Who We Are

Wildlife Services (WS) is a Federal program tasked with managing the 

damage caused by human-wildlife conflict. WS collaborates with 

numerous partners, including State and Federal agencies, land-grant 

universities, and others, to carry out this work and maintain healthy, 

stable wildlife populations in harmony with human populations. WS 

researchers develop and improve methods of wildlife damage management, while biologists and specialists in the field design and implement 

wildlife management plans to prevent and respond to potentially harmful 

encounters between wildlife populations and the surrounding public.

Not Your Typical 9-to-5

Looking for the career of a lifetime? If you love wildlife and the outdoors, 

WS is the place for you to do what you’re passionate about in an unparalleled work environment. Wildlife Disease Biologist Craig Hicks said, 

“I had no idea I could get a job doing things I love,” but then he found 

WS and now does work that is “constantly rewarding.” A career in WS 

offers you the chance to do something every day that matters for wildlife, 

people, and the environment. 

On a given day, WS employees may:

•	 rescue birds from oil spills like the Deepwater Horizon oil rig 

explosion.

•	 reduce feral swine populations that cause an estimated $1 billion 

in damages and control costs each year.

•	 remove beaver dams from culverts under roads (by hand or using 

explosives) before they destroy the road or surrounding land.

•	 capture large predators that feed on livestock or agricultural 

crops.

Protecting People

Protecting Agriculture

Protecting Wildlife

Wildlife Services Factsheet

August 2012

Careers in Wildlife 

Services

Wildlife Services, a program 

within the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal 

and Plant Health Inspection 

Service (APHIS), provides 

Federal leadership and 

expertise to resolve wildlife 

damage that threatens the 

Nation’s agricultural and 

natural resources, human 

health and safety, and 

property. WS offers unique 

career opportunities in wildlife 

damage management.

A wildlife biologist takes 

the temperature of an 

anesthetized raccoon at the 

National Wildlife Research 

Center. 
•	 monitor bird populations at airports to prevent 

bird strikes on aircraft.

•	 vaccinate raccoons for rabies in Central Park 

using marshmallow bait and in rural areas 

through bait drops from aircraft.

•	 develop deer contraceptives like Gona-ConTM 

to limit deer populations and reduce costly 

and dangerous deer-vehicle collisions.

Sound like the right fit for you?

A Career Custom-Made for You

By selecting a career with WS, you’ll have a unique 

opportunity to help people and wildlife. Depending on 

the career you choose, on a given day you may track a 

feral hog population, work with airport staff to prevent 

geese from flying into aircraft, or find a solution for a 

local farmer who is losing his livestock to predators. 

The variety of things you can do in WS is what 

Environmental Coordinator Kim Wagner loves about 

her job: “I know with absolute certainty when I walk 

into the office every day that I will learn something 

new and do something that really helps.”

Most careers require a combination of education and 

experience or a 4-year degree in a field related to 

wildlife management. WS personnel must pass 

firearms safety and proficiency training, as well as 

complete a comprehensive background check and 

drug testing prior to employment.

Depending on your education and interests, you may 

be qualified to work for WS in one of these 

challenging and rewarding assignments: 

Wildlife Specialists conduct operational duties, 

including the trapping and relocation of birds and 

mammals that cause damage to agriculture, natural 

resources, or property. 

Wildlife Biologists implement damage management 

methods. For example, wildlife biologists in Texas 

help control the size of destructive feral hog 

populations. 

Wildlife Biologists (Research) develop or improve 

methods of reducing damage caused by wildlife 

Benefits of Working in WS

•	 Frequent interaction with wildlife

•	 Playing a vital role in meaningful 

wildlife work

•	 An active, outdoors work setting

•	 Access to cutting-edge technology at 

our well-known research branch, the 

National Wildlife Research Center

•	 Participating in the latest 

developments within the field of 

wildlife damage management 

•	 Federal employee benefits, including 

affordable health insurance, flexible 

work schedules, and paid holidays, 

vacation, and sick leave (for eligible 

employees)

A wildlife disease biologist takes a blood sample 

from a deer to test for bovine tuberculosis. 

“I had no idea I could get a job doing things I love.”

- Craig Hicks, Wildlife Disease Biologist, Ohio
species, such as conducting experiments on the 

effectiveness of lighting systems on aircraft to 

reduce bird strikes and the use of repellents, 

electronic trap-monitoring devices, and habitat 

modification to control wildlife damage. 

WS also employs a number of operational support 

staff in each State. Paid interns and summer volunteers fill time-limited positions in a wide range of WS 

disciplines. WS offers full-time, part-time, and temporary positions in each State, as well as positions in 

Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Guam.

If you have a passion for wildlife and agriculture, WS’ 

exciting and rewarding careers may be the place for 

you to do what you love and make a difference for the 

people and wildlife in your community. 

Learn More 

If you’re interested in learning more about the WS 

program, please call 1-866-4USDA-WS (1-866-487-

3297) or visit our Web site at www.aphis.usda.gov/

wildlife_damage/. 

You may also visit the Federal Government’s official 

jobs Web site to find information about vacancies 

nationwide or to become familiar with the requirements of a particular position. Go to www.usajobs.

gov to search the job listings electronically. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, 

disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative 

means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD).

To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 1400 Independence Avenue, 

SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

United States Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

A WS explosives expert sets an explosive to 

remove a beaver dam from a culvert.