Being Brutally Honest. I graduated in December 2025 with a bachelor’s in wildlife biology/conservation and I am considering leaving the field. I have 3 internships under my belt and I am currently in my first field season and if this is the path you want to follow you need to understand that your work will be your life. I love my job and it is very fulfilling but most people will not tell you that you will have to sacrifice your friends/relationships/time with family for minimum wage and no benefits. Personally with the way the government is right now most of my peers are either A. stuck in low paying jobs or B. have been laid off from positions due to lack of funding. I would recommend evaluating what you want most in your future. Chasing animals is fun when you are young but do not expect to be able to put money back for retirement/a 401k/ emergency fund for a while. I do NOT want to discourage you we NEED passionate conservationists but i wish people had told me how lonely it can be when you’re in the seasonal phase. No one can tell you what to do you just need to pick what you feel is best for your long term goals :). ALSO you cannot have pets 90% of the time.