What Do Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists study the origins, behavior, diseases, genetics, and life processes of animals and wildlife. May specialize in wildlife research and management. May collect and analyze biological data to determine the environmental effects of present and potential use of land and water habitats. They also make recommendations on management systems and planning for wildlife populations and habitat, consulting with stakeholders and the public at large to explore options.

Other tasks include:

• Inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations.
• Disseminate information by writing reports and scientific papers or journal articles, and by making presentations and giving talks for schools, clubs, interest groups and park interpretive programs.
• Check for, and ensure compliance with, environmental laws, and notify law enforcement when violations are identified.
• Study animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry.
• Organize and conduct experimental studies with live animals in controlled or natural surroundings.
• Analyze characteristics of animals to identify and classify them.

We asked Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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77% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 75% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists make recommendations on management systems and planning for wildlife populations and habitat, consulting with stakeholders and the public at large to explore options. They perform administrative duties, such as fundraising, public relations, budgeting, and supervision of zoo staff.

• Raise specimens for study and observation or for use in experiments.
• Inform and respond to public regarding wildlife and conservation issues, such as plant identification, hunting ordinances, and nuisance wildlife.
• Study animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry.
• Disseminate information by writing reports and scientific papers or journal articles, and by making presentations and giving talks for schools, clubs, interest groups and park interpretive programs.
• Check for, and ensure compliance with, environmental laws, and notify law enforcement when violations are identified.

We asked some Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	69% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	50% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	51% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	23% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	26% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists also study characteristics of animals, such as origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories and diseases, development, genetics, and distribution. They may also inform and respond to public regarding wildlife and conservation issues, such as plant identification, hunting ordinances, and nuisance wildlife.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists Disseminate information by writing reports and scientific papers or journal articles, and by making presentations and giving talks for schools, clubs, interest groups and park interpretive programs. They might also Inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations.

In addition, they Make recommendations on management systems and planning for wildlife populations and habitat, consulting with stakeholders and the public at large to explore options.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Analyze characteristics of animals to identify and classify them.

To some Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists, it is also their responsibility to Raise specimens for study and observation or for use in experiments.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Zoologist and Wildlife Biologist, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally..

They also like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/life-physical-and-social-science/zoologists-and-wildlife-biologists.htm

http://www.wildlife.org/

https://www.aza.org/

http://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2013/summer/yawhat.pdf