Wildlife Ecology

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

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

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

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