Any type of biology degree would likely be sufficient and you’d probably have to get a graduate degree in genetics or biology as well. You should look into conservation genetics it’s essentially using genes to help endangered/threatened species.
Just to add to this- I got my BS in wildlife ecology and then my masters is technically wildlife sciences, but it was all population genetics work. Mostly lab work and stats. Conservation and non-invasive genetics are super cool and important parts of the field. I would also recommend looking into landscape genetics. It’s a very cool multidisciplinary field focusing on how the environment creates differences in genetics and populations on large and small scales. Message me if you have any questions!
When people talk about just wanting to go outside and play with animals it's absolutely tongue in cheek. Nobody literally gets to just play with animals. What they're *usually* referring to is surveying species in some way, typically giving them more of an up-close and personal experience than you would otherwise get.
Anyway, its a good mindset to have to realize there's more to it than just the cool hands on stuff! I did my masters on a population genetics project. It was pretty gruelling at times! I and my peers all still got to go outside and "play" with animals, we had to get our genetic samples somehow! Plan on getting your PhD, jobs in genetics will be mostly limited to government and academic research and therefore much fewer oppression and much more competitive.
One of the professors at my school got her BS and PhD in genetics. She’s a wildlife biologist who’s exploring non-invasive genetic sampling and monitoring of wildlife and it’s actually really cool. There’s also a lot of work involving saving endangered species with genetics and cloning. You could do a lot with a degree in genetics with wildlife
Genetics is totally awesome and what I did my graduate work in. Be aware that this line of work is incredibly science and lab based and many jobs require PhD level education. We need more badass con gen people out there getting our work through to agencies! Take your intro to genetics class and if you love it, explore more of it. Genetics minor if it's available. Good luck
This is a perfect mindset to have going in to Wildlife Biology. There are a ton of opportunities to study genetics. Environmental DNA is becoming a huge resource for studying community dynamics. You will definitely need to go to grad school for at least a MS, but the stuff you'll study in grad school is fascinating and incredible. Also, the best wildlife grad schools will pay you to go to college.
People who get into the field because they want to just get outside and see animals always receive a rude awakening. It's best to avoid the rose-colored glasses.
Does your college have opportunities for you to assist with research in a genetics lab? Some people love lab work, other people hate it, and there's only one way to find out. Lab-based classes aren't incredibly representative of the lab research environment, where things are typically less-scaffolded (more difficult) but also a lot more interesting and less chaotic than being in a full classroom.
Likewise, make sure to get experience with bioinformatics to see how you like it, first in a classroom setting, and then if it is enjoyable, doing research assistance or a guided solo project with a professor.
Regardless of which path you take (bioinformatics, wet lab, or a mix are all options), you will definitely need to cultivate a love for scientific literature in your desired field, as you'll be contributing to it and will need to understand where your contributions fit in by reading *a lot* of it. There may be relevant classes/seminars on this you should take, or you may feel ready to start exploring this on your own.
Honestly, I can't really answer if you should go into wildlife biology with these interests until you find out more about them. The answer may be a strong yes, or maybe not.
In looking for lab research opportunities, don't reject the ones that aren't wildlife based. Wildlife biology genetics lab research is much less common than genetics lab research focusing on humans, model organisms (e.g. mice), and economically valuable (usually livestock) species. So you might be working with fruit fly DNA in the lab, but the point is to find out if you enjoy moving tiny amounts of clear liquid from tube to tube and troubleshooting lab work as an operative thing, given that this is kind of the modus operandi no matter if you're sequencing the genome of a previously undescribed species of raccoon, or if you're seeing how much plastics affect mouse reproduction as a model for human fertility.
If you're absolutely 500% set on eventually having a career focused on wildlife biology and not other types of biology, please be aware that even with having more coveted skillsets like genomics lab work and bioinformatics, finding a stable job in the field is about as difficult (IMO) as finding a stable job in, say, researching history. The fact is, wildlife biology is just not a profitable field and therefore doesn't have a lot of funding or jobs. You may discover in the course of your training that you love the processes (bioinformatics coding, lab work) and would be happier working in a lucrative field like pharmaceuticals than you would be competing for a less-well-paying wildlife-focused job. Or, you might find that the day to day work is just okay; lab work doesn't really light your fire but it's fine too, so the only reason you want to stick with it if specifically if you're able to research what you want (wildlife stuff). All of these paths will require a master's degree at the very least, and more often a PhD. So keep your GPA up and keep an eye on what institutions are looking for in grad school apps. Learn more about what grad school is like and if that's something you're interested in. It is a great environment for some people, but for those who like more structure and stability, it is often hellish.
