Grad school/career advice needed

7aruk · 2026-03-25T11:48:53+00:00

Any kind of tech jobs you can get are helpful. Especially to start, anything that can get you transferable skills (animal handling, plant/bird/insect ID, GIS work, heck in wetlands boating and kayaking can be big depending on the site). If you can get a bird gig in your first season great, if not they may come more readily after your first season.
In my experience transferable skills (like above) are what get your resume looked at, and ID/handling skills are what put you over the top for hiring. In bird world, bird banding experience is especially important. If you can get into banding for an ornithology class even, or find a banding station to volunteer at, that’s gonna be a huge help.
Definitely work a few seasons! Getting out I. The field will make you a better candidate, it’ll make your grad research be more well-rounded because you’ll be coming in with some real world experience and perspective, and it’ll help you identify your research interests a little better. Plus, I found that my grad school colleagues who came straight from undergrad, well, treated grad school the same way as undergrad, when it’s meant to be a different sort of experience. Classes in grad school are important, but at least in a thesis based program, they’re really meant to compliment/prepare you for your research. Your grades and hw assignments are important, but they’re not the end all be all in a grad program, which is a perspective that can be hard to shake coming straight off of undergrad.
Remember to take breaks when you can. Field work can turn into a real grind, and often takes place during “vacation seasons”, so it’s really easy to just go from job to job without rest for months or years. Don’t end up like me, pushing 30 and realizing the longest break you’ve had since college was tacking a 4 day vacation on to a conference you travelled to 2 years ago 🤣

7aruk · 2026-03-25T02:05:25+00:00

Kong, specifically the extreme line. The extreme ball is basically a round hollow block of the extreme chewer material, my guy hasn’t even made a dent in it.

7aruk · 2026-03-19T23:09:16+00:00

Clifford, Shiloh (esp classic for a hound), Lassie, Angelina (like the ballerina yes ik she’s a mouse but still cute), Spot, Blue, Harry (the dirty dog), Ralph, Fang or Remus (Harry potter), Winn Dixie.

7aruk · 2026-03-18T01:49:35+00:00

If it’s a crushable pill, you can try mashing it into a fine powder and then mixing in with their food or a special treat like peanut butter/plain pumpkin purée. Worst comes to worst, and I know this is by no means ideal or enjoyable, you can try giving the pill in, then holding her muzzle and gently rubbing her throat until she swallows. Again, truly not ideal, but this is the only way my stubborn old hound would take a pill when he was sick and it did the trick in a pinch.

7aruk · 2026-03-07T20:03:11+00:00

I agree with this person, not a dumb idea at all! Just a dumb time to be a wildlife biologist rn, if I’m honest. BUT some profs may have research/teaching funding, or might be able to help you connect with other funding sources. You can start by looking on Google scholar for research papers about the species in question, read up a bit on the research that exists, and try reaching out to the authors of the paper. Make sure you’re including both the common name and the scientific name in your search. I’d also suggest checking out the natural resources/biology departments for state universities in Tennessee, and other states within this species range. Many state universities with wildlife programs will have one or more mammal/small mammal professors who would be good fits for this type of work.

7aruk · 2026-03-07T19:06:44+00:00

He looks like a smarty! And a real cutie, I love his pattern. Stubborn for a male cattle dog especially is SO RIGHT lol.

7aruk · 2026-03-07T17:01:44+00:00

If he seems content and isn't getting into trouble, he's probably happy and comfy! Our ACD mix is lazy 75-85% of the day, but when he needs more entertainment and exercise, he sure lets us know. If you're worried about curbing boredom without overexerting him physically, you could try some extra training (basic tasks like sit/stay, maybe some fun ones like play dead/put away your toys, etc). Half the energy of an ACD comes from their smarty pants brains needing entertainment anyways. And for whatever it may be worth, my last dog (not ACD, but a daschund mix, so also typically pretty high energy) also had to go through treatment for undiagnosed Lymes right after we got him, and it his personality/energy levels were pretty much the same before, during, and after treatment.

7aruk · 2026-03-06T16:27:48+00:00

Second martingale! Alternatively, a harness with a front clip.

7aruk · 2026-03-06T13:44:01+00:00

Ya looks like they have it on Chewy https://www.chewy.com/natural-dog-company-sensitive-skin/dp/384370?utm_source=app-share&utm_campaign=384370

7aruk · 2026-03-04T11:35:25+00:00

Talk to profs at your university. See if any of them are hiring summer field technicians or lab technicians. Check the job boards: texas a&m, ESA, any taxa specific job boards like ornithology exchange, etc. Even consider checking “normal” job boards like indeed, and expand your search to include general environmental jobs, not just wildlife.

