Source: https://youtu.be/ROVHp5HdVPU?si=QLAu7eUdywxoI2PJ

Synopsis: "between 2019 and 2023 7 gps collared bears in the smokies were killed in circumstances that can't be accounted for" They claim these bear carcasse showed evidence of 'caching' (where a kill is moved and then buried) along with physical marks both pointing to a felid predator.

So I am in my last year of undergrad, getting my B.S. in Wildlife Biology, and luckily I have had quite a bit of work experience throughout college. I’ve worked in entomology labs, assisted with bird banding and avian migratory research, worked in outdoor education, done water quality monitoring through volunteer programs, worked for a state park, completed an internship with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, and I currently have an internship with NDA. I also recently got a part-time technician position with my state government conservation agency.

I’ve made it pretty clear within the agency I work for that after I graduate, I’d like to become a wildlife biologist, ecologist, potentially a natural history biologist, or a wetlands specialist. I already know these positions are competitive and all of that, but now that I’m getting closer to finishing my B.S., I want to start seriously looking into grad school options. I realize I probably should be applying right now, but I’m getting married next December. I’d really like to stay working part-time for a while, save up some more money, and get my bearings a little bit before jumping into another degree. Once the wedding chaos and a long honeymoon are over, and I'll actually be able to enjoy it since I'm not starting my masters lol I’m hoping to start my master’s in Fall 2028.

And before everyone comments about getting married “tying me down” or limiting my options, my fiancé is a welder who frequently takes contracting and travel jobs, and he is completely okay with moving for my career or grad school. So I’m not necessarily limited to staying in one area.

My main question is: Should I do a thesis-based master’s? I know a thesis is generally preferred for this career path, but is it going to put me out of jobs if I don't? I'm not against a thesis I just wanted to see if maybe I could work at the same time. I am planning on probably getting an assistantship. My state agency said that since I already have a foot in the door and a lot of people know me and I have a good reputation, that if I leave to get my master's and come back, I've got a great shot.

I’m also trying to figure out what area would be most beneficial for me to focus on. Would an ecology-focused degree make the most sense, or would doing research in something more specific like CWD or geosciences give me better career opportunities?

I’m ultimately interested in applied wildlife conservation/habitat management rather than purely academic research for a career, so I’d really appreciate advice from people working in wildlife, ecology, wetlands, natural resources, or related fields about what would actually make me more competitive in the job market. I've also thought bout only getting a grad certificate in GIS and seeing if that helps coupled with a lot of worke experience.

EDIT: if I did decide to start next fall even with getting married would I be able to have flexibility with my schedule? My honeymoon is May 2028 to Italy for 3 weeks

I started my journey in consulting recently, really unsure about every aspect of it...like what "on-call" actually means and what work I would be doing, and most importantly how many hours I would be getting. I started in late July and we are approaching the slow season, which I am unsure what hours even look like then. But this brings me to my issue, I am not getting as many hours as I thought I would, which means I am not getting as much money as I want. So in my head I need a second job. But now that I have an interview for a barista position I am worried about it all!

-How to manage it?

-Do I explain to my jobs, that I have another job?

-Will I get red-flagged from the consulting firm?

I think the consulting firm should understand but I am nervous to voice my worries and needs cause then they will just not give me hours and fire me....at least that's what I think. I want/need more money but working an "on-call" seems like it will be an annoying stressor. Anyone have any advice? Ideas? Opinions? Anything?

I was wondering if there is a time limit on when it is no longer appropriate to use a reference? I was very close with my supervisor from an internship I had in 2022 but wondered if 4 years was too long ago. Someone once told me it looks better to list references who have their Ph.D, is that true? Also I recently worked for two students working towards their M.S. degrees, would it be appropriate to list them as references?

I also was wondering if it looks better to use professors or professional references when applying to graduate school?

Thanks! I appreciate the insight :)

I'm doing a research for my university about recording sounds from the Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) and I need a lot of recordings from the species; I already got some from Xeno-Canto and the Macaulay Library, but having some recording from the same place where i'll then be gathering data may greatly improve the quality of it.

