Working with wildlife often starts with learning about the biology and behaviour of animals.

Animals are more diverse than what you might realize in their anatomy, physiologyand behavioural characteristics. Consider, for instance: did you realize that fish can hibernate?

The duration and reason for hibernating is different for every animal:

Bears - save their energy over the winter months, relying more on changes in their heart and metabolic rate rather than in their own body temperature to go into a period of “winter sleep”. Bears have the ability to reuse their own urine internally and reabsorb the protein for a period of several months during this time. The black bear's heartbeat will drop from approximately 45 to 8 beats per minute during hibernation periods, which lasts anytime between 3 and 5 months.

Primates - some primates, such as lemurs, will hibernate depending on the temperature of their shelter. Fat-tailed dwarf lemurs hibernate during the coldest time of the year in well-insulated tree holes for a period of up to 7 months. During this time, they will live off the fat of their own tail (hence their name). They come out after this period to feed, until the next season.

Rodents - certain rodents follow a general hibernating routine, meaning that their body heat will decrease to equal the environmental temperature and will increase once their hibernating period is over. Marmots, for example, will hibernate for 8 months during which time their breathing reduces to as little as 3 breaths per minute, and their heartbeat decreases from 120 down to 4 beats per minute. The rest of the year (4 months) they spend their time reproducing, caring for their young and preparing for the next hibernating period.

Ectothermic animals (e.g. fish) - cannot deliberately regulate their body temperature or metabolism. Instead, they experience a style of hibernation called “dormancy”, where their metabolic rate decreases and they are able to survive for long periods in colder or hypoxic (very little oxygen) environments.

Birds - along with some mammals (e.g. marsupials, some mice, and some bats), birds experience a state of reduced metabolic rate and body temperature for a period not longer than 24 hours. This allows them to conserve energy and survive during periods when food is scarce. This type of hibernation is generally referred to as “daily torpor”, which can occur any time of the year - it is not seasonally dependant. The common poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) is the only bird species that “hibernates”, with hibernation periods lasting up to 5 months.

 

When you understand the fundamentals of wildife and marine management, you then have a framework upon which you can build your experience and grow your knowledge. No course is ever going to teach you everything you will ever need to reach the top of your profession; but this course will set you on the right path.

 

A range of electives are provide to allow students to focus in depth on their interest, particular on wildlife management and conservation.

 

For students interested in gaining employment in the wildlife conservation field, experience and certain supplementary qualifications often give you a big eadvantage when seeking employment. For example; anyone working in marine management will often need a diving certificate, and a boat licensing relevant to their location.