The document discusses the career of a wildlife biologist or zoologist. It notes that the average annual earnings are $57,710 and earnings can increase with higher skill levels and education. A bachelor's degree is required for entry-level positions, while a master's or PhD is typically needed to conduct independent research. Daily tasks may include conducting experiments with animals, collecting and analyzing biological data, and studying how humans and wildlife interact. The field requires skills such as observation, patience, and enjoying outdoor work. Employment in this area is expected to grow 21% over the next decade.

1. By: Shelby Lane
7/1/14

2. • The average amount of annual earnings is $57,710
• Earnings can increase with skill level
• Two factors to increase earnings could be
• Wildlife you can help/study in your area
• What wildlife you know about and are qualified to study (such as
specifying in birds or reptiles)

3. • In general, for a starting position you need a bachelor’s
degree
• You can have a degree for a certain species or you can have one
for general zoology/wildlife biology
• If you want to study independently you usually need a
master’s or Ph.D. to be funded

4. • When you start out you usually are hired by someone
else, that could be:
• A zoo
• A wildlife sanctuary
• A government funded environmental agency
• To be promoted you need a higher level degree
• In this case promotion is basically getting hired by more
professional people and an increase in pay

5. • For the daily tasks of a wildlife biologist or zoologist you
must be observant, patient, and be good outdoors
• Some daily tasks for this job include:
• Conduction of experiments with animals and closed/controlled
environments (not animal testing but how animals react in captivity
as opposed to the wild)
• Collection of biological data for analysis and comparison
• Study how humans impact animals and their environments
• Study animals health/diseases/infections
• Study how animals interact with themselves, other species, and
their surroundings

6. • Being a zoologist or wildlife biologist can be very rigorous
and physically demanding
• You have to be committed to your job to endure such
conditions
• Conditions could include
• Working in many places such as offices, laboratories, and
outdoors
• Travelling to do fieldwork such as studying, working, and
observing animals in their natural habitats
• Large amounts of environmental change (going to cold climates to
study penguins to hot climates to study lions)

7. • About 18,000 people currently work as a zoologist/
wildlife biologist in the U.S.
• Employment is expected to grow 21% during 2022, or
increase by 4,000 people - due to growing concern for
the environment and how wildlife is affected by it
• Some more specific fields of wildlife biology:
• Ornithologist, the study of birds
• Marine biology, the study of aquatic animals and plants

8. PROS CONS
1. Learning of very good outdoor,
caring, and survival skills
1. Many opportunities to contract
disease
2. Better understanding of the world
we live in
2. If you’re not careful you can get hurt
(like any job just in different ways [lab
accident, animal danger])
3. Helps improve commitment skills
and stamina/stability
3. Possible unsanitary conditions

9. • As previously stated, this job requires some unique
personal qualities and traits. I am willing to develop these
skills and improve my current ones however and if
needed to achieve what I want
• I love animals and outdoors and have always been
fascinated with learning more about them
• North Carolina has many job opportunities in this field
due to it being in the coast and having mountains,
providing a variety of habitats and animals
• I am motivated to try my best and I will put forth all the
effort I need to, as I have always been particularly
interested in marine biology

10. • To make myself more experienced I can participate in
many curricular/extra-curricular activities
• Volunteer at animal sanctuary/shelter (which I have done in the
past)
• Animal/environmental awareness classes
• Biology/zoology/animal biology classes
• Environmental classes

11. • Sources:
• http://www.campusexplorer.com/careers/D24A48D7/zoologists-
and-wildlife-biologists/
• http://www.bls.gov/ooh/life-physical-and-social-science/zoologists-
and-wildlife-biologists.htm#tab-4
• http://www.onetonline.org/link/details/19-1023.00