Unit 1 Careers in Wildlife Management

1. Unit 1Careers in Wildlife Management

2. Objectives • Define the terms related to wildlife management careers. • List & describe appropriate leadership and personal skills required for wildlife management careers. • Describe the role of research in wildlife management. • Evaluate various careers, career areas & career pathways for wildlife management. • List salaries for various careers in wildlife management. • Identify jobs/careers in wildlife management via photos.

3. 1. Terms to Know • Please refer to your handout (1.1) for the terms related to wildlife management careers.

4. 2. Leadership Skills • Success in a career often requires leadership and personal skills. • These can be developed through study & practice. • A leader must help others set goals – either for individuals or groups.

5. 2. Leadership Skills • Important traits of a good leader include: possessing good communication skills and be able to inspire and motivate others. • Refer to the handout (1.2) on entitled “Traits of a Good Leader” for an entire list.

6. 2. Personal Skills • Success requires that people have personal skills. • Personal skills are developed (we are not born with them.). • Refer to the handout (1.3) for a list of personal skill traits that are necessary for a successful career in wildlife management.

7. 3. Research in Wildlife Management • Research is the investigation of problems related to the well-being of wildlife. • Scientific methods are used to assure research is reliable and valid. • Those who do research are known as scientists or researchers (many having doctoral degrees in wildlife biology or a related area).

8. 3. Research in Wildlife Management • The Scientific Method – an organized way of asking questions & seeking answers. • The Six Steps of the Scientific Method: 1. Identify or state the problem (ask a question) 2. Gather information / Research 3. Form a hypothesis (an educated guess) 4. Test the hypothesis 5. Reach a conclusion 6. Report the findings

9. Scientific Method

10. 3. Research in Wildlife Management • Wildlife research is carried out by Federal and state agencies, as well as associations and private businesses. • Many states conduct wildlife research through land-grant universities & experiment stations.

11. 3. Research in Wildlife Management • Areas of research often include: improving habitat, investigating wildlife biology, developing ways of promoting wildlife populations and health. • In fisheries areas, research is conducted on: improving water quality, disease control, nutrition needs and improving stocks to assure survival & growth.

12. 3. Research in Wildlife Management • Some ways of using the findings of wildlife research are: - improve habitat - provide better nutrition - control disease - determine species to introduce - determine wildlife population trends - indentify species to protect - make regulations on wildlife harvest

13. 4. Careers, Career Areas & Career Pathways • The area of wildlife is broad & has a wide range of career opportunities. • There are several career pathways related to wildlife: wildlife management, wildlife recreation, wildlife rehabilitation, wildlife research, wildlife education and wildlife law enforcement.

14. 4. Career Pathways -Wildlife Management • More jobs are found in wildlife management than other areas of wildlife. • Jobs range from entry level to advanced levels. • Examples of jobs: game farm operator, wildlife refuge technician, wildlife biologist

15. 4. Career Pathways –Wildlife Recreation • Jobs are quite diverse. • The nature of the work is to help people enjoy wildlife. • Some jobs are outside, while others require you to work indoors. • Examples of jobs: fly fishing instructor, gun safety instructor, hunting guide, hunting & fishing supplies store operator

16. 4. Career Pathways –Wildlife Rehabilitation • Jobs involve treating & temporarily caring for injured and/or diseased wildlife (once restored to good health, animals are returned to the wild). • Work may involve restraining injured animals, bandaging wounds, administering fluids & medications, feeding & cleaning cages. • Jobs are with associations, government agencies & nonprofit foundations.

17. 4. Career Pathways –Wildlife Research • Jobs involve using scientific methods to develop a greater understanding of wildlife & to solve problems. • Researchers typically have masters & doctoral degrees. • Examples of jobs: wildlife biologist, aquaculturist, fishery scientist, hatchery operator, fishery biologist

18. 4. Career Pathways –Wildlife Education • Involves developing materials or conducting programs to educate hunters, fishers, the general public & other special interest groups. • A college degree with a background in wildlife & emphasis in communications & teaching is typically required. • Examples of jobs: college or high school wildlife teacher, gun safety instructor, birding instructor, park service naturalist

19. 4. Career PathwaysWildlife Law Enforcement • Involves enforcing laws about wildlife. • Some college education is typically needed. • On-the-job training is often provided. • Examples of jobs: game warden, wildlife refuge guard, park service ranger

20. 5. Wildlife Management Career Salaries (per year) • Forestry Technician: $30,000 • Park Ranger: $31,000 • Biological Science Technician: $32,000 • Natural Resource Specialist: $41,000 • Fishery Biologist: $45,000 • Wildlife Biologist: $46,000 • Fish & Wildlife Biologist: $46,000

21. Identify the Jobs (Career Pathways) Below: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

22. Job I.D. Answers • Fly fishing instructor • Wildlife rehabilitator • Fish hatchery operator • Game warden • Gun safety instructor