Fish and wildlife technicians are an important part of natural resource
management teams. They use their knowledge of biology to monitor, maintain
and study fish and animals and their habitats.
This career is often divided into two categories: fisheries technician
and wildlife technician. While the divisions may be obvious, the duties performed
by people in these two categories are very similar.
People in this field may be responsible for observing, feeding, counting
and trapping fish or wildlife. They may also be involved in re-stocking populations
in a particular area. They may be involved in projects to test or improve
natural habitats or resources.
Writing reports and using special computer programs to assist in research
are also part of the job.
Technicians work closely with biologists in fish hatcheries, consulting
firms, government agencies, game farms and conservation agencies. People in
this career often work both indoors and out. Fieldwork and irregular hours
are common.
"I've been in the field for a month at a time," says wildlife technician
Ellen Swansen. "A lot of that time was spent tenting, so you have to be in
good shape and like the outdoors."
Fieldwork may mean anything from wading though marshland to hiking across
mountainous trails. In other words, this is not a job for indoor types.
Most fish and wildlife technicians don't get to spend all their time doing
exciting work in the great outdoors. This job involves a fair amount of repetitive,
indoor data analysis and report writing. "You have to have an eye for detail
and patience for repetitive tasks. A tolerance for statistical analysis wouldn't
hurt either," says George Jacobs, a fisheries technician from Oregon.
Many entry-level technician jobs are seasonal. This means newcomers to
this field can often expect winter layoffs. Tenured positions are more secure.
They almost always are year-round.
If you're concerned about the natural environment and don't mind getting
rained on occasionally, a career as a fish and wildlife technician may be
just what you've been looking for.
"You have to be the kind of person who likes science and math and doesn't
mind repetitive tasks," says Kentucky fish and wildlife technician Christian
Pitman.