) but I only had to pay out-of-state tuition for one semester before I qualified. Another thing you can do if you don't want to do that right away is take a lot of your gen. eds. locally but work with your prospective university so that you can be sure your credits will transfer. Either way, if you want to be a wildlife biologist, moving far from home for college will help you when it comes time to find a job. If your cord is already cut, it will definitely be easier for you.
Getting an advanced degree is another statement that is true. It is going to benecessary if you want to be successful and not flounder around in low-paying entry level jobs for 15 years. You will have to get high grades as an undergrad to get a position, but here's the thing....grad school is fun and it was actually easier than undergraduate. You still have to work hard, but if you get into a good program they actually pay you to be a student. Plus you no longer have to worry about taking irrelevant courses like you have to do for you gen. ed. requirements. I also agree with the statement that no matter where you go, get into a program that will not only offer a lot of classroom experience but also the field experience.
People are right when they say this field is competitive, but lots of fields are competitive. That said, the first question I ask anyone who wants to be a wildlife/fisheries biologist is "Are you willing and able to move to where the work is?" There's nothing wrong with wanting to stay in your hometown or even your home state but giving yourself even the smallest limits on moving will seriously hamper your job prospects, especially at first. You have to remember that a guy your age will be on the job for 30 years or more. You will have plenty of time to get some experience under your belt and wait for those opportunities closer to home to open up. Also if you are young and have a family that you don't want to drag around with you until you can get settled, then I would say that people are right when they say you should think about a field that is a bit more open. However, if you are single and not particularly bound to one place, go for it. You may not have to but just be prepared to move a few times before you land that good permanent job.
Everyone that says all biologist jobs are low-paid is really not thinking about things in terms of scale. Sure, $50K a year is not much compared to a high paid engineer in Chicago, but many biologist jobs are in rural areas. If you are smart and don't saddle yourself with a bunch of car, credit card, etc debt you can definitely live a comfortable life. Also, I will agree that many states pay crap, especially at entry level, but the feds pay prettywell. An assistant refuge manager will start at $55-65K a year and a refuge manager typically starts at $75-80K a year depending on grade andlocation. You won't get one of these fresh out of school but its not unreasonable to think you will get there within 10 years and that's not a bad living anywhere outside of a big city.You may even find you dont want to climb that high and thats fine too. Chances are you'll never make the kind of money it takes to buy big tracts of land in Illinois for example, but you will have a job you love.....and if you don't, you can always do something else.
Anyway, I'm sure you're bored by now, but if you want more info feel free to send me a message.
First of all, I will agree that being a biologist (wildlife or otherwise) DOES NOT mean you will be out hunting and/or fishing allthe time. If you want to do that then become a guide or an outfitter. It also does not mean that you will always be out trapping and attaching radio collars to big bucks or bears or anything else. In fact, you will likely beat a desk a lot and in the beginning youmight even be doing some pretty menial things. But in most cases you will get theopportunity to make a real differencefor wildlife and/or improve the experience of hunters.
As far as college goes, the statement about out-of-state tuition is valid. However, there is an easy way to get around that. Just move there. Cut the umbilical cord to mommy and just set up residency. It only takes 6 months or a year. I actually went to LSSU and I did just that. I was 20 when I did it (not fresh out of high school) but I only had to pay out-of-state tuition for one semester before I qualified. Another thing you can do if you don't want to do that right away is take a lot of your gen. eds. locally but work with your prospective university so that you can be sure your credits will transfer. Either way, if you want to be a wildlife biologist, moving far from home for college will help you when it comes time to find a job. If your cord is already cut, it will definitely be easier for you.
Getting an advanced degree is another statement that is true. It is going to benecessary if you want to be successful and not flounder around in low-paying entry level jobs for 15 years. You will have to get high grades as an undergrad to get a position, but here's the thing....grad school is fun and it was actually easier than undergraduate. You still have to work hard, but if you get into a good program they actually pay you to be a student. Plus you no longer have to worry about taking irrelevant courses like you have to do for you gen. ed. requirements. I also agree with the statement that no matter where you go, get into a program that will not only offer a lot of classroom experience but also the field experience.
People are right when they say this field is competitive, but lots of fields are competitive. That said, the first question I ask anyone who wants to be a wildlife/fisheries biologist is "Are you willing and able to move to where the work is?" There's nothing wrong with wanting to stay in your hometown or even your home state but giving yourself even the smallest limits on moving will seriously hamper your job prospects, especially at first. You have to remember that a guy your age will be on the job for 30 years or more. You will have plenty of time to get some experience under your belt and wait for those opportunities closer to home to open up. Also if you are young and have a family that you don't want to drag around with you until you can get settled, then I would say that people are right when they say you should think about a field that is a bit more open. However, if you are single and not particularly bound to one place, go for it. You may not have to but just be prepared to move a few times before you land that good permanent job.
Everyone that says all biologist jobs are low-paid is really not thinking about things in terms of scale. Sure, $50K a year is not much compared to a high paid engineer in Chicago, but many biologist jobs are in rural areas. If you are smart and don't saddle yourself with a bunch of car, credit card, etc debt you can definitely live a comfortable life. Also, I will agree that many states pay crap, especially at entry level, but the feds pay prettywell. An assistant refuge manager will start at $55-65K a year and a refuge manager typically starts at $75-80K a year depending on grade andlocation. You won't get one of these fresh out of school but its not unreasonable to think you will get there within 10 years and that's not a bad living anywhere outside of a big city.You may even find you dont want to climb that high and thats fine too. Chances are you'll never make the kind of money it takes to buy big tracts of land in Illinois for example, but you will have a job you love.....and if you don't, you can always do something else.
Anyway, I'm sure you're bored by now, but if you want more info feel free to send me a message.
10-20-2008, 11:49 PM
#19
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Trussville, AL
Posts: 171
RE: Wildlife Biology
Stephen F. Austin, LSU, University of Georgia, Mississippi State University, or Auburn University.
Maybe this would be a better choice as a minor degree. Like others have said, the pay is not good and tough to find a job. Pick some other field to major in, one that you would also enjoy and where you can make a comfortableliving.
Maybe this would be a better choice as a minor degree. Like others have said, the pay is not good and tough to find a job. Pick some other field to major in, one that you would also enjoy and where you can make a comfortableliving.
10-21-2008, 06:07 AM
#20
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: north florida
Posts: 1,277
RE: Wildlife Biology
ORIGINAL: Mossy_71
Stephen F. Austin, LSU, University of Georgia, Mississippi State University, or Auburn University.
Maybe this would be a better choice as a minor degree. Like others have said, the pay is not good and tough to find a job. Pick some other field to major in, one that you would also enjoy and where you can make a comfortableliving.
Stephen F. Austin, LSU, University of Georgia, Mississippi State University, or Auburn University.
Maybe this would be a better choice as a minor degree. Like others have said, the pay is not good and tough to find a job. Pick some other field to major in, one that you would also enjoy and where you can make a comfortableliving.
I was looking around on Florida's state site that lists job openings and found a Wildlife Biologist III position in my county that started outat $38,000 andrequired 2 years experience. That's actually more than i thought they made.
