{"id":10660,"date":"2022-10-20T17:48:28","date_gmt":"2022-10-20T21:48:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/?p=10660"},"modified":"2022-10-20T17:50:06","modified_gmt":"2022-10-20T21:50:06","slug":"spotlight-on-careers-wildlife-biologist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/seeds.ca\/schoolfoodgardens\/spotlight-on-careers-wildlife-biologist\/","title":{"rendered":"Spotlight on Careers: Wildlife Biologist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Spotlight on Careers: Wildlife Biologist<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Written By: Tahreem N<\/span>
\n<\/span>Edited By: Tianna Mair<\/span>
\n<\/span>Designed By: Sophia<\/span>
\n<\/span>Published By: Linda Qi<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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What is A Wildlife Biologist?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Imagine crouching behind a bush, doing your best not to disturb the herd of elk 150 meters in front of you. You watch the gathering with your binoculars from your hiding spot, taking detailed notes. You are a wildlife biologist, and you have been studying elk groups in the area for the past few weeks to assess the health of the local community. This information will be used by your department to decide how many elk hunting tags can be awarded this year. Every year, thousands of sportsmen seek elk hunting licenses, but the remaining herds cannot support so many losses.<\/span><\/p>\n

As a wildlife biologist, you are aware of the dangers that overhunting may pose to wild game populations, and you understand how important this survey is to the appropriate management of local elk herds. You count their numbers to determine the size of the herd you’re watching today. However, this does not inform you how many hunting tags will be granted this year. To begin, count the number of men and females; the herd will require a particular number of each to breed. You also consider the elk’s relative age, namely how many mature animals, how many adolescents, and how many of last year’s young have survived. There must be enough young elk to replace those that perish.<\/span><\/p>\n

After acquiring as much information as possible about the area’s elk herds, you will compare it to statistics from past years to determine population increase or decline. If the population is increasing, you can use the data to estimate how much hunting should be permitted.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Now we may know what type of job a wildlife biologist might do, but how do you become one?<\/span><\/p>\n

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Becoming a Wildlife Biologist:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you are a high school student interested in becoming a wildlife biologist, you should have good grades or an interest in:<\/span><\/p>\n

Biology<\/span><\/p>\n

Mathematics<\/span><\/p>\n

English<\/span><\/p>\n

Chemistry<\/span><\/p>\n

Calculus<\/span><\/p>\n

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In most circumstances, a university undergraduate degree is required for employment as a wildlife biologist. A graduate degree is normally required if you want to do research. If you are a post-secondary student interested in a career as a wildlife biologist, the following programs are most relevant:<\/span><\/p>\n

Biology of Wildlife<\/span><\/p>\n

Conservation Biology<\/span><\/p>\n

Zoology\\Ecology<\/span><\/p>\n

Wildlife and Fishing<\/span><\/p>\n

Habitat Restoration in Environmental Science<\/span><\/p>\n

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Although certification is not required to practice as a wildlife biologist, some practitioners prefer to qualify for Professional Biologist status. The requirements for this accreditation differ by province.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Work Environment:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Wildlife biologists work in a variety of environments, including:<\/span><\/p>\n

In the field:<\/span><\/p>\n