Careers & Alumni
Cal Poly Humboldt Wildlife students leave a highly reputable program with the knowledge and skills to pursue several meaningful careers, especially within the discipline.
According to a survey of alumni, 86 percent of our graduates work in a position related to wildlife.
In fact, many are wildlife biologists in the field for state and federal natural resource agencies such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the National Park Service. Others work for conservation organizations (like the Wildlife Conservation Society, Ducks Unlimited, or The Nature Conservancy), private ecological consulting firms (such as HT Harvey & Associates), private timber companies (such as the Green Diamond Resource Company), and zoos and wildlife rehabilitation centers.
Whether you’re in the workforce or decide to pursue a higher degree, you’ll be part of a group of Wildlife alumni who stay connected and engaged through the Western Section of the Conservation Unlimited Alumni Association.
Here are a few possible careers:
- Wildlife Biologist
- Wildlife Refuge Manager
- Wildlife Program Specialist
- Wildlife Manager
- Special Agent - Wildlife
- Fish & Game Warden
- Shooting Preserve Manager
- Fish & Wildlife Assistant
- Wildlife Technician
- Animal Biologist
- Animal Handler
- Animal Keeper
- Zoologist
- Fisheries Biologist/Technician
- Research Biologist
- Rangeland Management Spec.
- Range Technician
- Soil Conservationist
- Soil Scientist
- Soil Technician
- Customs Inspector
- Wildlife/Environmental Consultant
- Terrestrial Biologist
- Outdoor Recreation Planner
- Conservation Officer
- Wilderness Ranger
- Park Ranger/Park Tech.
- Naturalist
- Environmental Education Instructor
- Natural Resource Specialist
- Recreation Specialist
- Agriculture Research Worker
- Lab Technician
- Wetlands Biologist
- Wetlands Restoration Specialist
Meet our Alumni
Alumni Updates
Our grads are doing great things.
Sanford "Sandy" Wilbur, 1963
Submitted: March 6, 2024
Sanford "Sandy" Wilbur ('63, Wildlife) just published his second novel, "Vic and Greg: A Wildlife Refuge Romance." Set in southern Idaho in 1965-1966, he describes it as one-quarter birds and wildlife refuges, one-quarter sex, and one-half social commentary. Print copies aren't available yet,...
Tom Eley, 1969
Submitted: February 2, 2024
Tom is retired from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. Now, he is the biologist and cartographer for the Anchorage Waterways Council.
John Alves, 1980
Submitted: September 15, 2023
John has retired after a 35-year career as a Colorado Parks and Wildlife fisheries biologist. He managed sport fisheries and native fish, including Rio Grande cutthroat trout. He served as an officer with the Colorado/Wyoming chapter of the American Fisheries Society. He plans to spend more...
Iris Luana Salamanca, 2018
Submitted: August 16, 2023
Iris had the opportunity to serve as a Biological Technician, Public Information Officer, Resource Advisor, Natural Resource and Education Specialist and obtained her red card, allowing her to assist on four wildfires and two prescribed burns this year alone for the Bureau of Land Management...
Rick Williams, 1977
Submitted: August 10, 2023
Ricky retired in 2022 after a 45-year career as a wildlife biologist that began with waterfowl research for CDFG and USFWS, including a memorable stint chasing then-endangered Aleutian Canada Geese across their California wintering grounds. From 1980-2022, he worked as a terrestrial biologist...
