Wildlife technicians provide support and services to scientists working in wildlife management and animal biology. They are usually employed in field settings by federal and provincial government departments and agencies, colleges and universities, environmental consulting or resource companies and utilities. The field itself is highly competitive.
As a wildlife technician, you do field research on animal populations. You might, for example, monitor the effects of hunting pressures on wildlife. Or you might conduct a bird survival study, observing and counting birds, studying predators, and trapping the birds in order to attach tags or radio transmitters.
Wildlife technicians conduct or supervise operational programs, such as restocking elk in the area. You also study wildlife habitats and land areas. Occasionally, you may be involved in programs to buy and improve land so wildlife can live there.
You assist scientists in analysing data and preparing reports. Computers may be used to develop sophisticated models of habitats or to analyze the data you collect. You may also enforce regulations regarding wildlife and fisheries habitat and population protection.
Most of your summers are spent working in the field. During the winter months you analyze data in the office or in the lab and prepare for the next summer's work. You are usually paid a salary.
This job appeals to independent people who have a real love for plant and animal life and who enjoy being outdoors in all kinds of weather. To do the work well, you need to work hard, display enthusiasm and be willing to apply what you learn. The wide range of skills you develop in this work will give you a deeper understanding of the natural environment.
Wildlife technicians are meticulous collectors of data. You need an eye for detail and enough mathematical skill to develop a fairly good grasp of statistics. Your written language skills must be good enough for you to write reports. You may also need to develop an ability to communicate since it is possible that you might be asked to serve as a contact with other groups, deal with land owners, or simply provide environmental and wildlife information to interested members of the public.
There are a variety of community college programs offered. However, the ones that are recognized throughout North America are those approved by the North American Wildlife Technology Association, a loose network of wildlife science departments across the continent.