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A
Job To Love
Imagine sitting on a ridge in the Northwest
Territories and focusing your binoculars
on a group of wood bison feeding in
a nearby willow savannah.
At one time, the wood bison was listed
as endangered, but you recently helped
raise some in a captive breeding program.
Now, the population has grown to just
over 3,500 wood bison, and you continue
to check on their progress. This week,
you’ll take digital aerial photographs
to estimate the size of the herd. Next
week, your team will collect blood samples
from some bison to check for diseases
such as tuberculosis and brucellosis.
You’ll also use these blood samples
to test the genetic diversity of the
herd. After all, it's your job is to
make sure this herd is healthy so it
can reproduce and grow.
Conservation
biologists study animals, birds,
and their habitats to protect and
restore biodiversity on earth. They
spend time indoors in offices and
laboratories, and time outdoors in
all kinds of natural settings like
forests, marshes, and lakes. They
work on their own and as part of a
team. Many conservation biologists
live where they grew up. Aboriginal
conservation biologists study animal
populations to make sure traditional
food sources stay plentiful and healthy.
Working
outdoors can be great, but as a junior
conservation biologist, you’ll
spend a lot of time in the field away
from home and family. The hours will
be long, especially in the summer
when the daylight hours are longer.
As you become more experienced as
a conservation biologist, you’ll
spend most of your time doing paperwork
in an office. Most senior conservation
biologists conduct a lot of research
and publish the findings from their
research. Then again, you might not
mind because you’re committed
to animals and their environment.
Job
Description
Conservation biologists study how the
cycle of life works in different environments.
They study things like animal and bird
health, size, diet, and behaviour. They
also study wildlife habitats. They use
their findings to help conserve biodiversity
of plants and animals and save species
from becoming extinct. For example,
a conservation biologist might study
red foxes to control the outbreak of
animal diseases like mange. Conservation
biologists work for environmental consulting
companies, resource and utilities companies,
industrial companies, universities,
and the government.
Job
Duties
- Study
plant and animal growth, heredity,
and breeding
- Study
animal populations and set hunting
quotas
- Research
the migration of animals
- Study
animals’ diets and where they
find food
- Study
how pollutants and pesticides affect
animals
- Develop
plans to conserve animals and their
habitats
- Give
presentations to teach the public
about wildlife conservation
- Supervise
technicians and technologists
Fact
Forty-five million bison once roamed
the North American prairies. Today,
bison are at risk in Canada.
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High
school courses that will prepare you
for this job include biology, chemistry,
English, math, and physics. Aboriginal
studies, history, and languages will
prepare you for working in a multi-cultural
setting. Talk to your career or academic
counsellor about options such as geology
and computer science.
The minimum education requirement for
this job is a bachelor’s degree
in biology or a related field. A master’s
or post-doctoral degree will make you
more competitive. You’ll find it
easier to negotiate your salary and
to get a job as a field biologist or
researcher.
Look into specific high school prerequisites
set by the college or university you
would like to attend.
Before entering the workforce, some
conservation biologists might require
training in:
- Orienteering
- Field
sampling
- Standard
and Wilderness First Aid
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Conservation
biologists with a bachelor’s
degree make an average of $38,000.00
per year.
Conservation biologists with a master’s
degree make an average of $52,000.00
per year.
Conservation biologists with several
years’ of education and experience
make an average of $67,000.00 per
year.
Financial Assistance
In addition to the general scholarship
tips listed in the BUILD MY CAREER
section, the following award is specific
to conservation biologists:
conservation biologists:
CASTS scholarships for Canadian
Aboriginal students studying science
Contact: CASTS Scholarship
Committee
Treaty 7 Tribal Council
Suite 310, 6940 Fisher Road SE
Calgary, AB
T2H 0W3
Telephone: (403) 258-1775
Fax: (403) 258-1811
email: casts@mail1.treaty7.org
website: www.casts.ca
Shared
Achievements Aboriginal Scholarships
Suncor Energy Foundation
Created to assist Aboriginal students
who are pursuing post-secondary education
in science, earth sciences, natural
resource management, and environmental
studies.
Contact: National Aboriginal
Achievement Foundation
70 Yorkville Avenue, Suite 33A
Toronto, ON
M5R 1B9
Telephone: (416) 926-0775
Fax: (416) 926-7554
email: naaf@istar.ca
website: www.naaf.ca
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Some
of the best knowledge you’ll
gain for this job will come from listening
to the stories and wisdom of your
relations. Ask your Elders how to
tell if an animal is healthy. Learn
how to identify animals, where they
live at different times of the year,
and what they eat. Join your family
on camping, hunting, and fishing trips.
The time you spend outdoors will make
your studies easier and your understanding
of the natural world will appeal to
employers.
Relate to people in similar jobs:
- Conservation
officer
- Wildlife
technician
Relate
and interact with land use planners.
Ask them what they like about their
jobs, and how you should get started.
The Canadian Society of Environmental
Biologists / La Société
Canadienne des Biologistes Environnementales
CSEB/SCBE National Office
P.O. Box 962, Station F
Toronto, ON
M4Y 2N9
email: cseb@freenet.edmonton.ab.ca
website: www.cseb-scbe.org/
The Canadian Federation of Biological
Societies / Fédération
canadienne des sociétés
de biologie
305-1750 Courtwood Crescent
Ottawa, ON
K2C 2B5
Telephone: (613) 223-8889
Fax: (613) 225-9621
website: www.cfbs.org
The Canadian Museum of Nature
P.O. Box 3443, Station D
Ottawa ON
K1P 6P4
Telephone: (613) 566-4700
email: questions@mus-nature.ca
website: www.nature.ca
Relate with other students. There
are Aboriginal student associations
and resource centers at most colleges
and universities. Visit these centres
to find out what they have to offer.
Also, look into community, friendship,
and multi-cultural centres.
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