Wildlife sciences and management programs teach people to manage and improve habitats and ecosystems for animals. Students learn wildlife biology and other natural sciences. They study the laws and practices that affect wildlife.

In the 1980s, the Mexican gray wolf became nearly extinct. Using a few animals in zoos and some from the wild, wildlife professionals began breeding gray wolves in order to reintroduce them to their natural habitats. In recent years, populations of gray wolves have slowly been growing.

The reintroduction of the Mexican gray wolf is not without controversy. Scientists agree that gray wolves are an important part of the natural ecosystem and should be part of the wild. However, many people – especially ranchers and farmers – are fearful of growing populations of gray wolves because they are predators and attack cattle and other farm animals.

Wildlife science and management professionals work with individuals from many walks of life in order to make sure that both wildlife is protected and that the interests of people are considered. Wildlife scientists are an integral part of the gray wolf issue, and many others.

With a degree in this field, you can work in a variety of areas. You can manage state and national parks, zoos, or wildlife refuges. You can work in the natural environment, monitoring wildlife habitats and studying endangered species. Overall, this program attracts people who love to study and protect animals in the wild.

Wildlife science and management programs can be found in a number of different departments. These includes wildlife and fisheries, conservation biology, environmental biology, and ecology. In these programs, you take courses from many areas of study. You take courses in biology, zoology, ecology, and chemistry. You also take courses in political science, economics, and sociology. You study different areas of wildlife science, including wildlife rehabilitation, endangered species science, and fishery management. Because habitats and ecosystems are necessary to animal health, this program focuses on the environment and resource conservation. Because ecosystems are so complex, scientists and managers work together in complicated research projects and management programs.

Over 100 colleges and universities offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs in wildlife sciences and management. Two-year colleges typically offer the first two years of study. Students can often transfer the credits to a four-year school. Master's degrees typically take five or six years of full-time study after high school. If you want to teach college or direct research, you need a doctorate. Doctoral degree programs typically take about three to five years after the master's degree.