What Are the Different Types of Wildlife Career Opportunities?

Wildlife career opportunities can include working directly with animals in a zoo, monitoring local animal populations in the wild, and researching specific animal groups in a laboratory setting. These types of positions may be employed by a zoo, local government agency, wildlife preserve, or university. Each role tends to work together for the overall protection and well being of the animals housed by these different organizations, and can work to train, care for, and feed the wildlife.

Individuals who are passionate about working with wild animals may enjoy the wildlife career opportunities that can be found in a zoo. These organizations employ a wide range of skilled technicians, scientists, and researchers with many different responsibilities related to the care of the animals who live there. A wildlife biologist is responsible for overseeing the care and well being of a specific group of animals, such as small mammals, or birds. This position often works together with zoo veterinarians and nutritionists to develop a safe and pleasant environment and a regular feeding schedule for the animals in the habitat. The biologist is typically assisted by a team of trained animal keepers who also clean the cages for the animals and train them.

A veterinarian skilled in working with wild animals can find employment with many different types of organizations. In addition to working for a zoo, a wildlife veterinarian may work in a protected animal preserve, wildlife rehabilitation center, or an animal rescue center. The doctor's primary responsibilities include caring for sick and injured animals that are brought to the animal hospital, and providing routine care for well animals that are permanent residents. This type of career typically requires a doctorate in veterinary medicine.

Wildlife career opportunities are also available through local and national governments. Wildlife programs are created to protect the populations of animals that are naturally found in any given area. Wildlife managers may be used to manipulate the local habitats found on public land to create suitable conditions for mating, hibernating, and adequate feeding of indigenous wildlife species. These managers often work closely with local landowners to encourage them, through educational and incentive programs, to create suitable environments on their own land that encourages further breeding of local animal populations.

Research positions are also available for those interested in wildlife career opportunities who do not work directly with animals on a consistent basis. A researcher may be employed by a university, zoo, or government agency to monitor specific animal populations. Wildlife researchers may become experts in one type of animal, learning its eating, sleeping, mating, and social habits through careful study and documentation. Though researchers are required to work directly with animals while studying them, their interaction is often limited to specific periods of observation throughout the day, and may be concluded at the end of several months or a year, depending on the length of the program. This type of position may serve in an advisory capacity as well, providing valuable information on an animal's habitat needs, its mating requirements, and its hibernation cycle.