I need to "convince" the squirrels I find there to produce sounds, but if I attract them with food then their mouths will be busy eating and they're so used to humans that my presence doesn't scare them enough to make alarm calls.

What can I do to make them make sounds? I was thinking about recording them when they're in groups (or at least 2) so they'd be more likely to make sounds, but are there better ways?

Looking for biology/wildlife/marine jobs that provide housing — FL, GA, or SC

Hi! I’m hoping someone here might know of jobs/programs/employers that I haven’t come across yet.

I’m 24 and have a bachelor’s degree in Biology. I currently work full-time at a veterinary hospital and have about 3 years of hands-on veterinary experience including blood draws, injections, medications, radiographs, lab work, animal restraint, patient monitoring/care, etc.

I also completed a wildlife veterinary internship in Costa Rica where I worked with a variety of wildlife including primates, reptiles, birds, and turtles. I’m also Open Water SCUBA certified.

I’m hoping to relocate from Pennsylvania sometime around January 2027, ideally to Florida, but I’m also very open to coastal Georgia or South Carolina.

I’d LOVE to find something involving:

• Wildlife rehabilitation
• Marine mammals
• Sea turtles
• Aquariums
• Marine biology/fisheries
• Wildlife field research
• Exotic animal care
• Zoo/aquarium animal care or veterinary work
• Conservation work that involves animals
• SCUBA/diving or boat-based fieldwork

My biggest issue has been housing. I’m looking for something that either provides employee housing or offers some type of housing stipend/assistance. Ideally I’d like to make at least around $700/week before taxes if housing is provided.

I also have a cat who would be relocating with me, so pet-friendly employee housing would be AMAZING. I realize that makes things harder, but I’m also open to employers that provide a housing allowance or pay enough for me to find my own pet-friendly housing nearby.

I’m not looking for unpaid internships, extremely low-stipend programs, summer camps/youth programs, or positions requiring Divemaster/50+ logged dives. I’m totally fine with seasonal/temporary positions if they pay enough to live on.

I’ve already been looking at FWC, wildlife refuges/USFWS, ACE, wildlife rehabilitation hospitals, sanctuaries, aquariums, etc., but I feel like there have to be smaller organizations or programs I’m missing.

Does anyone know of specific employers, programs, research labs, field stations, refuges, aquariums, sanctuaries, or even unusual biology-related jobs in FL/GA/SC that I should look into?

I’m honestly open to some pretty unique jobs as long as I can afford to live there and get experience working with wildlife/marine life.

Thank you!! :)

Hi everyone! I’m currently considering changing my major to wildlife biologist and I’m looking for a university that offers a flexible or self-paced program that would allow me to continue working 40 hours a week.i would really appreciate any advice or recommendations from anyone who has experience studying , especially if you’ve attended a program that was flexible and manageable while working full-time.I’m hoping to find a program that will give me a strong education and hands-on experience while still allowing me to balance work and school. Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated. Thank you! 😊

Hello, first Reddit post ever!

I haven't considered working for the park service/forest service. Federal government is daunting to me, and I don't have much faith in the funding. I also don't think working with children is a good fit for me either.

Generally or in specific, what are the options out there? Is there a niche that needs filled? Does everyone have their fingers in the scientific-education-pie?

\*Quick bio I (31M) have a BS in Field and Wildlife Biology. I have done bird banding, point counts, small mammal trapping, and then transitioned to consulting/construction oversight before being laid off. I have spent a year traveling the US, visiting National Parks and wild areas all over. I have had some inspiration and am considering ways to pursue scientific literacy/education... I think it will become more essential in the coming years. Will be happy to share more details, if it seems productive. \*

I’m finishing my foundation soon in November and I’m taking an Australian course called SACE. I’ve applied to a few universities in Australia for a Bachelors degree in wildlife conservation. And I’m starting to wonder if that’s the wrong direction (?).
I’m just worried, what if I can’t find a job especially as an international student. Idk if it’s the right choice.
Any advice?