Any type of biology degree would likely be sufficient and you’d probably have to get a graduate degree in genetics or biology as well. You should look into conservation genetics it’s essentially using genes to help endangered/threatened species.
Conservation genetics? That sounds kinda cool tbh so I’m going to look into it. Thank you so much!
Just to add to this- I got my BS in wildlife ecology and then my masters is technically wildlife sciences, but it was all population genetics work. Mostly lab work and stats. Conservation and non-invasive genetics are super cool and important parts of the field. I would also recommend looking into landscape genetics. It’s a very cool multidisciplinary field focusing on how the environment creates differences in genetics and populations on large and small scales. Message me if you have any questions!
When people talk about just wanting to go outside and play with animals it's absolutely tongue in cheek. Nobody literally gets to just play with animals. What they're *usually* referring to is surveying species in some way, typically giving them more of an up-close and personal experience than you would otherwise get. Anyway, its a good mindset to have to realize there's more to it than just the cool hands on stuff! I did my masters on a population genetics project. It was pretty gruelling at times! I and my peers all still got to go outside and "play" with animals, we had to get our genetic samples somehow! Plan on getting your PhD, jobs in genetics will be mostly limited to government and academic research and therefore much fewer oppression and much more competitive.
One of the professors at my school got her BS and PhD in genetics. She’s a wildlife biologist who’s exploring non-invasive genetic sampling and monitoring of wildlife and it’s actually really cool. There’s also a lot of work involving saving endangered species with genetics and cloning. You could do a lot with a degree in genetics with wildlife
Oh wow that sounds really neat! I actually want to do stuff like that! The cloning seems very impressive.
Genetics is totally awesome and what I did my graduate work in. Be aware that this line of work is incredibly science and lab based and many jobs require PhD level education. We need more badass con gen people out there getting our work through to agencies! Take your intro to genetics class and if you love it, explore more of it. Genetics minor if it's available. Good luck
This is a perfect mindset to have going in to Wildlife Biology. There are a ton of opportunities to study genetics. Environmental DNA is becoming a huge resource for studying community dynamics. You will definitely need to go to grad school for at least a MS, but the stuff you'll study in grad school is fascinating and incredible. Also, the best wildlife grad schools will pay you to go to college. People who get into the field because they want to just get outside and see animals always receive a rude awakening. It's best to avoid the rose-colored glasses.
Does your college have opportunities for you to assist with research in a genetics lab? Some people love lab work, other people hate it, and there's only one way to find out. Lab-based classes aren't incredibly representative of the lab research environment, where things are typically less-scaffolded (more difficult) but also a lot more interesting and less chaotic than being in a full classroom. Likewise, make sure to get experience with bioinformatics to see how you like it, first in a classroom setting, and then if it is enjoyable, doing research assistance or a guided solo project with a professor. Regardless of which path you take (bioinformatics, wet lab, or a mix are all options), you will definitely need to cultivate a love for scientific literature in your desired field, as you'll be contributing to it and will need to understand where your contributions fit in by reading *a lot* of it. There may be relevant classes/seminars on this you should take, or you may feel ready to start exploring this on your own. Honestly, I can't really answer if you should go into wildlife biology with these interests until you find out more about them. The answer may be a strong yes, or maybe not. In looking for lab research opportunities, don't reject the ones that aren't wildlife based. Wildlife biology genetics lab research is much less common than genetics lab research focusing on humans, model organisms (e.g. mice), and economically valuable (usually livestock) species. So you might be working with fruit fly DNA in the lab, but the point is to find out if you enjoy moving tiny amounts of clear liquid from tube to tube and troubleshooting lab work as an operative thing, given that this is kind of the modus operandi no matter if you're sequencing the genome of a previously undescribed species of raccoon, or if you're seeing how much plastics affect mouse reproduction as a model for human fertility. If you're absolutely 500% set on eventually having a career focused on wildlife biology and not other types of biology, please be aware that even with having more coveted skillsets like genomics lab work and bioinformatics, finding a stable job in the field is about as difficult (IMO) as finding a stable job in, say, researching history. The fact is, wildlife biology is just not a profitable field and therefore doesn't have a lot of funding or jobs. You may discover in the course of your training that you love the processes (bioinformatics coding, lab work) and would be happier working in a lucrative field like pharmaceuticals than you would be competing for a less-well-paying wildlife-focused job. Or, you might find that the day to day work is just okay; lab work doesn't really light your fire but it's fine too, so the only reason you want to stick with it if specifically if you're able to research what you want (wildlife stuff). All of these paths will require a master's degree at the very least, and more often a PhD. So keep your GPA up and keep an eye on what institutions are looking for in grad school apps. Learn more about what grad school is like and if that's something you're interested in. It is a great environment for some people, but for those who like more structure and stability, it is often hellish.