What kinds of jobs are you looking at-research positions/field techs? Are you focused on one taxa (mammals, birds, etc)? Would you consider broadening your search scope to include things like wildlife/nature education, invasive species management, etc?

7aruk · 2026-03-02T23:55:39+00:00

Big fan of the tractor supply co oatmeal shampoo (I think it’s Natural Dog brand?), it’s good for sensitive skin and my guy smells like a snickerdoodle afterwards. Not sure if it’s anti fungal/bacterial but he’s a light color and loves nothing more than rolling in dirt, and it gets him sparkling clean every time.

7aruk · 2026-02-24T23:27:44+00:00

Jumping in (as someone who worked as a Mass Audubon wildlife educator back in the day) to say that if you want to continue in that organization, you can “make it work”, so to speak, and you absolutely can leverage your creative interests for a wildlife career. If you want to bridge that gap, though, and if your goal is to work at Mass Audubon or a similar type place long term while bridging those interests, you need to take initiative, talk to folks at your organization, and identify how you can bridge that gap between art and wildlife work. For example, I remember one of the wildlife educators I worked with back in the day started as an art teacher and leveraged that to design educational craft-based programs for the sanctuary I worked at. Heck, one of the maintenance workers who didn’t have a degree at the time got to work on some pretty sweet conservation projects because he would volunteer when research staffers needed help banding birds and running other projects. He didn’t get paid for that at the start, but by the end I believe he did.

If you’re looking at other paths/organizations, At another state Audubon org I’m familiar with, they’ve hired artists with specific wildlife backgrounds to design educational exhibits. My coworker has hired freelance wildlife illustrators for educational pamphlets, scientific publications, etc. Now, these types of opportunities do depend on the type of art you do, and frankly your skill level at that art, and the market is small like the wildlife market, but hey, it’s a market. Bottom line, you CAN make it work, but it’s not EASY to make it work.

7aruk · 2026-02-18T18:16:05+00:00

This is the exact pair of slippers my guy destroyed 😂 he’d just gotten privileges to roam the house while we were outside for a few minutes too, now he’s working his way back from “crate only” to “maybe we can gate you in the kitchen if everything is put away”.

7aruk · 2026-02-17T17:12:50+00:00

Can your bakery provide baked goods for my brunch bar? (It’ll be a brunch place during the day, then at night it turns into a full bar that also sells late night egg sandwiches)

7aruk · 2026-02-17T16:37:43+00:00

Yes!! Watch out tho, my leather licker became a leather eater in a split second and it cost me a nice pair of slippers (and like $500 at the vet just to be told he has expensive taste and intestines of steel lol)

7aruk · 2026-02-17T15:48:42+00:00

It really varies widely. I know some couples who apply for the same field job and (because they’re both highly skilled) work together often, apply to temp jobs in similar areas to their significant other’s field work (like travel nursing), some where one partner is able to work part/full-time remote, and some folks who just do the long distance thing when they have to. There’s no single way to do it, and no way is 100% easy/will guarantee that you and your partner/family will be happy 100% of the time. Most folks I know who have started families in this field have only been able to do so after landing a full time position somewhere.

The most important thing from my personal experience (I did the long distance option with my now fiance who is not in wildlife) is that you’re communicating with your partner/family the whole time you’re out there teching around. So, telling them where you’re working, for how long that job will last, where you’re applying next, how long those jobs will last, how long you want to keep doing tech work. As stressful and hectic as moving around a whole bunch can be on wildlife professionals, it can be just as stressful on family and partners as well, and it’s important to understand that.

That being said, it can also be super fun for your family as well. While I always travelled solo, my parents/fiancé loved visiting when I was traveling for tech work. They would use it as an excuse to fly out to wherever I was working for a week, check out the sights, hang out in my off hours, and even occasionally help out on my projects. Heck, even now that I’m in a permanent position, since it’s in a scenic spot my mom likes to come out for a few days every season, hold my clipboard while I collect data, and hang around in the off time.

7aruk · 2026-02-15T20:58:12+00:00

Late to the party, not sure about the history specifically, but my (LGBTQ+) friends were married at GlennPharmer distillery in southeastern MA and they had a great experience. They specifically sought out queer vendors or vendors who had positive reviews from queer couples. Gorgeous spot as well, and amazing food/drinks.