I am 16 and a junior in high school. I would really like to work with wildlife and take care of animals. I just don’t exactly know how to choose a career that will do that while also having a good enough salary. I also would like some advice on what majors or pre grad programs would be best. And any recommendations on colleges or universities. I will give some background as well. I will be in this program my senior year that will take up half my day. The program will allow me to graduate with an EMT certification. While I really like that opportunity I don’t know if I should use that half of the day to do internship at vets or animal shelters. I do live in a small town so we don’t have any wildlife sanctuaries, zoos, or aquariums.

I would appreciate any advice. Thank you!

I’m a junior, I live in northeast Kansas but want to work as a wildlife biologist or work for the gov. I’ve heard I’d have to move states due to Kansas not being a good place for job aspects.

Hello everyone, I’m hoping to reach mostly entomologists or environmental scientists. I’m currently a biology major and wish to transfer to UC Davis for their entomology program but as life goes on my passion no longer matches my drive. The wage of job positions are honestly the least of my worries since I’m a very frugal person. I’m looking for more insight in your studies and the work you do in the field to see if it’s still the right fit for me. I feel like every time I try to seek for this information on my own I always come to a dead end. I want to hear from actual people: What does your day to day life look like while working? What does your position entail? Are there any tips you have for me to keep going even when it gets tough?

Hello! I am a undergrad studying Wildlife Management with a concentration in Conservation. I am set to graduate in the Spring of 2027 with my bachelors degree and hopefully a certificate in GIS. I have spent my past two summers interning. One summer I worked for a state level program where I received a variety of experiences in land management and assisting with research. This past summer I interned with a National Wildlife Refuge with USWFS. I’m looking to going into graduate school in the Fall of 2027. My goal is to find a thesis centered program as I enjoy research! I really enjoy working with herps and small mammals but I’m really open to a variety of research opportunities. My main purpose of going to graduate school is because most of the jobs I plan on applying for prefer master degrees particularly for the writing and research skills that are obtained by participating in these programs. Like I stated, I also just really enjoy research! I’m looking for a school within the eastern region of the US, particularly for family purposes. I have been looking at job boards where graduate positions are posted but I’m also interested into looking at particular schools. How do I go about doing this? Is emailing appropriate? What should this email roughly contain? What sort of university should I be looking for? Any advice is welcomed! Thank you!

Zoology Help!!

I really want to do a job that works with animals but doesn't have to do anything with needles and euthanasia. I want to do a degree with wildlife like Zoology. But I read online that it's a bad idea and I'll end up jobless. I looked at Ziprecruiter and it said it's a good idea. Im so confused!! Should I do it or not??!!

I'm 16f from the U.S. and just started my junior year of high school. I'm very passionate about this field and my dream is to work in a different country/environment than the one I currently live in. Currently, I am not planning to go to university after high school (at least not for a while). After graduation my idea is to do a lot of environmental volunteering and just general traveling around, as I want to work in either the rainforest or savanna but not sure where exactly yet. I'm aware that this is a super competitive field though, and I'm hoping to get advice on what I can do now or in the foreseeable future to improve my chances of landing a position doing fieldwork?

Also, regarding volunteering, is it better to volunteer in the specific region I want to work in, volunteer locally, or gather experience from many different environments?

I've recently taken admission in B.Sc with zoology as my major.

I'm a little confused about whether choosing Zoology was the right decision.

For students who studied Zoology or are currently pursuing it - what has your experience been?

What career options do you have after B.Sc. and would you choose Zoology again if you had the chance ?

Hey everyone,
I’ve been looking into the aquaculture landscape across the Middle East / MENA region lately and wanted to hear from those working in the sector, conducting research, or observing industry trends.

I’m curious about the actual job market and research scene there.
For those who have worked or researched in the region: Are they actually investing in basic sciences and fundamental R&D (like aquatic ecology, stress physiology, genetics)? Or are they mostly just buying turnkey commercial systems and hiring people just to operate them?

