Wildlife Biology

What Can I Do With A Major In Wildlife Biology?

Wildlife biology is the study and conservation of wild animals and their habitats. Wildlife biology combines vertebrate and plant ecology with conservation and management activities. Students in the Wildlife Biology Program at The University of Montana select from three options: terrestrial (birds and mammals, primarily), aquatic (fisheries), and honors. The educational requirements for certification by The Wildlife Society can be met within the framework of the undergraduate program.

Graduates in Wildlife Biology find job opportunities in a wide variety of organizations and agencies. Some wildlife biologists work to conserve endangered species, while others work to reduce populations of over-abundant species or manage for sustained yields of some species of fish and wildlife. Wildlife biologists accomplish this task by working directly with the wild animals, their habitats, and people. The work of wildlife biologists includes research, management of wildlife and their habitats, public relations, wildlife education, and law enforcement.

A variety of jobs exist for wildlife biologists, but many more people seek this career than there are jobs available (i.e., this career path, like others in natural resources, is quite competitive). For this reason, a Masters degree is generally considered the entry level degree for professional wildlife biologists. Graduates work for a variety of state and federal agencies, private industry, and conservation organizations. Assessing the effects of human activities on the needs of wildlife and determining alternative management solutions that allow both human activities and maintenance of wildlife populations are the major foci of wildlife biologists today.

A Sample of Related Occupations

Please note that some of the occupations listed above may require additional education and/or training. Please refer to the following link for information about the graduate programs at The University of Montana: http://www.umt.edu/grad/Programs/default.php

Types of Employers

Click here to see the USAJOBS list of federal jobs associated with various academic majors

Related Web Links

• The University of Montana Wildlife Biology Program
• The University of Montana College of Forestry and Conservation
• The University of Montana Division of Biological Sciences
• Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit
• Breeding Bird Research and Monitoring Database
• UM Student Chapter of the Wildlife Society
• Directory of Salary Surveys on the Web

Professional Associations

• The Wildlife Society
• Montana Chapter of The Wildlife Society
• Society for Conservation Biology
• Society for Conservation Biology-North America
• National Association of University Fish and Wildlife Programs
• Ecological Society of America

For additional career information, see the Occupational Outlook Handbook