Wildlife ecology studies animal populations and their interactions with humans, aiming to promote healthy conservation. Careers in this field include education, research, conservation, law enforcement, and public relations. Ecologists focus on sustainability, habitat destruction, invasive species, and human interference. They may recommend legal protections for endangered species and create rules for sustainable hunting practices.
Wildlife ecology is a field that studies animals, especially animal populations, and seeks to identify ways in which those populations can be helped. Some wildlife ecology programs may focus specifically on how these animals interact with humans, while others will study all aspects of animals. The primary goal of an ecologist working in this environment is to promote healthy animal conservation. To do this, the ecologist will not only deal with the animals, but also with the habitats in which they live.
Those involved in a career in wildlife ecology will often pursue disciplines in education, research, and conservation. These camps may require a significant amount of time to deal with the general public. They can also be time consuming working in the field, collecting data, or even conducting tours. Other career choices in wildlife ecology include law enforcement and public relations. Some may use a wildlife ecology degree to pursue an advanced degree in veterinary medicine. Many of those in the field of wildlife ecology also stay in school to pursue advanced degrees due to the highly competitive environment with respect to available jobs.
Wildlife ecologists pursuing the research will look at the sustainability of the species. The main areas of concern will be habitat destruction, competition from invasive species and human interference. Some wildlife ecologists will focus on what constitutes a healthy population and even recommend ways to control the population so it doesn’t become unhealthy. Those populations that fall short of a certain number may need recovery help, including special legal protections.
For those animals in need of special protection, ecologists may recommend inclusion on the endangered or threatened species list. Often, that means accessing additional funding to come up with a plan or programs to protect the remaining animals. These types of programs have been successful in helping a number of different species. The Endangered Species Program has been credited with the return of the bald eagle and the American alligator.
In some cases, those involved in wildlife ecology will look into sustainable hunting practices and create rules and regulations for such hunting. This is why there are hunting seasons, which help regulate populations, as well as hunting tags, which ensure that only a limited number of animals are legally taken during that season. To determine how many animals can be hunted, the ecologist will collect data, including conducting aerial surveys of animal habitats and tracking the success of hunts.
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