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Wildlife biologist skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

Quoted experts

Lara Pacifici Ph.D.,

Joseph Kezele

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical wildlife biologist skills. We ranked the top skills for wildlife biologists based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 13.3% of wildlife biologist resumes contained usda as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a wildlife biologist needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 wildlife biologist skills for your resume and career

1. USDA

Here's how wildlife biologists use usda:

Served on USDA State Technical Committees and CREP and Wildlife Subcommittees.
Partner Employee: West Virginia Division of Natural Resources USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

2. Wildlife Species

Here's how wildlife biologists use wildlife species:

Identified weeds and other invasive species of concern in the habitat for important wildlife species and potential introduced cattle operations.
Focused expertise as Staff Wildlife Biologist to monitor, assess, and determine effects on key wildlife species.

3. GIS

A geographic information system (GIS) is a tool for capturing, storing, manipulating, analyzing, managing and presenting various forms of geographic data.

Here's how wildlife biologists use gis:

Sample and collection locations were plotted using Geographic Positioning System units and GIS software to compile a database and generate maps.
Developed proposals and contracts; Composed reports and developed maps using GIS.

4. Harvest

Here's how wildlife biologists use harvest:

Organized and participated in elk population helicopter survey, utilizing census data to determine big game harvest values for upper management.
Provided wildlife habitat management and biodiversity input for forest planning and harvest prescriptions.

5. GPS

GPS stands from Global Positioning System. It is a navigation system comprising of satellites that helps in determining the location, velocity, and synchronize time data for different modes of travel like air, sea, or land.

Here's how wildlife biologists use gps:

Provided detailed GPS photo-point documentation of a Cherokee National Forest habitat project.
Displayed skill in using a GPS, compass, and topographic maps to navigate through difficult terrain to locate owls.

6. Natural Resources

Natural resources are the natural elements of the environment that are useful to humans or that could be useful under conceivable technological, economic, or social circumstances or in resources derived from the earth. Resources such as food, construction and clothing materials, fertilizers, metals, water, and geothermal energy.

Here's how wildlife biologists use natural resources:

Provide policy analysis and recommendations relating to activities affecting natural resources; particularly, land expansion and military training activities.
Reviewed new study proposals for potential implementation and contributed to Base Integrated Natural Resources Management Plan.

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7. Data Collection

Data collection means to analyze and collect all the necessary information. It helps in carrying out research and in storing important and necessary information. The most important goal of data collection is to gather the information that is rich and accurate for statistical analysis.

Here's how wildlife biologists use data collection:

Conduct environmental resource assessments, train and organize new staff, and assist in bat netting and data collection.
Captured wildlife including carnivores, birds and turtles for monitoring, data collection, and analysis.

8. Sensitive Species

Here's how wildlife biologists use sensitive species:

Complete habitat evaluations to determine the presence of suitable habitat and potential occurrence of federally listed and Forest Service sensitive species.
Conduct both protocol and non-protocol surveys and monitoring for federally listed and Forest Service sensitive species.

9. Wildlife Habitat Management

Here's how wildlife biologists use wildlife habitat management:

Conducted wildlife habitat investigations on state forest lands, and developed forest treatment proposals for implementation of wildlife habitat management projects.
Provided wildlife and habitat management recommendations regarding game and non-game species, emphasizing the integration of timber and wildlife habitat management.

10. Technical Reports

Technical reports are a type of document that is used to indicate either the progress, result, or process of scientific research or the state of problems occurring within such research. A technical report may also showcase the report's overall conclusion and may also include recommendations. This kind of report does not require a peer review and isn't published officially but distributed within the organizations where it was formed.

Here's how wildlife biologists use technical reports:

Develop environmental assessments and other NEPA-related technical reports.
Conducted wildlife surveys, authored technical reports, prepared NEPA documents, grants and negotiated with State and private partners.

11. Plant Species

Here's how wildlife biologists use plant species:

Identify and evaluate impacts of non-native and nuisance wildlife and plant species on native plant and wildlife communities.
Worked with state agencies in the collection of rare plant species and identifying their locations.

