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Wildlife jobs can be hard to find. And it’s also good to know that many wildlife management jobs do not normally involve much daily hands-on work with wild animals. Wildlife management is often mostly about people management.
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near where you live. |
But there is still hope. Some wildlife jobs do actually involve working directly with animals, and new people are still needed to do those jobs.
Here are some tips for those with the dream still alive.
- Living wage wildlife jobs are relatively scarce and highly competitive. One reason for this is that there are so many people who are willing to do volunteer work in some areas of wildlife research and management support services. Some people even pay their own way for an opportunity to work for a short time – treating it like an adventure vacation – in some phase of wildlife work.
- Take advantage of every wildlife internship opportunity possible. Wildlife jobs are very competitive, so any experience you have can help make the difference when it comes time to weed out job candidates or hire for a position.
- Wildlife research and management careers usually require at least a four-year college degree. To save time and money, carefully follow a college's degree credit requirements.
- Be willing to move. It is highly unlikely that many openings will be near where you live.
- While acquiring education and training, be willing to work in wildlife-related jobs for a stipend, room and board, minimum wage, or nothing. Every little bit of experience counts.
- Most wildlife research and management jobs are state or federal government positions. This means that funding of a position is often not profit motivated, and thus is dependent upon government budgeting (read taxes), or on licenses, research grants, and user fees.
- Consider non-government wildlife jobs. These include: private game farms, hunting outfitters, private zoos, wildlife photography, and eco tourism. Living wage positions and careers in these enterprises are also highly competitive. But the good news is that these types of opportunities are open for you to start your own wildlife-related business.
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