Job Details
Job Title: Wildlife Biologist
Employer: Natural Resource Solutions Inc
Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada
Salary: $20 – $25 per hour
Employment Type: Part-time
Schedule: Weekends
Start Date: Starts as soon as possible
Verified: Yes
Benefits: Automobile allowance
Full Job Description
At Natural Resource Solutions Inc. (NRSI), we are proud to offer high-quality and cost-effective natural environment consulting solutions to our customers all across Canada. As a highly respected niche biological consulting firm, some of our offices are located in Waterloo, Ontario, and Calgary, Alberta. Our team of skilled ecologists provides expertise in the identification and management of significant and sensitive natural species and their habitats.
Why Us?
Here at Natural Resource Solutions Inc., we value our people greatly and strive to provide a healthy work-life balance and a safe work environment. Also, we provide a competitive salary per hour, the opportunity to work with other highly experienced staff, and the opportunities for career growth by promoting from within our organization.
Your Contribution To NRSI
We need two locally-situated, motivated, and independent people who will conduct field monitoring activities. This will be carried out at operating solar energy facilities in the Edmonton area, mainly consisting of wildlife mortality searches and/or the placement of bird test carcasses. Furthermore, these positions will allow you to gain experience in visual bird identification and implement scientific methods.
As well as to collect and analyze data employing a high attention to detail. As a wildlife biologist, your major duties and responsibilities will include:
- Taking well-structured, organized, and detailed field notes.
- As well as giving regular reports about the assigned fieldwork with the project managers, fellow field personnel, and clients as needed.
- Also, conducting searches based on a strict schedule and safely collecting and handling bird carcasses.
- Occasional assistance with other field- or office-related tasks.
Your Education
- A degree or diploma in Biology, Environmental Sciences, or a related field.
- If you are currently enrolled in such programs, you will also be considered.
Requirements
- You must possess a valid driver’s license and be over 18 years old to drive a rental vehicle.
- Have a current Standard First Aid and CPR Certification.
- You must be willing and able to work under inclement weather, in a variety of environmental, and vegetation conditions. Also, you will need to work for long hours and occasionally on holidays or weekends.
- Also, you must be physically fit to walk for several hours every day in potentially challenging terrain.
- You must show a strong interest in wildlife and the environment, as well as the desire to pursue a career in this field.
- Possess a good work ethic and positive attitude, dependability, flexibility, and excellent communication.
- You must be able to work independently regularly.
- Also, you will need to show accuracy and attention to detail, and the maintenance of well-organized and detailed field notes.
Assets
- You must be highly experienced in the identification of birds by sight.
- Be proficient with simple navigation and have experience using handheld GPS units.
- Be highly experienced with surveying for wildlife and/or conducting soil assessments, vegetation inventories, or delineating vegetation communities using standard survey protocols.
- A reliable personal vehicle is insured for work purposes (authorized mileage will be reimbursed).
What Are Wildlife Biologist Skills?
Wildlife biologist skills are the special abilities that wildlife biologists need to be able to pursue their daily work successfully. Such skills may include soft skills and technical skills. The soft skills are helpful in many careers, while the technical skills are unique to this position.
With these skills, wildlife biologists will have the ability to effectively complete their tasks, and study wildlife populations, and habitats. As well as creating valid plans to save endangered species, tagging and monitoring animals, helping to restore the ecosystems, studying disease in animals, enlightening the general public, and publishing academic research.
Examples Of Wildlife Biologist Skills
As a wildlife biologist, your exact skills will often vary because of the location, specialty, job title, experience, and seniority. However, some skills apply across the field. Below are a few of the essential skills that a wildlife biologist benefits from. Scroll down!
Verbal Communication Skills
Some areas of wildlife biologists allow you to educate the public about local wildlife species and the challenges that they face. Communicating effectively can help them teach educational courses and also maximize public knowledge of local ecosystems and conservation efforts.
