UAT

Wildlife Enforcement Officers enforce state and federal game, fish, and boating laws in the state of North Carolina. Officers patrol fields, forests, and inland waters in automobiles, in boats, on ATVs and on foot. Officers report to a Sergeant and patrol a district either alone or as part of a patrol. Officers check licenses of hunters and fisherman and examine the game or fish taken to determine compliance with the applicable laws and regulations. Officers seize illegal hunting and fishing devices and all game and fish taken illegally. Officers investigate violations, arrests violators, and present court testimony. Officers investigate conditions and recommend whether to issue permits to private citizens to raise game or fish in captivity, or to trap and net game or fish. Officers check boats for proper certification and boating equipment and observe boat operation for detection and apprehension of reckless or impaired operators. Officers assist in search and rescue operations for the victims of boating accidents or for lost hunters and anglers. Officers experience considerable public contact, often to explain game, fish, and boat laws and regulations to individuals and organizations and to present safety promotion programs.

Officers apply knowledge of state and federal laws and regulations relating to the protection and management of game and fish, and to boating and of North Carolina game and fish species, their habitats and natural requirements. Officers demonstrate skills in the use of firearms and hunting and fishing equipment as well as outboard motor boats, automobiles and other vehicles. Officers keep routine records and write standard reports in the pursuit of duties.  Find out more information about becoming a Wildlife Enforcement Officer. 

Wildlife or Fisheries Biologists are professionals who manage wildlife or inland fisheries resources. Some biologists’ work is characterized by high levels of public contact to provide technical assistance to land, pond or lake owners in improving habitat and increasing the numbers and varieties of fish and wildlife or to address nuisance wildlife problems. Some biologists perform scientific research of fish or wildlife populations and habitats, sometimes specializing in a limited number of species. Biologists may lead research, selecting sampling techniques, equipment and data gathering methods. Research conducted and decisions made by biologists affect individual landowners, citizen groups, individual hunters and anglers, the establishment of hunting and fishing regulations, management techniques and wildlife or fish populations. Biologists design and conduct research studies and author standard technical and more rigorous scientific research reports. For most biologists, the majority of work is performed in the field, exposed to all sorts of conditions including inclement weather, hazardous chemicals, dangerous animals and heavy equipment. Working contacts are required with members of the general public, individual or groups of hunters and fishers, members of environmental groups, members of other natural resources agencies, and the owners of land lakes, or ponds. Contacts are primarily for educational purposes and to present the results of surveys and recommendations resulting from those surveys. Biologists may direct the work of a Wildlife/Fisheries technician, and usually report to a higher level biologist who is often located in a different location.

Biologists apply scientific research principles along with knowledge specific to principles and practices of wildlife management or fisheries management. Biologists apply knowledge of zoology, botany, a variety of species of wildlife and fish, their habits and habitats, fish and game production, distribution, and management. Minimum education and experience to qualify for a biologist position is graduation from a four year college or university with a degree in wildlife or fisheries management, zoology or biology and two years of experience in wildlife or fisheries management. 

Wildlife or Fisheries Technicians work in research or management activities in wildlife or inland fisheries management. Technicians conduct wildlife and fish surveys or related laboratory work, collect and analyze data and report findings. Some technicians manage land for habitat development, operate heavy equipment in land preparation activities and maintain vehicles and equipment. Other technicians work in fish hatcheries, reproducing, growing and then stocking fish. Still others function primarily in research,  designing studies or working under the direction of a biologist for more complex studies. Technicians have contact with the general public in the course of their work conducting research, stocking fish or managing gamelands. For most technicians, the majority of work is performed in the field, exposed to all sorts of conditions including inclement weather, hazardous chemicals, dangerous animals and heavy equipment. Some technicians and technician supervisors oversee work crews of technicians.

Technicians demonstrate knowledge of techniques and procedures for either inland fisheries management or wildlife management as well as knowledge of the types and habits of a variety of inland fish or wildlife species. Technicians are able to operate and maintain equipment and vehicles, to plan collection efforts and accurately collect field data, to accurately analyze field data and to prepare written reports. Minimum education and experience required to qualify for most technician positions includes graduation from a two year technical college with an Associate Degree in wildlife or fisheries management and two years of experience in the management of wildlife or fisheries resources. 

Boating Technicians construct and maintain the Wildlife Resources Commission's boating access areas and waterways improvement program. Technicians construct boating access areas on inland and coastal waters and are responsible for the continuing maintenance of completed areas. Technicians place and maintain aids to navigation in navigable waterways, setting and anchoring of "danger", "no wake", and channel marking buoys and other navigational aids following a planned schedule of maintenance surveillance. Technicians work with engineers who design the boating access areas and implement the plans the engineers design. Technicians conduct routine maintenance of access sites to include removing trash, mowing, renovating signs, correcting problems such as erosion and poor drainage. Technicians work under the general supervision of a Boating Supervisor.

Technicians apply knowledge of construction methods and practices, especially marine construction. Technicians operate a variety of heavy equipment, power and hand tools and outboard powered craft. Minimum education and experience required to qualify for boating technician positions includes graduation from high school and three years of experience in construction work which includes the operation of heavy equipment.

Education Specialists (Natural Science Curators) and Regional Education Specialists (Wildlife Information and Education Specialists) develop and/or present wildlife conservation educational programs to a variety of audiences and age groups, adapting the presentation to accommodate the audience. Educators design, develop and conduct lectures, fieldtrips, and workshops that educate the general public, special interest groups and school children. Educators may work with local and state community leaders or education officials to analyze education needs, develop programs and promote educational offerings. Educators may be responsible to collect, handle, care for and preserve live specimens.

Conservation educators demonstrate general knowledge of North Carolina species of wildlife, their habits and habitats as well as knowledge of the principles and practices of wildlife management. Educators demonstrate the ability to author educational materials on wildlife subject, to speak effectively in public, to identify marine live, wildlife, birds, and plants. Minimum education and experience required to qualify for educator positions may include graduation from a four-year college or university with coursework emphasis in wildlife management, fisheries management, biology, or related science field and two years' experience in wildlife management, fisheries management, natural science, teaching, journalistic or related work.