Conservation biology or DVM?

[Wildlifelover]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi everyone.

I have some questions for the vets on this forum and hopefully I can get some advice on what my next step should be. I graduated from college this year, and I had a totally different plan for graduate school. After working in my field I received my undergraduate degree in, I have decided to change paths and pursue my childhood dreams of becoming either a veterinarian or biologist.

I have always wanted to work in wildlife conservation. I am now at a crossroads on whether I should pursue a DVM to achieve this dream or if I should pursue a masters in wildlife ecology/conservation. I guess what I am asking is, can someone elaborate more on the roles of the veterinarian in the conservation arena versus the roles of the biologist? I know the veterinarian is responsible for the medical care, but there must be some overlap in job duties, right?

I have heard that as a DVM, wildlife medicine is one of the hardest areas to break into. I have also heard that it is very hard to find a job with a degree in conservation biology. Which would open more doors?

In your professional opinions, and with your personal experiences, do you think it would be easier to find a job as a DVM working with wildlife or with a conservation biology degree?

I would love to study the impact humans have on species and also infectious disease that threaten certain species. I would want to work to find ways to protect species from endangerment.

If anyone has worked with wildlife biologists or is a wildlife veterinarian and can shed some light on the matter please let me know.

Thank you!

 

[pp9]

Hi everyone.

I have some questions for the vets on this forum and hopefully I can get some advice on what my next step should be. I graduated from college this year, and I had a totally different plan for graduate school. After working in my field I received my undergraduate degree in, I have decided to change paths and pursue my childhood dreams of becoming either a veterinarian or biologist.

I have always wanted to work in wildlife conservation. I am now at a crossroads on whether I should pursue a DVM to achieve this dream or if I should pursue a masters in wildlife ecology/conservation. I guess what I am asking is, can someone elaborate more on the roles of the veterinarian in the conservation arena versus the roles of the biologist? I know the veterinarian is responsible for the medical care, but there must be some overlap in job duties, right?

I have heard that as a DVM, wildlife medicine is one of the hardest areas to break into. I have also heard that it is very hard to find a job with a degree in conservation biology. Which would open more doors?

In your professional opinions, and with your personal experiences, do you think it would be easier to find a job as a DVM working with wildlife or with a conservation biology degree?

I would love to study the impact humans have on species and also infectious disease that threaten certain species. I would want to work to find ways to protect species from endangerment.

If anyone has worked with wildlife biologists or is a wildlife veterinarian and can shed some light on the matter please let me know.

Thank you!

Not a vet yet, but I can offer some input.

Wildlife medicine isn't hard to get into. Rather, it's hard to make a good salary in. If you're looking to be involved with local species and take care of backyard critters, your services as a vet will be very valued by local rehab centers if you volunteer. I know many vets who get their wildlife fix by heading to the local rehab place once or twice a month. Not a lot of places can give a vet a livable salary, but there are some places that do. If you're looking to participate in wildlife more globally, you might have to do a bit more research. I have a friend that has a paid job in Thailand working with rescued elephants, so the possibility is there. I have a few vet friends that make yearly trips to some exotic place to work with a specific species (they are boarded in zoo med, to be clear).

The vets I know do a lot with reproductive health and general health of the animals. The biologists I know do a lot of general research and field work. The vets are there when the biologists need to immobilize, treat, etc. Both parties have the same end goal, but I've been told that biologists and vets butt heads a lot, not that it means anything for your decision.

I think you can work with infectious diseases with either degree if you can get where you need to be if you network a lot. It may be worth tracking down people with either degree and ask them how they got to where they are.

http://www.wildlifedisease.org/wda/HOME.aspx You may find some help here!

 

[Wildlifelover]

Thank you so much for your reply! I think one of my biggest barriers is looking at the cost of schooling. I know that chasing a career in conservation means a lot of hard work and the possibility for being paid much lower than what my education will show for. Of the two careers, vet school will be a lot more expensive, so it feels like more of a gamble. At the same time, I sometimes think vet school would open more doors in the animal world than a biology degree will.

I have a friend that has a paid job in Thailand working with rescued elephants, so the possibility is there.

Is your friend a vet or a biologist? That sounds like a dream come true!

I've been told that biologists and vets butt heads a lot, not that it means anything for your decision.

I wonder why this is. Did they elaborate on why?

I would love to work with a team of biologists and veterinarians, tracking certain species and working to rescue and rehabilitate those who need care, and release. I just wonder how feasible this career idea is and what the best path to take would be.

To everyone else, I sound crazy. I was all set for a graduate professional program in human health care, something I would make great money in and have great job security. It just isn't in my heart though. I hope it isn't crazy to completely change paths to follow this dream instead.

Thank you for your advice and the link!

 

[pp9]

Thank you so much for your reply! I think one of my biggest barriers is looking at the cost of schooling. I know that chasing a career in conservation means a lot of hard work and the possibility for being paid much lower than what my education will show for. Of the two careers, vet school will be a lot more expensive, so it feels like more of a gamble. At the same time, I sometimes think vet school would open more doors in the animal world than a biology degree will.



Is your friend a vet or a biologist? That sounds like a dream come true!



I wonder why this is. Did they elaborate on why?

I would love to work with a team of biologists and veterinarians, tracking certain species and working to rescue and rehabilitate those who need care, and release. I just wonder how feasible this career idea is and what the best path to take would be.

To everyone else, I sound crazy. I was all set for a graduate professional program in human health care, something I would make great money in and have great job security. It just isn't in my heart though. I hope it isn't crazy to completely change paths to follow this dream instead.

Thank you for your advice and the link!

She's a vet. She actually was offered the job because she went to the sanctuary several times as a pre-vet and a vet student. She doesn't do research or anything, she provides a lot of hospice care or general care to elephants who are living out their lives there.

It's actually a relatively common problem in animal research. It's been discussed at several conferences I've been too. I think it's the usual "Well I have x degree, so I know this should be done this way" followed by "Well I have Y degree, it should be done this way." That's really oversimplifying things, though. I think some biologists would rather not have veterinary intervention when it comes to their research, but plenty of vets feel biologists shouldn't be doing procedures, administering drugs, etc. without a vet on the research team.

You have to follow your happiness, but you also have to do your best to be as fully aware as you can of what you're getting yourself into, debt wise and career wise.