Although job titles and salaries will vary from state to state, the following information will be somewhat typical for all states. For example, the state agency's primary responsibilities will be to preserve fish, plant, and wildlife resources. State agencies are similar to their federal counterparts in that they are equal opportunity employers, that their employees are civil servants, and that they usually have rigidly drawn qualifications and application procedures for the jobs.
Education and Training
Some state agencies recommend that you start thinking about a conservation career by the time you get to high school. One indication that you might be cut out for this work would be your choice of hobbies and leisure activities. If they include bird watching, fishing, nature photography, or similar activities having to do with nature and animals, you might enjoy working with fish and wildlife.
If you're in high school now, you should take biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics. Since you will also have to be able to interpret complex and technical information for lay people, a mastery of spoken and written English is essential. Some knowledge of geography and the earth sciences is also helpful.
Since most careers in the natural resource sciences require at least a bachelor's degree, you should carefully consider which college or university you will attend. It is a good idea to talk with your counselor or with members of the faculty or the schools you are considering. Consulting the professional organization affiliated with your specialty is also helpful. Two such organizations are the American Fisheries Society and the Wildlife Society.
In your undergraduate years, you should not try to specialize but rather concentrate on expanding your knowledge in a variety of areas, such as humanities, English composition, literature, mathematics, history, geography, foreign language, and science, including biology, chemistry, zoology, physics, and computer science. High school or college is a good time to get involved in extracurricular activities, such as debating or writing for the school newspaper. These will prepare you for public speaking and report writing.
When you have chosen your major, such as zoology, you should take some more specialized courses in that discipline, such as invertebrate zoology, physiology, or systematics.
If you want to move up the career ladder, you should seriously consider getting a master's degree or Ph.D. You would then specialize in some aspect of your conservation career choice.
The positions that usually require master's degrees and beyond are teaching, research, management, and administration. If you become a teacher, state conservation agencies may call on you as a consultant in your specialized field.
Positions Available in State Conservation Agencies
The field of natural resources conservation and wildlife management needs highly trained professionals who have a broad educational background combined with very specific skills. Typical of some of the job titles for positions within the state agencies are:
Game and Fish Biologist
Wildlife Officer
Game Warden
Wildlife Manager
Game Protector
Wildlife Agent
Fish Manager
Wildlife Biologist
Fishery Biologist
Wildlife Information and Education Specialist
Wildlife Research Biologist
Wildlife Enforcement Officer
Fish and Wildlife Interpreter
Natural Resources Specialist
Wildlife Biologist
Wildlife biologists for the state may be involved in basic research, environmental protection studies, or various field activities such as observing, tagging, and banding birds or wildlife or surveying animal foraging patterns. Wildlife biologists may also collect certain species, work in the laboratory, develop animal habitats, and meet with visitors.
Habitat loss for wild animals is becoming an increasingly common problem because of so much land development and environmental pollution. Preserving habitat in many cases pre-serves the species, so this work is extremely important for the total environment and is therefore a major part of the work of the wildlife biologist.
To qualify for the position of wildlife biologist with most state agencies, you will need a bachelor of science (B.S.) degree in zoology, botany, wildlife management, or a related subject.
Most states will employ aquatic biologists for their fish hatcheries. These employees will be involved in research, fishery management, and collecting data. They may also survey populations and capture and tag species for analysis in the laboratory. Land and water projects could alter aquatic life and the aquatic biologist may be called on to evaluate the effects of such projects on the life of the fish. Sometimes they will have to write reports on their findings. A B.S. degree or equivalent is necessary for this position, with biology, fishery management, or marine biology as a major.
Interpreter
A fish and wildlife interpreter plans, develops, and coordinates interpretative programs. In doing so, they have to reduce sometimes highly technical information to a level that is understandable to the public. These employees also will be called on to lecture to community groups, civic organizations, and schools. Sometimes they will present slide shows or con-duct tours to provide information about fishing, small animals, and other natural resources. In addition to having a B.S. degree in zoology, wildlife or fishery management, or botany, interpreters must have successfully completed courses in natural resource interpretation or communications or equivalent course work.
Fish and Wildlife Assistant
Fish and wildlife assistants may raise fish at fish hatcheries, release game birds, or maintain animal cages. They may take animal censuses or trap, tag, or mark fish or wildlife. For this position, you will need only one year of college with some course work in biology, as well as some work experience at parks, forests, or fisheries.
Fish and Game Warden
Fish and game wardens enforce the rules and regulations of the individual state's fish and game commission. This work usually entails patrolling specific areas and investigating results of environmental pollution and destruction of habitats. Wardens also have to coordinate their activities of collecting and reporting information with other departments. They are often called on to inspect commercial enterprises where fish and game are handled or sold.
Law enforcement on public lands also involves surveying fish and wildlife and teaching classes on hunter safety, trapping, or fishing. Field investigators can yield many arrests per year, especially for water pollution violations that lead to the deaths of wild animals or fish. For this position, only two years of college are generally required, with an emphasis on the study of biology and law enforcement.
Physical Qualifications
In addition to your education and training, some states may have rather strict physical standards as qualifications of employment. Prospective employees are screened for weight; high blood pressure; and vision, hearing, and cardiovascular problems. Your lungs, skin, spine, joints, liver, kidneys, thyroid, and other organs may be checked for disqualifying diseases.
The following physical conditions may serve as disqualifiers in some states:
asthma
bronchitis
convulsions
diabetes mellitis
foot deformities
heart disease
hemophilia
hypertension
chronic laryngitis
chronic nephritis
peptic ulcer
neuromuscular disorders
psychotic disease
alcoholism
allergies
In addition, back pain, colitis, or malignant tumors may serve as disqualifiers for employment. For some jobs, such as enforcement officer, a high moral character must be demonstrated. This usually is signified by having never been convicted of a crime.
Most states will provide you with all the qualifications, salary ranges, job titles and descriptions, educational and training requirements, locations of testing facilities, physical requirements, and any other pertinent information you may need to make your career decisions.
Working Conditions and Benefits
Let's say that you have filled the requirements of a wildlife or fish biologist and have gotten a job with your state natural resources department. What are the benefits, and can you advance in your career? Although your commitment to improve the health and living conditions of animals may give your career satisfaction, you will still need to pay rent and buy food. And in most cases, you can make more money in the private sector than as a civil servant. So there must be something more that motivates people to go into this kind of work.
Some people might point to the progressive career tracks that many agencies offer as motivators. Promotions, for example, may come in the first two years in some states. You will receive regular performance evaluations and career counseling if needed. Your evaluations can be valuable aids in letting you know how you can improve your work. You will, however, probably have to go through a probation period of a few months before you are reviewed. But if your work is satisfactory, you will be in a good position for promotion.
In addition to career advancement possibilities, many states offer a generous benefits package, including health, life, dental, and disability insurance plans; paid sick days, holidays, and vacations; retirement plans; and credit unions.
