Careers in Zoology

Careers in Zoology can be very interesting and a great experience for animal lovers. A Zoologist is a life scientist that study animals and monitor them in their natural habitat and in laboratories. They study how the species of an animal began and developed as well as their interactions with other animals. Careers in Zoology will also involve the research of the origin of animal disease, because the zoology is considered one of the types of biology that deals with the animal kingdom.

Research Careers in Zoology

Careers in Zoology offer many opportunities in research because there is a ton of information to learn about and still undiscovered within the animal kingdom. As a zoologist you have an opportunity to make an impact on the planet’s ecology through your work with animals. Many zoologists are employed with universities because they engage in the teaching of students and research opportunities. Also many state and federal agencies employ a zoologist in many positions that might not be in direct relation to zoology.

Two great examples of this type of careers in Zoology are that with the U.S. Geological Survey and the Department of Energy. These types of jobs for a zoologist involve a great deal of research as well as work in regulation and enforcing many different government environmental laws. As a zoologist you can also find a career in industry and private business. An example of this type of employment would include an industry employing field biologist to monitor the land use around the factory and watch for the health impacts on the environment.

Careers in Zoology and Job Duties

The examples of the duties of careers in Zoology include creating a recovery plan for the environment and health wildlife, as well as monitoring the health of the wildlife around. You will communicate to the public by holding field trips to point out historic and natural features as well as scientific parts to a park. A zoologist will also be in charge of setting up equipment to collect pollutants and monitor such data from sites like manufacturing plants and smoke stacks. As a zoologist you will also be in charge of conducting studies both indoors and outdoors, and also studying the beginning, classification, disease process, development and genetics of organisms in research.

The daily tasks of a zoologist vary based on what type of careers in Zoology you are specializing in.

There are many different specialty careers in zoology you can focus on such as:

• A zookeeper: The role of a zookeeper is to care for the animals by preparing their meals, cleaning out their living environments, watching and marking down their changes in behavior, making sure the animals are healthy, grooming the animals, giving the animals adequate exercise, and training, as well as talking to the groups that come to visit the animals.
• Researcher: The job of a researcher in the zoology field is to perform experiments, collect new data that is found through research studies, and use the data to help solve health or environmental problems. A researcher will also be responsible for breeding and raising animals, as well as dissecting animals and preserving their bodies. You will use microscopes, computers and other equipment to record and analyze data. A researcher will also be responsible to prepare the specimens of preserved animals for study and identification. This helps to collect and review the specimens within the laboratory setting. You will also be responsible for giving speeches and prepare for grant proposals as well as writing papers.
• Wildlife Educator: The duties of a wildlife educator are to research the intricacies of the wildlife behavior, and also research and write information used for materials and websites. You are also responsible for preparing the information used for educational visits, and displays. You must also choose, purchase, and help to raise animals for exhibition.
• Wildlife Rehabilitator: The job duty and description of a wildlife rehabilitator is to care for he injured sick, or orphaned wild animals. Once the animals have been cared for and brought back to adequate health, it is the job of the wildlife rehabilitator to release the animals back into their natural habitat, and acquire the permits needed from state and federal agencies.

Requirements for Careers in Zoology

If you are thinking about careers in Zoology you will need to have strong mathematical skills and the ability to work with computers. It is important to have a good ability to concentrate on various details and work by yourself from others. You should try to seek opportunities to show that you can work well with a large group of different people. It is also required to have good written and oral communication, because many zoologists work as a team and write research papers for clients and customers that do not have a science background. The experience in an internship is another important part of becoming a zoologist. This can be with undergraduate research or other programs in graduate school. There are some opportunities for careers in Zoology with those with a bachelor’s degree, however many professional zoologist hold a master’s degree or Ph. D. The higher degrees are the reasoning that many people with these types of degrees get offered more job opportunities in the field.

Careers in Zoology Salary Information

The average salary in starting as a zoologist is around $20,000. For those more experienced in the field they can make upwards of around $80,000 a year. Many people think about starting a Career in Zoology thinking it has a high earning potential. That is why it is surprising to some when they find out the starting salary for those with a Bachelor’s degree is only $20,000.

Careers in Zoology are definitely for those that have a love for animals. When you are working in a career such as zoology for more than the money you will find your job experience more enjoyable. Many people have stayed in the career for many years for the shear love of animals and their job, and have noticed a significant increase in salary as well, which is an added benefit of careers in zoology.