Collaboration
Wildlife biologists can effectively work with other professionals in the wildlife and conservation fields, like game wardens, environmental specialists, conservationists, park rangers, academics, and ecologists. Being able to work as part of a team will allow them to work with these professionals and other wildlife biologists to solve challenges facing local wildlife.
Problem-solving
As a wildlife biologist, you may use your positions to resolve challenges that might be facing local species, like diminishing populations, habitat destruction, disease, lack of food, and invasive species. These challenges are no joke and are often complicated, as such a strong problem-solving skill is needed to help wildlife biologists analyze evidence and find the best solutions.
Precise Observation
The job of a wildlife biologist usually has to do with extensive time in the field observing animal species in their natural habitat. Having observation skills can help a wildlife biologist make the most of this work by observing small changes in animal migration patterns. And also variation in population sizes, feeding habits, mating patterns, and other behaviors.
Writing Skills
Sometimes, wildlife biologists may need to prepare formal reports of their findings for government agencies or academic bodies. Therefore, writing clearly and convincingly can help them present their ideas and also develop policies that will benefit local animal populations.
Knowledge Of Local Wildlife
Another essential skill for wildlife biologists is an extensive knowledge of local animal species. These may include mammals, fish, birds, insects, reptiles, and amphibians. Wildlife biologists will need to know their habitat and range, diet, migration and hibernation patterns, appearance, mating habits, behaviors, and predators.
Understanding Of Ecosystems
Furthermore, wildlife biologists usually work to enhance animal habitats, increase animal populations, as well as reduce damaging human behaviors. When you have a good understanding of the local ecosystems and how they affect wildlife, it’ll help you ensure your successful efforts and avoid disturbing delicate natural systems.
Outdoor Skills
As a wildlife biologist, you can often spend much of your time studying wildlife in the field. As such, you must have extensive outdoor skills. This can include camping, hiking, backpacking, swimming, off-road driving, food preparation, and cycling/snowshoeing.
Stamina
Wildlife biologists are required to spend much of their time outdoors, standing, walking, hiking, and sometimes running or climbing. While on field research projects, stamina, and physical fitness will help them follow and observe animals in their natural habitats.
Data Collection And Analysis
Data collection and analysis skills are an essential part of fieldwork. This can assist wildlife biologists in the collection of accurate information on animal species and interpreting it. This may include using remote camera technology, building algorithms, taking notes, using statistical methods, and creating databases.
Knowledge Of Scientific Methods
Wildlife biologists make use of various scientific processes to collect and analyze data about animal species and their environments. Such as water testing, testing for disease, taking animal samples, and analyzing genetic data.
How To Improve Wildlife Biologist Skills
These are some methods that you can consider to help you develop and improve your wildlife biologist skills:
Earn A Degree
One of the most effective ways to maximize your knowledge of wildlife biology and conservation is to earn a bachelor’s degree. You can decide to major in zoology, conservation, biology, or wildlife biology. Furthermore, these study programs can help give you a better understanding of biological science, conservation methods, and research practices.
Aside from helping you to develop expertise, a bachelor’s degree is usually required for entry-level positions in wildlife biology. Senior positions and in-depth research jobs need candidates to continue their education by earning a master’s degree or a Ph.D. in a field that’s related to wildlife biology.
Do Research
Independent research can help you develop expertise in zoology and conservation. You can also think of studying animal life in your area using online, and print materials, or subscribing to academic journals and other publications. Such publications that deal with wildlife biology, such as the magazines and journals of the Wildlife Society.
Introducing yourself to local professionals or academics in the wildlife and conservation fields may also help you learn about their work and find educational opportunities in your area. You can consult the United States Fish and Wildlife Service website to learn more about laws and regulations that deal with wildlife.
Find An Internship
Enrolling for an internship may be a good way to enter the field of wildlife biology, build connections, and gain practical experience in fieldwork. As well as in some research processes. Various organizations offer internships, such as universities, government agencies, parks, and conservation societies. If you are in college, you can consider asking your professors or advisors if they know of any internship opportunities for you.