Breadcrumb
Careers & Alumni
Cal Poly Humboldt Wildlife students leave a highly reputable program with the knowledge and skills to pursue several meaningful careers, especially within the discipline.
According to a survey of alumni, 86 percent of our graduates work in a position related to wildlife.
In fact, many are wildlife biologists in the field for state and federal natural resource agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the National Park Service. Others work for conservation organizations (like the Wildlife Conservation Society, Ducks Unlimited, or The Nature Conservancy), private ecological consulting firms (such as HT Harvey & Associates), private timber companies (such as the Green Diamond Resource Company), and zoos and wildlife rehabilitation centers.
Whether you’re in the workforce or decide to pursue a higher degree, you’ll be part of a group of Wildlife alumni who stay connected and engaged through the Western Section of the Conservation Unlimited Alumni Association.
Here are a few possible careers
- Wildlife Biologist
- Wildlife Refuge Manager
- Wildlife Program Specialist
- Wildlife Manager
- Special Agent - Wildlife
- Fish & Game Warden
- Shooting Preserve Manager
- Fish & Wildlife Assistant
- Wildlife Technician
- Animal Biologist
- Animal Handler
- Animal Keeper
- Zoologist
- Fisheries Biologist/Technician
- Research Biologist
- Rangeland Management Spec.
- Range Technician
- Soil Conservationist
- Soil Scientist
- Soil Technician
- Customs Inspector
- Wildlife/Environmental Consultant
- Terrestrial Biologist
- Outdoor Recreation Planner
- Conservation Officer
- Wilderness Ranger
- Park Ranger/Park Tech.
- Naturalist
- Environmental Education Instructor
- Natural Resource Specialist
- Recreation Specialist
- Agriculture Research Worker
- Lab Technician
- Wetlands Biologist
- Wetlands Restoration Specialist
Marketable Skills
Communication
- Technical report writing
- Working as part of a team
- Media & public relations
- Public speaking
Computer Skills
- Developing spreadsheets
- Working with statistical packages
- GIS-ArcView, Arclnfo
Recording & Interpreting Data
- Measuring, computing, monitoring, inspecting, collecting, identifying and classifying data
- Evaluating environmental contaminants
- Using logic and scientific methods
- Designing data collection methods
Technical Skills
- Knowledge of plant and animal ecology
- Techniques in wildlife management, wildlife habitats, and wildlife population ecology
- Conducting population surveys
- Trapping, banding, marking and preserving specimens
Featured Alumni
Alumni Updates
Colby Hay
Wildlife, 2014
Since graduating in 2014, Colby worked seasonally for MRC doing spotted owl research, and was a contracted waterfowl biologist with Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge. In the winter of 2016, he joined the Idaho Department of Fish and Game full time to address depredations. He was promoted to Regional Wildlife Biologist in October 2019 and completed his Masters of Natural Resource from the University of Idaho in May 2026. He studied elk interaction with feedlot fence alterations over winter.
David V. Sanford
Wildlife, 1964
After graduation, David went to work with the BLM in several locations as a Range Conservationist, then transferred to the U.S. Forest Service and worked as a Survey Technician, Forestry Technician, Range Conservationist, and Wildlife Biologist. David left the Forest Service to work in the native grass seed industry both as a grower and seller. He left the seed business and worked as a researcher at the Colorado State University Yellowjacket Research Center in southwest Colorado. Seven years later, he took a job with the Southern Ute Indian Tribe as the Range Manager, then as the Agriculture Division Head. He retired in 2006. After retirement, he worked as a carpenter, substitute school teacher, tile setter, and private tour guide at Mesa Verde National Park and other archeological sites in the 4-Corners Country. Since 1971, David has owned and worked on his small farm in Montezuma County, Colorado. David says his years at Humboldt State College were among the best of his life, and he is still in touch with a few of his classmates. He would like to visit the campus someday, but he would surely get lost among all the new buildings that make up the campus today, he says. Go Lumberjacks!
Terry Bowyer
Wildlife, 1970
R. Terry Bowyer, B.S. 1970, M.S 1976, is the 2025 recipient of the Aldo Leopold Memorial Award from The Wildlife Society for outstanding contributions to wildlife conservation , the highest honor that the Society bestows.