12. Environmental Assessments

An environmental assessment identifies, predicts, and evaluates all potential effects on the environment of a proposed project. It estimates, identifies, and evaluates the results a project might cause by conducting environmental studies, to alleviate the pertinent negative effects before making commitments and decisions.

Here's how wildlife biologists use environmental assessments:

Conducted and authored substantial number of environmental assessments for project impacts.
Participated in right-of way environmental assessments.

13. Data Analysis

Here's how wildlife biologists use data analysis:

Used various statistical applications to perform data analysis and reporting on virus activity and mosquito populations in the city including mapping.
Produced a hydro-acoustic assessment of fish abundance and distribution in Lake Washington with data analysis and technical report submitted.

14. Species ACT

The Species Act refers to the Endangered Species Act, which determines whether a particular species is endangered or threatened. If the species qualifies for the categorization, then any hunting, gathering, or selling of the species is prohibited and protected under federal law. In addition to entire species, the act can protect certain subspecies as well as habitats that are critically endangered.

Here's how wildlife biologists use species act:

Assisted NRCS State Biologist with wetland delineations and consultation with listed species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).
Monitored road construction and timber-thinning contractors to ensure minimal disruption to habitats and compliance with Endangered Species Act.

15. ArcGIS

Here's how wildlife biologists use arcgis:

Utilize ArcGIS to create maps for the IPM specialist and summary reports.
Utilize ArcGIS to build maps and determine need for wildlife protection.

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What skills help Wildlife Biologists find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What skills stand out on wildlife biologist resumes?

Lara Pacifici Ph.D.

Teaching Associate Professor, North Carolina State University

Skills that require specific training and practice to develop can really set apart an applicant. Expertise with Geographic Information Systems, R coding,, mist netting and bird banding are some examples from the field of wildlife management and conservation. Additionally, we look for internship and volunteer activities, undergraduate research, presentations, publications, and contributions and memberships in professional societies and student clubs.

What soft skills should all wildlife biologists possess?

Joseph Kezele

Associate Professor of Biology, Arizona Christian University

The ability to think and reason logically. Too many young people cannot do so because they were spoon-fed and then expected to regurgitate that back.

What hard/technical skills are most important for wildlife biologists?

Joseph Kezele

Associate Professor of Biology, Arizona Christian University

Microscope work

What wildlife biologist skills would you recommend for someone trying to advance their career?

Christopher Herren Ph.D.

Teaching Assistant Professor, Kansas State University

For a gap year, get a job related to your major.

What type of skills will young wildlife biologists need?

Scott Cooper Ph.D.

Professor of Biology and Director of Undergraduate Research and Creativity, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse

Students will need traditional lab skills, good record keeping, and the ability to do calculations in the lab and clinical settings. All jobs are using more technology, so facility with programs and databases is essential.

What technical skills for a wildlife biologist stand out to employers?

Joshua Raabe Ph.D.

Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point

Many graduates' first position is a field technician, so being able to handle and identify fish, trailer and operate boats, and use a variety of sampling equipment are essential skills. Management and research requires data analysis, so statistics, computer programming, and GIS are valuable skills. Finally, writing and communication skills are absolutely necessary to communicate science to the public and each other.

Do you want to know more?

List of wildlife biologist skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a wildlife biologist resume and required skills for a wildlife biologist to have include:

USDA
Wildlife Species
GIS
Harvest
GPS
Natural Resources
Data Collection
Sensitive Species
Wildlife Habitat Management
Technical Reports
Plant Species
Environmental Assessments
Data Analysis
Species ACT
ArcGIS
Federal Agencies

Provide Technical Assistance
Biological Evaluations
Biological Data
Government Agencies
Environmental Policy
Boats
Technical Assistance
Analyze Data
Statistical Analysis
Technical Support
EPA
Migratory Bird
Invasive Species
BLM
Eagle
Management Practices

Elk
OWL
Water ACT
Habitat Improvement Projects
Biological Surveys
Species Surveys
Radio Telemetry
ArcMap
Environmental Compliance
Usfs
Private Lands
Water Quality
Habitat Assessments
NRCS

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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Wildlife Biologist Skills

Updated January 8, 2025

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