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Department of Wildlife
Cal Poly Humboldt's nationally-recognized Wildlife program provides a rigorous curriculum, plus field experience in nearby natural habitats. Our goal: instill a sense of responsibility, appreciation, and expertise, giving students a deeper understanding of managing and conserving wildlife and ecosystems.
For Wildlife students, access to an array of natural habitats and supportive faculty make Cal Poly Humboldt the perfect place to live and learn.
Our Bachelor and Masters of Science degrees in Wildlife focus on
APPLIED VERTEBRATE ECOLOGY.
That means studying the distribution and abundance of species (ecology), with an emphasis on mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians (vertebrates). This information is applied to real-world issues to help inform conservation and management decisions for species and their habitats.
Program Overview
The wildlife major has one flexible concentration—Wildlife Ecology, Conservation, and Management—which is academically rigorous and includes ample field research opportunities under the guidance of faculty who are experts in multiple disciplines.
The Master of Science degree focuses on applied vertebrate ecology, as well. With a curriculum founded on scientific principles, the program emphasizes the natural history of terrestrial vertebrates.
Program Options
Wildlife, B.S.
Students receive rigorous academic training in the classroom and in the field through a series of ecology and wildlife management courses that cover large mammals, waterfowl, upland game, and non-game (e.g. herps, shorebirds, birds of prey, or neotropical passerines).
The program includes specialized upper-division courses in advanced ornithology, behavioral ecology, conservation biology, energetics, animal behavior, population ecology, upland habitats, wetlands, and wildlife diseases. Under the supervision of a professor, students will conduct independent research and complete a senior thesis.
Natural Resources, M.S. - Wildlife option
Cal Poly Humboldt's Wildlife graduate program is an option within the Natural Resources graduate program. It emphasizes research on wildlife species, behavior, and habitat requirements within the complex ecological interactions that govern the outcome of various land use practices.
For information about application procedures for the program, read the general guidelines for graduate school admission. Prospective students are encouraged to contact individual Wildlife faculty members as potential graduate advisors.
Location
Located in Northern California, Cal Poly Humboldt is near the Pacific Ocean and surrounded by ancient redwoods. Nearly five million acres of national forest, parks, and public wilderness lands provide opportunities to study wildlife, ecology, and management. Among those regions: the Humboldt Bay and coastal habitats attract a wealth of the Pacific Flyway’s migratory shorebirds, raptors, and waterfowl. At the Arcata Marsh & Wildlife Sanctuary alone, there are more than 270 species of birds throughout the year. Redwood National and State Parks and Six Rivers National Forest are also home to black bears, river otters, Roosevelt elk, bobcats, and mountain lions, too.
Career
Our Wildlife program graduates are highly trained and in high demand, thanks to a rigorous curriculum and practical experience. You’ll also have several opportunities to meet local professionals such as biologists from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and state parks who give guest lectures and attend on-and off-campus meetings.
Faculty
The foundation of our program is our faculty, a team of ornithologists and mammalogists who are committed to your education. They’ll work closely with you in the classroom, in the lab, and in the field, providing the extra support you may need to be successful.
Hands-on Learning
Conduct field research in diverse natural habitats and take weekend camping field trips to practice field techniques. And in your senior year, work on an independent research project under the supervision of a faculty member for your culminating experience.
Freshmen Learning Community
As a Wildlife major, you’re also eligible to join a free science program called the Klamath Connection. For one year, freshmen in specific science majors will explore the relationships between science, traditional ecological knowledge, the environment, and Native American communities all through the lens of California’s second largest river, the Klamath. You’ll gain confidence and be more prepared for your future studies at Humboldt. You’ll also find the support to navigate college life, all while making new friends.
Featured Alumni
Career Options
Cal Poly Humboldt Wildlife students graduate with the knowledge and field research skills to pursue several meaningful careers. Many go on to work as wildlife biologists for state and federal natural resource agencies. Others join conservation organizations, private businesses such as ecological consulting firms and timber companies, and zoos and wildlife rehabilitation centers.
Here are a few examples of possible career fields.
- Wildlife Biologists
- Wildlife Refuge Managers
- Biological Consultants
- Park Rangers
- Conservation Scientists
- Fish and Game Wardens
- Forestry Technicians
- Range Conservationists
- Agricultural Planners
Achievements
Find out what our students, faculty, and staff are being recognized for.
Erika Anderson, Micaela Gunther, Marie Martin, Kristine Pilgrim, Scott Demers, Sean Matthews
Wildlife
Former wildlife graduate student Erika Anderson published her thesis research on state-endangered Humboldt martens in the journal Global Ecology and Conservation. This research is published open access and aims to establish a baseline for an endangered population that will inform future monitoring to estimate apparent survival and recruitment, additional relationships to environmental conditions and change, and demographic trends over time. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2025.e03980
Elizabeth Meisman, Jadzia Rodriguez, Lauren Jackson, Ayla Zolwik, Matt Johnson
Wildlife
Four Wildlife graduate students (Elizabeth Meisman, Jadzia Rodriguez, Lauren Jackson, Ayla Zolwik) and their advisor (Matt Johnson) each presented their latest research findings at the 2025 Raptor Research Foundation's annual conference, held Oct. 13-18, in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Barbara Clucas and graduate student Stephanie Stragier
Wildlife
Dr. Barbara Clucas and graduate student Stephanie Stragier were awarded a grant from the Sequoia Park Zoo to support a study investigating habitat quality of the Western snowy plover, a threatened coastal bird species. In Humboldt County, some chicks are hatching at smaller body sizes, which may be linked to habitat degradation or climate change. This project will analyze chick measurements and habitat quality during the 2024–2025 breeding seasons to identify potential causes, ultimately aiming to inform conservation strategies for the species’ recovery and improve monitoring methods. This work will also provide research experience for Humboldt wildlife undergraduate students.