They are often involved in restoring or developing wildlife habitats, determining conditions affecting wildlife, regulating wildlife populations by hunting laws, and controlling wildlife diseases. The profession had its beginnings with the establishment of the first National Wildlife Refuge at Pelican Island in Florida in 1903. The purpose of that protection was to prevent mass killings of waterfowl for their large feathers used by dressmakers and milliners. Today there are more than 470 refuges covering over 90 million acres. The largest are in Alaska.
Many sites have permanent staff managing and protecting the areas.
Education required Four years of college minimum. For better opportunities and a chance of professional employment a graduate degree is helpful. At Centralia College the A.S. degree program in biology or prewildlife biology is appropriate. Oregon State University at Corvallis has an excellent program in Wildlife Science. Fair to poor depending if one has specialization or experience.