Wildlife Ecology Major

Wildlife ecology is conserving wildlife and natural resources

Wildlife ecology aims to meet the complex needs of wildlife in a human-dominated world, including the conservation of wildlife species and their habitats.

As a Wildlife Ecology major you will:

  • Work outdoors while studying wild animals, species ecology, habitat management, monitoring techniques, and conservation
  • Develop practical skills in field and lab courses, with a focus on wildlife and habitat management and the ecology of reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals
  • Understand the biological principles behind wildlife ecology, including population and organismal biology, plant ecology, genetics, and evolution

Career Paths

Wildlife ecology graduates are prepared to work in public resource management agencies, educational institutions, and non-governmental organizations. Their careers span ecology, conservation biology, habitat restoration, and wildlife enforcement.

Here are just a few examples of what our wildlife ecology graduates are doing with their careers:

What CALS alumni do:

Park Ranger

Wildlife Biologist

Environmental Attorney

Ecologist

Ecosystem Restoration Technician

Field Technician

Where CALS alumni work:

State of Wisconsin

WI Dept of Natural Resources

National Park Service

US Fish and Wildlife Service

US Forest Service

What CALS alumni do:

Ecologist

Wildlife Biologist

Field Technician

Environmental Educator

Interpretive Naturalist

Fisheries Biologist

Where CALS alumni work:

Audubon Society

Humane Society

The Nature Conservancy

National Geographic

What CALS alumni do:

Lab Coordinator

Research Associate

Scientist

Outreach Specialist

Professor

Where CALS alumni work:

BASF

The Nature Conservancy

US Forest Service

SWCA Environmental Consultants

What CALS alumni do:

Veterinarian

Wildlife Technician

Avian Technician

Where CALS alumni work:

Audubon Society

Animal Hospital

Humane Society

What can CALS offer you?

CALS students are curious to discover how our living world works and are passionate about using science to improve it.

Our programs span five areas of study and encourage students to pursue their passions in the classroom and beyond. Learn more about how our students are set up for success:

Want to learn more about wildlife ecology?
Explore admission requirements, course offerings, 4-year plans, and more on UW–Madison’s undergraduate Guide.

view guide

Your CALS Experience

Get involved. Find your people.

Explore a few of the wildlife ecology-related student organizations on campus: 

  • The UW–Madison student chapter of The Wildlife Society is for students interested in the outdoors with an emphasis on wildlife. The club hosts outdoor activities and organizes several volunteer opportunities, including spring and summer frog surveys, summer fawn searches, and roadside clean-up.
  • The UW–Madison student chapter of The Audubon Society provides students interested in birds and bird conservation opportunities to go on field outings and participate in local conservation projects.

Become a part of our wildlife ecology legacy

Join a legacy and study wildlife ecology in the first wildlife management-focused program in the United States. Ecologist, conservation legend, and UW–Madison professor Aldo Leopold founded the program in 1933 and created the department now known as the Department of Forest and Wildlife Ecology.

Study abroad and gain global perspective

Track lion pride movements in Tanzania, study wildlife conservation genetics in the Netherlands, examine the impacts of tourism on wildlife in the Bocas del Toro archipelago in Panama, and so much more.

Gain knowledge of other wildlife ecosystems, build skills through hands-on field research, and learn how global issues such as climate change impact wildlife in ecosystems around the world with one of UW–Madison’s many semester, summer, and short-term study abroad programs! You can map your study abroad experience as a wildlife ecology major.

Get outdoors in northern Wisconsin for hands-on learning

Students at Kemp Natural Resources Station

Explore research and habitat management techniques with the Wildlife Ecology Summer Field Camp at Kemp Natural Resources Station. This two-week field class in northern Wisconsin includes individual and group field work, tours, demonstrations, and lectures.

Engage in campus research

Join one of the many campus research labs studying wildlife ecology, forest biology and management, wildlife disease, landscape ecology, or wildlife toxicology. Learn how to measure habitats, identify species, deploy wildlife cameras, assess human-wildlife interactions, and more.

Become a certified wildlife biologist

Work your way to becoming a certified Associate Wildlife Biologist through The Wildlife Society. Many wildlife ecology courses meet the requirements for this certification.

1933

UW created the first wildlife program in an American university

100%

Students who participate in research

2

Department affiliated student organizations

Advisor & Contact Information

Advisors can answer your questions, help you create a degree plan that meets your personal and professional goals, and connect you to resources across the UW–Madison campus.

Incoming students should reach out to CALS Academic Affairs to direct your questions. Current UW–Madison students should schedule with their assigned advisor using Starfish.

CALS Academic Affairs

116 Agricultural Hall
1450 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706

academicaffairs@cals.wisc.edu
(608) 262-3003

Wildlife Ecology Major Advising

284 Russell Laboratories
1630 Linden Dr., Madison, WI 53706

student-services@russell.wisc.edu
(608) 262-9926

Want to learn more about wildlife ecology?

View requirements, Courses, and more on Guide
View the wildlife ecology website
View all CALS Majors
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