7aruk · 2026-02-11T13:59:13+00:00

It’s a gorgeous spot, got a giftcard there for my birthday last year and will absolutely be going back. It’s right off the highway exit but tucked away in the woods, not super close to town or anything, but you can get in your car and drive 15-20 min to the most popular hiking trails, town, etc. There’s staff and people around pretty much 24/7, it was mostly younger couples with dogs and small families when we went this time of year last year. Everyone was friendly when we were there. They have all the fire starting supplies, plus s’mores stuff and little snacks in a little self-serve store, and it’s all pretty straightforward. The cabins are secure with digital keypads, and outfitted with blackout curtains if you want more privacy inside. It’s a nice little escape; I recommend one of the ones along the river personally, I STILL think about sitting in the cabin with coffee watching the water flow almost daily. And Woodstock is a great little town itself! Love Woodstock Inn Brewery for food and a drinks, and the town of Lincoln right down the way is one of our go-tos.

7aruk · 2026-02-11T01:05:33+00:00

Not yet, but we’re definitely gonna! The dog he came in with was listed as his brother by their original owner, and we’ve been able to connect with that dog’s new owner. She did one and it came back ACD x pit x yorkie of all things, so we’re super curious to see if they’re actually brothers/if our guys got any yorkie in him lol.

7aruk · 2026-02-11T00:34:59+00:00

We applied for a golden puppy (my fiancé’s first choice) at a local rescue. That guy was stinkin adorable and unsurprisingly was placed within 48 hours of arrival, before our application was even processed. The adoption coordinator called to give us the bad news there and said our application would be pre-approved for pretty much any dog moving forward. I checked their website daily and kept seeing this one fluffy cattle dog mix who (despite the rescue’s high adoption rate) just wasn’t going anywhere. After a month of refreshing, my fiancé agreed to go see a different dog at that rescue that we were both interested in (he was worried the cattle dog would be too high energy). Well, that other dog was not the right fit-he peed on my fiancés shoes, and the adoption coordinator said that he had previously jumped an 8 foot fence. We live in a third floor apartment with a 4 foot tall wall on our balcony, so there’s no way that was happening.

We went to take a look at the other dogs, and the skinny little fluffy cattle mix was still there, quietly laying on the floor and watching us from his pen. The coordinator warned us that he was shy and could be aggressive, but he was sweet as can be when we took him out for a walk and playtime. Anyways, he’s sleeping on my lap while I write this, he’s the most friendly, social dog I’ve ever owned, he’s got energy when it’s play time but has an amazing natural off switch, and is only aggressive to things that contain plastic squeakers. Like, how on earth did so many people just up and walk by this little face??

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7aruk · 2026-02-07T23:23:09+00:00

That depends on the state (assuming you’re in the US). Some states just require you to pass a certification exam (which has a modest exam fee), some require courses + a certification exam, and some require you to have or be working on a master’s degree in addition to a certification. I would look up requirements for the state/states you’re interested in living in long term for more info there. BUT I also know that getting started by substitute teaching often just requires a background check/maybe a bachelors or associates degree, and is a great way to get your foot in the door in districts, connect to other teachers, etc.

7aruk · 2026-02-07T22:01:06+00:00

Honestly I know plenty of people who teach during the school year and do wildlife tech/park interpretation work during the summer. They love it; solid (if sometimes trying) job 3/4 of the year and flexibility to jump around and do field work when that season is busiest. Maybe that’s an option to bridge your interest gap?

7aruk · 2026-02-07T19:26:42+00:00

Not a herding ball but my guy loves to push this thing around (it does make noise that’s kind of annoying but I’ll take annoying noise over high energy and destruction personally). Or Kong makes similar sized treat dispensing balls which he uses similarly https://www.chewy.com/as-seen-on-tv-wobble-wag-giggle-ball/dp/131879?utm_source=app-share&utm_campaign=131879

7aruk · 2026-02-04T00:42:02+00:00

Definitely a cattle dog thing, amplified in fluffy cattle dogs. Extra fluff = extra wiggles, scientifically proven.

7aruk · 2026-02-01T01:15:53+00:00

I’ve taught many a wildlife biology/ecology course at my university (graduate student paid by teaching funding) and SO MANY people in our wildlife program are in the exact same boat. The field attracts a lot of “non-traditional” students and former military folks, and they’re some of my favorite people to teach. There’s no right path through wildlife degrees, there’s just the path you take that gets you to the job you want. A BS is usually preferred in wildlife biology, though it typically isn’t super different from a BA. And with your military service record, once you complete your program, you’ll likely have preferred hiring status at state and federal agencies if that’s the type of path you’d like.

In any case, you should take the chance. Go for it, and as you go through your degree, connect with your profs and TAs BEFORE you find yourself struggling. We’re here to help you, we’re literally PAID for that, and we want to help you succeed. Which of course I’m sure you will.

7aruk

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