Education:
– Tertiary education is required, such as a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, zoology, wildlife ecology, or general biology.
– Many universities offer specialist degrees or courses in wildlife biology.
– Career progression into research or university-based roles usually requires relevant doctoral qualifications.
– In the Netherlands, 54% of wildlife biologists hold only a bachelor’s degree.
– The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service mandates a full 4-year course of study in biological science for hiring, with specific subject requirements.
Annual Pay:
– In the U.S, the average pay for a wildlife biologist is $62,290 per year or $29.95 per hour.
– The top 10% of wildlife biologists can earn up to $99,700 a year.
– Predicted 8% growth in employment of wildlife biologists and zoologists between 2016 and 2026.
– Median annual wage for zoologists and wildlife biologists in the U.S was $64,650 in May 2021.
– Average wildlife biologist salary in the UK is £26,944 or £13 per hour.
Employment:
– States with the highest wildlife biologist employments in the U.S are Washington, California, Alaska, Oregon, and Florida.
– Washington leads with an average wage of $39.40 per hour.
Specialized Wildlife Biologist:
– Entomologists study insects.
– Arachnologists study spiders and related arachnids.
– Herpetologists focus on amphibians and reptiles.
– Ichthyologists study fish.
– Mammalogists specialize in mammals.
References:
– “Zoologist or Wildlife Biologist” from Truity.
– “How to Become a Wildlife Biologist” from EnvironmentalScience.org.
– “Wildlife Biologist Job Description: Salary, Skills, & More” from The Balance Careers.
– “Wildlife Biologist Salary Netherlands” from SalaryExpert.
– “Wildlife Biologist Salary Greece” from Salary Expert.
A wildlife biologist studies animals and their behavior along with the role each animal plays in its natural habitat. The duties of a wildlife biologist can include: developing and conducting experiments/studies on animals in their natural habitats, studying the characteristics of animals such as their interaction with different species, their reproductive and movement patterns, the dynamic within a population, and the transmission of diseases. Wildlife biologists can also play important roles in managing and monitoring population dynamics to preserve certain species and/or environments. They observe how animals interact with one another as well as how they interact with humans. Some wildlife biologists study the impacts of human interference on an ecosystem. Wildlife biologists can work with endangered species, advocate for preservation of wildlife, resolve issues pertaining to wildlife, and manage animal populations. Many Wildlife Biologists will eventually specialize into a particular area of study defined by ecosystem or species. Some of these fields include: Entomology, Ornithology, Marine Biology, or Limnology(see below).
Some important qualities in a wildlife biologist are attention to detail, communication skills, critical-thinking skills, interpersonal skills, outdoor skills, and problem-solving skills.
