What exactly do you do?
Wildlife biologists have two primary goals. First, they wish to gain knowledge about the animals they study. What do they eat? Where do they go? What aspects of their habitat are most important? What effects do human activities have on them? Second, they need to evaluate how well the population is doing and determine if management action is needed to protect it. In order to meet these goals for the California sea otter population, I participate in a large variety of field projects. I help to capture wild animals and examine them to determine their health. I track individual animals using radio transmitters and record where they go, what they eat, and how much of their time they spend performing different activities, such as resting and grooming. Twice a year, I help to count every animal in the population so that we can determine whether the population is growing or shrinking. After these data are collected, I help to analyze it and write reports to educate government officials, scientists, and members of the community about what actions should be taken to help sea otters survive.
What do you enjoy the most about your job?
Being outside (when the weather is nice), working with people who care about animals and the environment, getting to see things that very few people get to see (like a sea otter eating a giant octopus!), and knowing that what I do helps to ensure that wildlife will be around for future generations to appreciate.
What do you enjoy the least about your job?
Being outside (when the weather is bad), having limited options for where I can work, and spending long hours in front of a computer.
What key events in your childhood most influenced your current career?
I grew up with many pets and always knew I wanted to work in a field where I could help protect animals. I spent a lot of time outside observing animals and learning about their behavior. Frequent visits to zoos and aquariums helped me learn about things scientists were doing to study animals in the wild. My family did a lot of camping, and this helped me develop many skills that I use in my job today.
Do you have any funny stories about lab experiences or adventures in the field?
I was working with a group of researchers in Antarctica tagging Weddell seals. During the day, we would split up and work on our own. I was in the process of tagging a seal, and I heard the sound of footsteps behind me. I couldn’t turn around because I didn’t want to take my eyes off of the seal. I started talking to "the person," but he or she didn’t say anything back. When I was done, I turned around to find myself staring at a curious Emperor penguin!
Do you play any sports or have any favorite hobbies/special interests?
I’ve run marathons and have been SCUBA diving for over 10 years. I also love to cook. This is a very important skill in the field!
What contribution would you most like to make to science in the next five years?
We know very little about the movement patterns of sea otter pups once they’re no longer dependent on their moms. This is a very important piece of information for understanding how to help the population grow and expand into areas where they once lived. We don’t yet have the technology or the expertise to follow these animals without influencing their behavior. I would like to help to develop the methods to do this and find out where the pups go.
Do you have any advice for an aspiring high school student who might want to pursue your career?
Explore the outdoors! There are many field guides that can help you identify the animals and plants that you’ll find there. Get some binoculars, and watch animals that you see outside. Explore tidepools and creeks. Turn over rocks, and see what you find! Visit your public aquarium or, better yet, volunteer there. Many public aquaria, zoos, and marine labs have teen education programs. Take as many math and science classes as possible.
What is the approximate salary range for your profession?
$20,000 - $100,000 / year
