So you want to be a wildlife biologist?

I wish I could provide some advice on how to become a wildlife biologist. But after almost 10 years of trying to figure it out for myself--I still don't really have an answer. This is more of a rant than useful information--but I know I'm not alone and feel like it couldn't hurt to put these thoughts out there. Maybe someone will tell me about the magic key that unlocks the answers to this frustrating field.


Truckee, CA, 2008

I recently finished my masters in Wildlife Science after working seasonal field work for 2.5 years. I spent 5 seasons working on one project—the willow flycatcher project, which has now ended. I gained avian field skills, leadership experience, and a chance to do my own research—but so far it seems to have opened no obvious doors for me. Sure, my current job may be an open door but it didn’t REQUIRE a masters—a masters was a plus. And while applying for jobs last fall—I applied for at least 15 positions, all of which were within my qualifications and capabilities—I got two interviews. And with my current job, it seems like I will soon come to a fork in the road—take a PhD position, or lose the job.

I chose this field because I wanted to contribute to the field of wildlife conservation. But the ugly truth of it is—someone needs to collect the data and someone needs to analyze the data. And its really hard to find a job that lets you do both. I know a few people who have the in-between jobs—and am jealous! For the rest of us, we have a masters degree and are floating around trying to figure out what to do. More seasonal work? Or move up the ladder again? Go back to school to teach high school biology? Become a pet-sitter? Maybe a trash collector would give me more stability...

Most people say that if you want to be in an upper management position, run your own research group, or teach at a university level, you pretty much need a PhD. But they caution that you might end up doing more administrative and writing than actual data collection/field work, so if you like being in the field, you might want to stop with the B.S. or M.S. I think I knew this as an undergrad—and probably assumed I wanted to do field work, but didn’t realize how extremely hard and unrealistic it is to find consistent work. Its usually low pay. Its always short term. It usually requires moving from state to state. And you feel like a slave—you are the cheap labor that collects the data, NOT the person actually contributing to the field. Other people take the data you collected, put their name on it, and publish it for the world to see. And you MIGHT get into the acknowledgement section if you are lucky. So I got bored of being someone’s slave and did a masters—only to find out I was still someone’s slave.


Santee Coastal, SC, 2007

A BS simply gives you a background in a whole slew of science related topics—depending on the program and how focused it is. A little bit of everything that might be useful in the field but nothing specific. And you usually can’t be a wildlife biologist without an advanced degree. But it seems like a masters prepares you for doing a PhD—its extremely focused on one project and usually one kind of analysis and teaches you the basics of research. And a PhD prepares you to do research but still very narrowly focused. But nothing really prepares you to be a wildlife biologist—someone who needs to incorporate all of their knowledge and skills in order to conserve and manage species and the habitats that they live in.

So now I have my masters and could probably be that wildlife biologist—even though I don’t feel very prepared for it. But most of these jobs are government jobs—National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife, Forest Service, USGS, etc. Oh the joys of applying for a government job! First, it’s the job announcement that is so vague you aren’t sure what they are talking about or what you might be getting yourself into. Then it’s the ridiculously specific and difficult to understand questions they want you to answer with multiple choice answers—as if multiple choice tells them anything about your knowledge, abilities, and skills. Then it’s the waiting—did I pass the public relations machine? Did the machine like my multiple choice answers that are the same as everyone else’s? And then it’s the rejection letter that may come immediately for some jobs that you are OVERQUALIFIED for or maybe it comes 6 months later when you’ve already taken another job or given up all hope of ever finding one. No explanation as to why you weren’t even CONSIDERED for a job you were perfectly qualified for—and it could be because they ALREADY HAD SOMEONE IN MIND for the position 6 months ago and just had to advertise anyway.



Truckee, CA, 2008

 Ok—so I’ve talked to people in the field. And mostly they say its who you know and working your way up the ladder. Maybe it is—but it’s also gotta be pure luck or perfect timing. I’ve worked many field jobs and have never made a connection that helped me get a job as a wildlife biologist.  And I have heard friends say the same thing. Yet I know others who have done basically no field work and have walked right into a perfect job because of someone they knew.

As I said earlier, someone needs to collect the data and someone needs to analyze and publish the data. Well, I’m tired of just collecting the data. And summarizing the data is not the same as analyzing the data. I want to DO SOMETHING--to make that contribution that I got into this field for. But most people don’t let someone with only a masters touch the data—they let them run the field crews or hire the techs or collect and enter the data. Or someone with a masters might work for organizations that collect and summarize data but don’t really do much with it afterwards. So right now I’m thinking the PhD route may be something to seriously consider. Will it make me overqualified for the things I want to do? Maybe—but right now I can’t even get interviews for the jobs I’m UNDERQUALIFIED to do. Slaving away for 4-5 more years in school for little pay doesn't sound all that appealing--but getting to do more research for a stable 4-5 more years does.  Will it lead me to a good job?  I have no idea. 


Santa Cruz Island, CA, 2007

 So with so many people in this field -- how does one gain a completive edge without moving up the ladder? More nomadic seasonal work? Don’t think so—I’ve seen that plan fail. Finding the right person or organization connection to push you ahead? Maybe—but I won’t hold my breath. Self teach myself how to analyze data in various programs? Someone give me your data!

What’s the best path to take in order to obtain that perfect middle-of-the-road fulltime permanent wildlife biologist position where you can still enjoy some time being outside in the field with your study species but also making a contribution that will help the species? I truly wish I had the answer.