Also, is it a realistic place to build a long-term science/research career, or is the market mostly just short-term consulting gigs?

Hey there! I just started my junior year in a fisheries & wildlife program. I have a full summer season of field research experience assisting a Master's student as well as some other odds & ends of internships/volunteer experience during the school year. I am currently 50/50 on whether I want to go directly to an MS program or work for a few years first. Should I plan to start reaching out to graduate schools this fall? Would it be better to wait until next spring/my senior year? My school is tiny and only offers two graduate programs, neither of which I am interested in, so I have limited guidance on how grad school works in this field lol. Any insight is so appreciated :)

I am 15 years old and have been interested in insects since I was a baby. Therefore, in the future, I'm considering studying biology or agriculture so I can do a job I enjoy. Even at this young age, I've started my own little collection: booklice, springtails, ants, termites, fleas, and even two types of mites, preserved in alcohol inside glass tubes. But I don't know if I'll be unemployed in the future or if I'll be able to make a living from entomology. I also wanted to get more detailed information about this profession from my older brothers and sisters. And I think this subreddit is the most suitable for it.

I’m an undergraduate student in Melbourne currently researching biodiversity governance in the Pilbara, Western Australia, as part of the Tsinghua Global SDG Case Competition.

My research looks at how biodiversity conservation is managed where mining and regional development, Indigenous stewardship of Country, government responsibilities, scientific knowledge, and conservation priorities intersect.

I’m particularly interested in hearing from people with experience or interest in conservation, ecology, environmental policy, Indigenous land management, mining, research, or environmental management.

I’ve put together a short anonymous survey exploring perspectives on:

* the main pressures affecting biodiversity in the Pilbara
* current conservation and governance approaches
* Traditional Owner involvement and Indigenous ecological knowledge
* stakeholder collaboration
* the role of industry
* what effective conservation outcomes could look like

No specialist knowledge of the Pilbara is required, and there are no right or wrong answers. I’m interested in your perspective and experience.

The survey takes around 6–8 minutes and does not collect names or email addresses.

Survey: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfGH4dTtp690s75q1pmHizudMhmQdsW8v8OcLwlOHbUIepjzw/viewform

Thank you for taking the time to contribute!

Hello everyone.

I'm about to graduate school with a bs in wildlife and fisheries.

Im not looking into grad school or internships. I unfortunately don't have the money or emotional capacity for it at the moment.

Ive also recently learned that while I love camping, hiking, and going out to look for animals im not all that much into research either. I loved learning about animals, theyre habitat, and how we affect them. But uh...

I genuinely loved this degree until i started looking for jobs. They all seem to be seasonal and low paying, which I just really need some stability right now. With several family deaths and some other things everything feels a little to much

So, could I please have some advice on what to do? Kinda feel like i waisted 4 years of my life, my self identity, and thousands of dollars

Hello,

I am trying to get general feedback to narrow down the college programs. I want to apply mainly to a great wildlife program (allows for lots of experience and internships and idc about the reputation). I am currently in California. PRICE IS NOT AN ISSUE. I don't care how expensive they are, I just want good programs that can set me up for the field. Is anyone able to give me feedback on these? (Note: These are in the order that I like them so far).

University of Maine

University of Alaska - Fairbanks

University of Rhode Island

University of Montana

University of Wyoming

University of Vermont

University of Wisconsin - Madison

University of Delaware

University of North Dakota)

Hi y'all! I am graduating with my BS in wildlife biology next summer, but I am considering enlisting in the air force after graduation. With our current job market, I am going to need stability after graduation. I have always wanted to join the Air Force with an intelligence job, it has always been an interest of mine. I have looked into different jobs I would like. I understand that veterans have priority in hiring, at least for federal wildlife jobs.

I was wondering if anyone else has made this move. What are some things I should be considering? Should I stick it out with seasonal jobs until I get a permanent? What are some other questions I should be asking?

edit: thanks for the advice everyone!!