Wildlife Ecology

1. Wildlife Ecology

2. What is Wildlife Ecology? • Wildlife ecology is a field that studies animals, especially animal populations, and seeks to identify ways in which those populations can be helped

3. What do they do? • Most wildlife ecologists’ time is divided between conducting research and investigating environmental problems • They work outdoors as well as in laboratories

4. How much do they make? • Salaries for wildlife ecologists are impacted by education level, type of job, the business sector they work in and the type of employer • Wildlife ecologists with a bachelor’s degree are employed as research assistants, field or research technicians, program scientists and volunteer coordinators. They make around $39,480 a year • Wildlife ecologists with master’s degrees are employed as environmental consultants, environmental planners and analysts, program scientists and managers, wildlife biologists and field ecologists. They make around $57,420 a year • Wildlife ecologists with doctoral degrees most often teach at universities, direct and administer research projects, or work as field ecologists and senior environmental scientists. They make around $80,330 a year

5. What classes are you required to take? • Wildlife ecologists are usually required to have a two-year associate’s degree in biology, ecology or a related discipline, but many jobs are available for those with no degree • In high school, some classes you should take are calculus, biotechnology, physiology, and chemistry