College of Natural Resources & Sciences

Wildlife

A wildlife student holding a bird.Humboldt's Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife prepares students in traditional wildlife management and conservation biology. Lower division coursework in the basic sciences (biology, chemistry, math) is complemented by an exciting upper division curriculum emphasizing applied vertebrate ecology. In all advanced classes, students gain valuable field experience in techniques such as bird banding, small mammal capture, measuring habitat, and estimating population size. The campus' close proximity to forest, grassland, riparian, wetland and ocean habitats offers an unsurpassed link between the classroom and the field, allowing students to practice daily what they learn in class. Small class sizes allow close working relationships with faculty dedicated to teaching and scholarly activity, giving students the opportunity to participate directly in faculty research projects.

A Wildlife student assisting an animal.The Wildlife faculty is comprised of ornithologists and mammalogists with expertise in population ecology, animal behavior, wildlife-habitat relationships, disease, environmental ethics, animal energetics and community ecology. Our faculty's dedication to teaching and to scholarly activity is widely recognized. Two of our professors are Fulbright scholars, one is the former editor of an international journal (Journal of Wildlife Diseases), one has been named HSU's "Scholar of the Year," and another has been recognized as "Outstanding Professor" of the entire California State University system.

A Wildlife student assisting an animal.Student education also benefits from the facilities available at Humboldt State , including the newly renovated Wildlife and Fisheries Building. The building contains a teaching museum (13,000 specimens of birds and mammals), a necropsy and diseases lab, and computer labs aiding instruction in population dynamics, geographic information systems and wildlife-habitat relationships. The department runs a bird banding station, coordinates oiled bird rehabilitation at the Marine Wildlife Care Center, and manages the wildlife game pens for research and education.

Humboldt State University