Fish and Wildlife Technician (Optional Co-op)

If you have a love for the outdoors, a keen interest in fish and wildlife, and a commitment to responsible resource management, then the Fish and Wildlife Technician/Technology program may be for you.

Fish and wildlife management is an important aspect of modern society as it helps to conserve and maintain healthy populations of fish and wildlife, their habitats, and biodiversity. Effective management practices ensure the long-term sustainability of these resources and help mitigate the impacts of human activities such as overfishing, hunting, and habitat destruction. By understanding the interrelationships between species, habitats, and human activities, wildlife managers can make informed decisions about how to conserve and manage these resources. This is especially important as the world’s growing human population continues to put increasing pressure on wildlife and their habitats. Through fish and wildlife management, we can protect important ecosystem services, conserve biodiversity, and ensure that future generations have the opportunity to enjoy and benefit from these resources.

• The theory and skills required by fish and wildlife professionals are taught through applied learning activities with a significant amount of time doing hands-on work in the lab and field.
• Third-semester students spend five weeks in field school, focusing on the topics of fisheries, wildlife, terrestrial habitats, wetlands, and freshwater ecology. These field schools introduce new skills such as: boat handling, GPS navigation, fish netting, sampling and tagging, electrofishing, habitat assessment, wetland classification, bird banding, and use of wildlife monitoring technologies. Through these activities, students will work together to collect, analyze and present the data over the remainder of the technician-level education and training.
• During field excursions you will learn about the logistics involved in the design and implementation of field projects.
• You will also spend considerable time in the outdoors learning mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish and plant identification skills, tracking animals and conducting wildlife surveys.

Career Opportunities

Recent graduates have found employment with agencies of the federal, provincial and municipal governments, the private sector, non-government organizations (NGO’s) and academia. Recent government employers include the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, Ministry of the Environment Conservation and Parks, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Environment Canada and many Conservation Authorities. There are many private sector positions with organizations such as Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, Birds Canada, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Delta Waterfowl and Ducks Unlimited. There are also opportunities to work with private environmental consultants who provide assessments inventories and surveys of wildlife and habitat for industry and the government.