Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I wanna be a field zoologist, not neccesarily herpetology, but my mom tells me I won't be able to make a living. Personally, I don't care about the money, I would just get a camping/hunting license, and get my own food, but, anyways lol... I
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0.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta (Eastern Painted Turtle)
0.0.1 Teliqua gigas (Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink)
0.2.0 Eublepharis macularius (Leopard Geckos)
0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake)
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus (Crested Geckos)
0.0.1 Python regius (Ball Python)
?.?.? Assorted goldfish, minnows and guppies
1.0.0 Ferret
1.1.0 Cats
1.0.0 Aussie Cattle Dog/ Border Collie Mix

Yes, you can make a comfortable living doing fieldwork. There are a variety of career routes that you can pursue. For instance, you could be an academic researcher (i.e. professor at a college or university), be a private-sector environmental consultant, or work for the government (e.g. USGS, EPA, Forest Service). All of these career routes have their pros and cons.

Are you in high-school now? One of the best ways to prepare yourself is to enroll in a good college as a biology or natural resources major. Be sure to take statistics and good general biology classes. But one of the most important things to do is to get actual research or management experience. You can work for a professor in his/her lab while taking classes. You could do a summer internship with a private or public conservation organization. The most important thing is to try to get a broad range of experiences to determine which type of career you like the best.

All the best,

Mike
herpetology photos

Thanks for the info!

I'm a junior in high school. Right now, I'm taking AP Biology, and AP Environmental Science. Next year I am taking marine biolgy.

I am very interested in SUNY college of environmental science and forestry.

So you recomend any colleges for zoology?

Thanks again!
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0.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta (Eastern Painted Turtle)
0.0.1 Teliqua gigas (Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink)
0.2.0 Eublepharis macularius (Leopard Geckos)
0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake)
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus (Crested Geckos)
0.0.1 Python regius (Ball Python)
?.?.? Assorted goldfish, minnows and guppies
1.0.0 Ferret
1.1.0 Cats
1.0.0 Aussie Cattle Dog/ Border Collie Mix

So are you a NY State resident?

SUNY ESF is a good school, and I have several friends who went there. Look over the website, there was a guy there doing work on the Sistrurus in NY.

Also, look at Cornell through the Ag school (it is part of SUNY) as a biology or Natural resources major. They have an undergraduate herpetology club, and three herpetologists on the faculty:
http://www.rso.cornell.edu/chs/

I believe Dale Madison is at SUNY Binghamton, and he does a lot of work on salamanders.

There is a herp systematist at SUNY Stony Brook, John Wiens, who you may want to look up.

I am probably missing some other herpetologists in the SUNY system, but those are who I can think of off the top of my head. If you have any other specific questions, feel free to send me an email: mfbenard 'at' ucdavis.edu

All the best,

Mike

One more I forgot: Peter Ducey at SUNY Cortland.

http://www.cortland.edu/herp/howtopar.htm

Wow, thanks again! I live in NY, Long Island to be exact. I would prefer to get as far away as possible from here, lol. I really don't have the money for cornell, and doubt I have the grades. I have a problem with HW
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0.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta (Eastern Painted Turtle)
0.0.1 Teliqua gigas (Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink)
0.2.0 Eublepharis macularius (Leopard Geckos)
0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake)
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus (Crested Geckos)
0.0.1 Python regius (Ball Python)
?.?.? Assorted goldfish, minnows and guppies
1.0.0 Ferret
1.1.0 Cats
1.0.0 Aussie Cattle Dog/ Border Collie Mix

Although it is not too far from New York, Ohio State University has a nice zoology program. Even more importantly, OSU has a very nice research budget in practically every field. There are many professors on staff that do a large amount of work with herps. A drawback is the size of the university (50,000 students at the Columbus campus,) meaning that if you do not make the effort to work with certain professors, you won't ever be noticed. Worth looking into.

I think you have some good advice from mistertoad, but I must say that your mother may be quite correct also. You should remember always that the real university is the field - nature is the best lecturer than you can have - just be prepared for the lessons. One of the first lessons is that field work will keep you very poor and rare are those who will fund it without strings attached. If you become a field worker first you will likely cripple your education, because you will know too much for your own good too soon. You will instantly recognize the failings of formal education, the unworthiness of those in charge of it and ultimately the true wisdom that within you is all you really need to know. Yet you may still know these things and more in time. The really smart zoologists play dumb, go to university, play the game, get a piece of paper, then run like hell to nature and find yourself before it is too late. If you just want money, stay away from science lad, and go into real estate or the stock market...but you probably won't do that....

Good Luck to You

Richard Wells

I don't want money. I would be happy to camp for the rest of my life
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0.0.1 Chrysemys picta picta (Eastern Painted Turtle)
0.0.1 Teliqua gigas (Indonesian Blue Tongue Skink)
0.2.0 Eublepharis macularius (Leopard Geckos)
0.0.1 Nerodia sipedon (Northern Water Snake)
0.0.2 Rhacodactylus ciliatus (Crested Geckos)
0.0.1 Python regius (Ball Python)
?.?.? Assorted goldfish, minnows and guppies
1.0.0 Ferret
1.1.0 Cats
1.0.0 Aussie Cattle Dog/ Border Collie Mix