The primary responsibility of a wildlife manager is to ensure that wild animals, including fish, have healthy population sizes and live in healthy habitats. In terms of population size, this means that a wildlife manager will work to ensure that certain animal species do not become extinct due to excessive population growth. The management of wildlife sanctuaries and refuges may be used to protect habitats.
Wildlife managers engage in a wide range of activities, from hands-on work to research and analysis. Animal habitats are typically evaluated, and data on animals, fish, and plants is collected. Direct contact with animals, on the other hand, may entail capturing animals in order to relocate them or collecting biological samples in order to assess the health of a species or environment.
Work is also different depending on where you are. For example, animals and habitats in a forest differ from those in a desert, and in a warm climate from those in a cold climate. One constant is that a wildlife manager spends most of his or her time outdoors, frequently on public lands. Wildlife managers are frequently employed federal, state, or local governments in the United States, though they are also employed private, non-profit organizations that focus on animals and the environment.
Because wildlife managers do a lot of hands-on work in the field, the job can be physically demanding, so anyone interested in this field should be in good physical shape. He or she should be able to run and track animals if necessary, as well as traverse different terrains on foot. Managers should also be nimble, as they may be required to work in cramped spaces.
Wildlife managers must also be familiar with the laws governing wildlife and land use in the areas where they work. They may be required to enforce recreational laws, such as those governing the travel of all-terrain vehicles and boats. Some managers also work as law enforcement officers, ensuring the safety of wildlife and their surroundings. Wildlife managers may also serve as advisors for new environmental or wildlife regulations because they have specialized experience in the field.
The job of wildlife manager also has a public relations component. They may be required to give presentations to school groups or other organizations, or they may be asked to take phone calls from local residents about nuisance animals. For example, if a resident calls to ask what to do about bats or opossums in his home, the wildlife manager may be able to help.
A wildlife manager is sometimes referred to as a game warden, but this term is becoming obsolete. A game warden, as the name implies, is solely responsible for game animals and their protection from wild animals, usually on a private game reserve. Game wardens may also enforce hunting and fishing regulations, as well as assist in the establishment of hunting and fishing quotas. In many cases, the role of game warden has morphed into that of wildlife manager, with the responsibility of protecting all wildlife, not just game. In some cases, the game warden is still only in charge of game animals.
Wildlife managers frequently have backgrounds in fields such as biology, forestry, environmental science, or ecology. A four-year degree in a related field is frequently listed as a requirement in job advertisements in the United States. However, a passion for animals and the environment is perhaps one of the most important requirements for becoming a wildlife manager.