What is a Wildlife Biologist?

Wildlife Biologists are scientists that observe and study the behaviors of animals. They frequently observe the features of certain wildlife and determine the creatures' role in specific ecosystems and/or how they interact with human beings. In addition, they will often perform various experiments to either increase our knowledge about a certain species or see how humans influence the ecosystem in question. 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. Wildlife Biologists are extremely important to preserving the current state of our environment and deepening our understanding of the other creatures that share our planet with us.

What Does a Wildlife Biologist Do?

Becoming a Wildlife Biologist is a fantastic position for someone who enjoys spending time outdoors and traveling. Many Wildlife Biologists spend the majority of their time working in the field, observing animals in their natural habitats. Some Wildlife Biologists work in labs or offices, but many only find themselves in these locations for small amounts of time. This is the perfect career for an adventurer who likes to work in a variety of environments. Wildlife Biologists often cite physical exhaustion and loneliness as the top job hazards. They may be required to spend time in remote areas without modern conveniences and work long hours for observational purposes. Some kinds of work will require you to have limited contact with other people, possibly straining relationships and personal emotions. However, it's important to note that Wildlife Biologists do not always work alone. In fact, many of them work on research teams, meaning that they may unite with colleagues at the end of an observation period to discuss findings.

What Is the Average Wildlife Biologist Salary?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for wildlife biologists was $66,350 as of May 2020. The top 10% in this profession earned more than $106,320 during this time.*