About Wildlife Veterinary Technician Jobs

A career as a veterinary technician is rewarding. Vet techs help various species of animals at different stages of care. Wildlife veterinary technicians work with wild animals in many different environments. Wildlife vet techs work at zoos, animal rescue centers, conservation parks and rehabilitation centers.

Education

To become a wildlife veterinary technician, you will need to take basic veterinary classes, as well as specialized program courses in zoology, animal behavior, animal anatomy and physiology. A regular veterinary technician program lasts about two years, while a career as a wildlife vet tech may require a total of four or more years of schooling. 

Salary

While you will not get rich working as a wildlife veterinary technician, the median salary amount of $30,000 per year is worth considering. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, top-earning wildlife veterinary technicians can earn anywhere between $35,000 and $40,000 per year. These amounts are dependent on where a vet tech works and with what types of animals.

Workplaces

Zoos regularly employ wildlife veterinary technicians because zoo animals always need to have a qualified vet tech on-site. Wildlife veterinary technicians may help with daily routine tasks, such as administering shots or other treatments, providing zoo caretakers with pertinent knowledge about an animal's diet, or helping to calm an animal if it is in distress. Wildlife rescue and rehabilitation organizations rely on wildlife veterinary technicians daily for the care of animals that may be injured, homeless or orphaned.

Research

Wildlife veterinary technicians may also work as research specialists, conducting humane and ethical testing on various animal species. This testing may be conducted either in captivity or in the wild. Such testing and research procedures can help future animals and can possibly find answers or cures for disease, overpopulation problems and the evolution of endangered species.