Career Information for a Wildlife Biologist
Do you enjoy working outdoors? Do you want to be
part of a team that makes a difference? Do you have
a desire to care for and manage our Nation's precious
wildlife resources and their habitats? If so, a
career as a wildlife biologist in the Forest Service
may be just what you're looking for!
The Work Environment
Forest Service biologists work in all types of
environments - offices and mountains, deserts and
wetlands, forests and prairies--we have it all.
As a wildlife biologist, you will work alongside
other resource professionals managing the 191 million
acres of national forests and grasslands. These
lands provide important habitat to more than 3000
species of wildlife, including deer, songbirds,
wolves, and salamanders. More than 80 percent of
all elk, bighorn sheep, and mountain goat habitat
in the Nation is found on national forests and grasslands,
as well as nearly 12 million acres of wetlands and
waterfowl habitat and homes for more than 200 threatened
and endangered species. You will also work in the
most scenic places in the Nation--places set aside
and managed not just for their natural resources,
but also for their natural splendor.
Operating on the Job
Your main responsibility as a Forest Service wildlife
biologist will be wildlife habitat--managing, protecting,
rehabilitating, and enhancing it. Working on a team
with recreation, range, minerals, rare plants, engineering,
and timber management specialists to plan national
forest management is an exciting and important part
of the position. The duties of individual wildlife
biologists are varied and can include such projects
as building waterfowl nesting islands, cutting willow
for moose browse, prescribed burning for deer and
turkey, and more! You will work with sophisticated
equipment and technology. As a wildlife biologist,
you will provide the technical expertise to conserve
the biological diversity of national forests and
grasslands and work to protect and recover endangered
species. You will also work with the public and
forest users who hunt, fish, birdwatch, and vacation
on national forests and grasslands.
Forest Service wildlife biologists often work as
partners with state wildlife agencies, conservation
organizations, and special interest groups to manage
wildlife habitat and populations. Good interpersonal
skills and a working knowledge of economics and
social and political trends are desirable. Good
technical, biological, quantitative, and communications
skills are a must.
Being a wildlife biologist is challenging and the
job is not only varied but also stimulating, important,
and satisfying. The Forest Service provides its
employees with the training and a wide variety of
job experiences they need to do their jobs well.
Career Paths and Requirements
Wildlife biologists are hired at many different
grade levels. Recent college graduates may be hired
at the GS-5 or GS-7 grade level. They spend up to
2 years in training and developmental positions,
and then may be noncompetitively promoted to the
GS-9 grade level. You may also be hired initially
for higher grade level positions if you meet higher
education and/or experience requirements. Promotion
opportunities at GS-11 and above are competitive,
but opportunities are good; about 35 percent of
wildlife biologists are at the GS- 11 grade level
and an additional 23 percent are at higher grades.
All Forest Service wildlife biologists must have
a bachelor's degree with a major in biological science
or natural resource management, with an emphasis
in biology or ecology. A master's degree will help
you be more competitive for some positions. The
following minimum course work must also be completed
for all positions: