Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists

• Summary

• Details

Work Activities

• Perform administrative duties, such as fundraising, public relations, budgeting, and supervision of zoo staff.
• Collect and dissect animal specimens and examine specimens under microscope.
• Collect and dissect animal specimens and examine specimens under microscope.
• Organize and conduct experimental studies with live animals in controlled or natural surroundings.
• Analyze characteristics of animals to identify and classify them.
• Conduct literature reviews.
• Inventory or estimate plant and wildlife populations.
• Study animals in their natural habitats, assessing effects of environment and industry on animals, interpreting findings and recommending alternative operating conditions for industry.
• Check for, and ensure compliance with, environmental laws, and notify law enforcement when violations are identified.
• Study characteristics of animals, such as origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories, diseases, development, genetics, and distribution.
• 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.
• Study characteristics of animals, such as origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories, diseases, development, genetics, and distribution.
• Perform administrative duties, such as fundraising, public relations, budgeting, and supervision of zoo staff.
• Perform administrative duties, such as fundraising, public relations, budgeting, and supervision of zoo staff.
• Study characteristics of animals, such as origin, interrelationships, classification, life histories, diseases, development, genetics, and distribution.
• Develop, or make recommendations on, management systems and plans for wildlife populations and habitat, consulting with stakeholders and the public at large to explore options.
• Perform administrative duties, such as fundraising, public relations, budgeting, and supervision of zoo staff.
• Inform and respond to public regarding wildlife and conservation issues, such as plant identification, hunting ordinances, and nuisance wildlife.
• Coordinate preventive programs to control the outbreak of wildlife diseases.
• Prepare collections of preserved specimens or microscopic slides for species identification and study of development or disease.

Skills

• Technology Design
  • Making equipment and technology useful for customers.
• Management of Material Resources
  • Managing equipment and materials.
• Complex Problem Solving
  • Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.
• Quality Control Analysis
  • Testing how well a product or service works.
• Equipment Selection
  • Deciding what kind of tools and equipment are needed to do a job.
• Operation and Control
  • Using equipment or systems.
• Critical Thinking
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.
• Equipment Maintenance
  • Planning and doing the basic maintenance on equipment.
• Learning Strategies
  • Using the best training or teaching strategies for learning new things.
• Science
  • Using scientific rules and strategies to solve problems.
• Instructing
  • Teaching people how to do something.
• Coordination
  • Changing what is done based on other people's actions.
• Installation
  • Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs.
• Judgment and Decision Making
  • Thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one.
• Systems Analysis
  • Figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it.
• Systems Evaluation
  • Measuring how well a system is working and how to improve it.
• Service Orientation
  • Looking for ways to help people.
• Social Perceptiveness
  • Understanding people's reactions.
• Management of Financial Resources
  • Making spending decisions and keeping track of what is spent.
• Operations Analysis
  • Figuring out what a product or service needs to be able to do.
• Monitoring
  • Keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements.
• Reading Comprehension
  • Reading work-related information.
• Management of Personnel Resources
  • Selecting and managing the best workers for a job.
• Speaking
  • Talking to others.
• Mathematics
  • Using math to solve problems.
• Programming
  • Writing computer programs.
• Operations Monitoring
  • Watching gauges, dials, or display screens to make sure a machine is working.
• Time Management
  • Managing your time and the time of other people.
• Troubleshooting
  • Figuring out what is causing equipment, machines, wiring, or computer programs to not work.
• Repairing
  • Repairing machines or systems using the right tools.
• Active Learning
  • Figuring out how to use new ideas or things.
• Persuasion
  • Talking people into changing their minds or their behavior.
• Negotiation
  • Bringing people together to solve differences.
• Writing
  • Writing things for co-workers or customers.
• Active Listening
  • Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

Abilities

• Spatial Orientation
  • Knowing where things are around you.
• Perceptual Speed
  • Quickly comparing groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.
• Written Comprehension
  • Reading and understanding what is written.
• Information Ordering
  • Ordering or arranging things.
• Speech Clarity
  • Speaking clearly.
• Fluency of Ideas
  • Coming up with lots of ideas.
• Finger Dexterity
  • Putting together small parts with your fingers.
• Explosive Strength
  • Jumping, sprinting, or throwing something.
• Category Flexibility
  • Grouping things in different ways.
• Depth Perception
  • Deciding which thing is closer or farther away from you, or deciding how far away it is from you.
• Inductive Reasoning
  • Making general rules or coming up with answers from lots of detailed information.
• Number Facility
  • Adding, subtracting, multiplying, or dividing.
• Extent Flexibility
  • Bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching with your body, arms, and/or legs.
• Visual Color Discrimination
  • Noticing the difference between colors, including shades and brightness.
• Night Vision
  • Seeing at night or under low light.
• Auditory Attention
  • Paying attention to one sound while there are other distracting sounds.
• Response Orientation
  • Quickly deciding if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part.
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
  • Keeping your arm or hand steady.
• Rate Control
  • Changing when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving.
• Hearing Sensitivity
  • Telling the difference between sounds.
• Far Vision
  • Seeing details that are far away.
• Written Expression
  • Communicating by writing.
• Problem Sensitivity
  • Noticing when problems happen.
• Trunk Strength
  • Using your lower back and stomach.
• Selective Attention
  • Paying attention to something without being distracted.
• Visualization
  • Imagining how something will look after it is moved around or changed.
• Mathematical Reasoning
  • Choosing the right type of math to solve a problem.
• Oral Comprehension
  • Listening and understanding what people say.
• Gross Body Equilibrium
  • Keeping your balance or staying upright.
• Near Vision
  • Seeing details up close.
• Originality
  • Creating new and original ideas.
• Speed of Closure
  • Quickly knowing what you are looking at.
• Control Precision
  • Quickly changing the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat.
• Static Strength
  • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying.
• Reaction Time
  • Quickly moving your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command.
• Stamina
  • Exercising for a long time without getting out of breath.
• Deductive Reasoning
  • Using rules to solve problems.
• Memorization
  • Remembering words, numbers, pictures, or steps.
• Speed of Limb Movement
  • Quickly moving your arms and legs.
• Dynamic Flexibility
  • Quickly and repeatedly bending, stretching, twisting, or reaching out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
• Gross Body Coordination
  • Moving your arms, legs, and mid-section together while your whole body is moving.
• Peripheral Vision
  • Seeing something to your side when your are looking ahead.
• Sound Localization
  • Noticing the direction that a sound came from.
• Dynamic Strength
  • Exercising for a long time without your muscles getting tired.
• Manual Dexterity
  • Holding or moving items with your hands.
• Wrist-Finger Speed
  • Making fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Flexibility of Closure
  • Seeing hidden patterns.
• Speech Recognition
  • Recognizing spoken words.
• Multilimb Coordination
  • Using your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down.
• Glare Sensitivity
  • Seeing something even if there is a glare or very bright light.
• Time Sharing
  • Doing two or more things at the same time.
• Oral Expression
  • Communicating by speaking.

Knowledge

• Chemistry
  • Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
• Sales and Marketing
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
• Mechanical
  • Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• Law and Government
  • Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.
• Administration and Management
  • Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Engineering and Technology
  • Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
• Geography
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
• Administrative
  • Knowledge of administrative and office procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and workplace terminology.
• Fine Arts
  • Knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, dance, visual arts, drama, and sculpture.
• Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Mathematics
  • Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Public Safety and Security
  • Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Therapy and Counseling
  • Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
• Psychology
  • Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
• English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Personnel and Human Resources
  • Knowledge of principles and procedures for personnel recruitment, selection, training, compensation and benefits, labor relations and negotiation, and personnel information systems.
• Physics
  • Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.
• Communications and Media
  • Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Production and Processing
  • Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
• History and Archeology
  • Knowledge of historical events and their causes, indicators, and effects on civilizations and cultures.
• Medicine and Dentistry
  • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
• Food Production
  • Knowledge of techniques and equipment for planting, growing, and harvesting food products (both plant and animal) for consumption, including storage/handling techniques.
• Foreign Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of a foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.
• Design
  • Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
• Education and Training
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Building and Construction
  • Knowledge of materials, methods, and the tools involved in the construction or repair of houses, buildings, or other structures such as highways and roads.
• Telecommunications
  • Knowledge of transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.
• Computers and Electronics
  • Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
• Transportation
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
• Economics and Accounting
  • Knowledge of economic and accounting principles and practices, the financial markets, banking, and the analysis and reporting of financial data.
• Sociology and Anthropology
  • Knowledge of group behavior and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures, and their history and origins.
• Biology
  • Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• Philosophy and Theology
  • Knowledge of different philosophical systems and religions. This includes their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and their impact on human culture.

Education

Education

Bachelor's degree

Work Experience

No work experience

Training

No on-the-job training

Education and Training Opportunities

×

Education and Training Opportunities

• Central Washington University
  400 East University Way, Ellensburg WA 98926
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  5,000 - 9,999

  Financial Aid 509-963-1111
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  http://www.cwu.edu/
  Program Name
  Zoology/Animal Biology
  Length
  4 years
  Award Level
  Bachelor's degree
  Save

  ---

• Seattle Pacific University
  3307 3rd Ave W, Seattle WA 98119-1997
  School Type

  Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 206-281-2000
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  https://spu.edu/
  Program Name
  Ecology
  Length
  4 years
  Award Level
  Bachelor's degree
  Save

  ---

• Spokane Community College
  1810 North Greene Street, Spokane WA 99217-5399
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  5,000 - 9,999

  Financial Aid 509-533-8400
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  https://scc.spokane.edu/
  Program Name
  Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management
  Length
  2 years
  Award Level
  Associate's degree
  Save

  ---

• University of Washington-Seattle Campus
  1400 NE Campus Parkway, Seattle WA 98195-4550
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  20,000 and above

  Financial Aid 206-543-2100
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  https://www.washington.edu/
  Program Name
  Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree, Doctor's degree - research/scholarship, Bachelor's degree
  Save
  Program Name
  Animal Physiology
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Doctor's degree - research/scholarship, Master's degree
  Save
  Program Name
  Zoology/Animal Biology
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Doctor's degree - research/scholarship, Bachelor's degree, Master's degree
  Save
  Program Name
  Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
  Length
  4 years
  Award Level
  Bachelor's degree
  Save
  Program Name
  Environmental Biology
  Length
  4 years
  Award Level
  Bachelor's degree
  Save

  ---

• Washington State University
  French Administration Building, Pullman WA 99164-5910
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  20,000 and above

  Financial Aid 509-335-3564
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  https://wsu.edu/
  Program Name
  Zoology/Animal Biology
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Doctor's degree - research/scholarship, Bachelor's degree, Master's degree
  Save
  Program Name
  Entomology
  Length
  More than 4 years
  Award Level
  Master's degree, Doctor's degree - research/scholarship
  Save
  Program Name
  Wildlife, Fish and Wildlands Science and Management
  Length
  4 years
  Award Level
  Bachelor's degree
  Save

  ---

• Western Washington University
  516 High Street, Bellingham WA 98225-9008
  School Type

  Public, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  10,000 - 19,999

  Financial Aid 360-650-3000
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,Graduate degree or certificate offering
  Website

  http://wwu.edu/
  Program Name
  Zoology/Animal Biology
  Length
  4 years
  Award Level
  Bachelor's degree
  Save
  Program Name
  Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography
  Length
  4 years
  Award Level
  Bachelor's degree
  Save
  Program Name
  Marine Sciences
  Length
  4 years
  Award Level
  Bachelor's degree
  Save
  Program Name
  Evolutionary Biology
  Length
  4 years
  Award Level
  Bachelor's degree
  Save
  Program Name
  Ecology
  Length
  4 years
  Award Level
  Bachelor's degree
  Save

  ---

• Whitman College
  345 Boyer Ave, Walla Walla WA 99362
  School Type

  Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above

  Admissions
  School Size

  1,000 - 4,999

  Financial Aid 509-527-5111
  Other Degrees Offered

  Undergraduate degree or certificate offering,No graduate offering
  Website

  http://www.whitman.edu/
  Program Name
  Environmental Biology
  Length
  4 years
  Award Level
  Bachelor's degree
  Save

  ---

Close

Pay

Washington Annual Salary

82050/yr

Washington Hourly Wage

39.45/hr

Washington Employment Trends

Currently Employed

2,450

Yearly Projected Openings

250

Personality

Investigative: People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out. They do well at jobs that need:

• Cooperation
• Integrity
• Initiative
• Dependability
• Attention to Detail
• Adaptability/Flexibility

Tools

• Adjustable widemouth pliers
• Air compressors
• Air rifles or air handguns
• All terrain vehicles tracked or wheeled
• Animal control traps
• Archery bows
• Axes
• Benchtop centrifuges
• Binocular light compound microscopes
• Binoculars
• Boat Trailer
• Calipers
• Calorimeters
• Canoes or kayaks
• Clinometers
• Commercial fishing nets
• Compasses
• Conductivity meters
• Counters
• Desktop computers
• Digital camcorders or video cameras
• Digital cameras
• Dissection kits or supplies
• Dissolved oxygen meters
• Diving instruments or accessories
• Dropping pipettes
• Dry heat or hot air sterilizers
• Drying cabinets or ovens
• Egg inspection or collecting equipment
• Entomological catching equipment
• Flow sensors
• Flying insect control traps
• Forced air or mechanical convection general purpose incubators
• Forestry increment borers
• Fume hoods or cupboards
• Global positioning system GPS receiver
• Handheld refractometers or polarimeters
• Handheld thermometer
• Hard hats
• Laboratory balances
• Laboratory beakers
• Laboratory forceps
• Laboratory funnels
• Laboratory graduated cylinders
• Ladders
• Laser printers
• Magnifiers
• Masks or accessories
• Masks or fins or snorkels
• Micrometers
• Notebook computers
• Personal computers
• Personal motorized watercraft
• Petri plates or dishes
• Photo attachments for microscopes
• Pisciculture supplies
• Portable data input terminals
• Protective gloves
• Pull spring balances
• Radio frequency transmitters or receivers
• Rafts
• Rangefinders
• Recreational motorboats
• Rulers
• Safety glasses
• Safety harnesses or belts
• Salinity meter
• Sample changers
• Single gas monitors
• Sledge hammer
• Snowmobiles or snow scooter
• Specimen collection container
• Spectrometers
• Sporting traps
• Steam autoclaves or sterilizers
• Stereo or dissecting light microscopes
• Still cameras
• Surface thermometers
• Surgical scalpels or knives or blades or trephines
• Tape measures
• Telescopes
• Test sieves
• Two way radios
• Ultra cold or ultralow upright cabinets or freezers
• Volumeters
• Water pumps
• Water samplers
• pH meters

Technology

• Analytical or scientific software
• Data base user interface and query software
• Electronic mail software
• Geographic information system
• Internet browser software
• Mobile location based services software
• Object or component oriented development software
• Office suite software
• Presentation software
• Project management software
• Spreadsheet software
• Web platform development software
• Word processing software