Wildlife Conservation Technology

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The Wildlife Conservation Technology program trains learners as wildlife technicians to work in the field of fish and wildlife conservation.

The program deals with a variety of field, laboratory, and classroom activities designed to familiarize learners with the practical and theoretical aspects of wildlife conservation.

Graduates will possess the technical skills and knowledge required to:

  • plan and conduct a variety of surveys and assessments both in the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems
  • plan and conduct a variety of inventory techniques regarding wildlife, fish and plant populations
  • evaluate and enhance habitat
  • prepare and present technical reports
  • be competent in the use of a wide variety of sampling and laboratory equipment

The Wildlife Conservation Technology program has received accreditation through the North American Wildlife Technology Association. All students graduating from this program will receive North American wide recognition as a Wildlife Technician and will receive a Certificate from the accrediting body upon graduation.

Graduates are trained to work as fish and wildlife technicians and in other related positions with provincial and federal governments, and with environmental consulting firms. Those interested in a career as a conservation enforcement officer may want to consider a combination of this program and the Conservation Enforcement program.

Students in this program are required to participate in field training labs that involve snow shoeing, boating and hiking up to 16 km over rough and difficult terrain while carrying equipment and back packs. If you have any questions around your physical fitness, please contact the program instructor.

Please note that some occupations in this field require applicants/ employees to pass a police records check, which may limit your ability to access some on-the-job training sites or employment opportunities.

Courses

Wildlife Conservation Technology Courses

  print full list with descriptions

Take the following course(s), minimum grade: Pass

Occupational Health and Safety I

Occupational Health and Safety I

This course is a combination of 4 occupational safety short courses: Basic Forest Fire Suppression, Wilderness and Remote First Aid, Canadian Firearms Safety (non-restricted and restricted), and Hunter Education.

Hours: 45
Course Code: WCT-440
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-440 Occupational Health and Safety I
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Occupational Health and Safety II

Occupational Health and Safety II

This course will provide students with essential skills and knowledge for performance in the field. It is a combination of electrofishing safety, flatwater canoe safety and On Board Pleasure Craft Operator.

Hours: 30
Course Code: WCT-455
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-455 Occupational Health and Safety II
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Occupational Health and Safety III

Occupational Health and Safety III

This course is a combination of the following short courses: Tree Climbing Safety, Winter Survival, ATV Safety, Chainsaw Safety, and WHMIS.

Hours: 45
Course Code: WCT-460
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-460 Occupational Health and Safety III
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Field Camp I

Field Camp I

During this course students will experience camp life combined with field surveys, tours of parks and wildlife rehabilitation centers, evening and night animal surveys, Global Positioning Systems use, radiotelemetry, immobilization, and habitat surveys. Students will learn the skills necessary for bonding, living together, team building, work load balancing, survival, camping procedures, maintenance and use of camping equipment, and wildlife/human interaction.

Hours: 120
Course Code: WCT-475
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-475 Field Camp I
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Field Camp II

Field Camp II

This course builds on skills developed during previous field camps. During this course students will experience camp life combined with field surveys, tours of parks and wildlife rehabilitation centers, evening and night animal surveys, Global Positioning Systems use, radiotelemetry, immobilization, and habitat surveys. Students will learn the skills necessary for bonding, living together, team building, work load balancing, survival, camping procedures, maintenance and use of camping equipment, and wildlife/human interaction.

Hours: 120
Course Code: WCT-485
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-485 Field Camp II
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Introduction to Criminal Law

Introduction to Criminal Law

This course is an introduction to various aspects of the criminal justice system in Canada. Students will learn about the history of lawmaking, the structure and components of the justice system in Canada, the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the role of law enforcement officers and tactics used to maintain physical control in adverse situations.

Hours: 30
Course Code: WCT-488
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-488 Introduction to Criminal Law
Academic Year: 2012-2013

On-the-Job Training

On-the-Job Training

On-the-job training provides the student with an opportunity to relate what they have learned in the Wildlife Conservation Technology program to a relevant work environment. Students will be expected to assume, with appropriate supervision, the duties and responsibilities normally expected of a job entry-level person in a similar position. Using their own observations and initiative, students will be expected to acquire and apply new skills as may be expected of a new employee in their respective workplace setting.

Hours: 200
Course Code: WCT-490
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-490 On-the-Job Training
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Take the following course(s), minimum grade: 65%

Plant Ecology

Plant Ecology

This is a survey course of common plants of the local plant communities including bog, dune, forest, roadsides and fields, ponds and saltmarshes. Included are classroom and field work as well as a plant collection. Students will experience hands-on plant identification and habitat assessment instruction in a variety of local habitats as listed above. Students will prepare archival quality plant specimens and present them in the form of a plant collection.

Hours: 60
Course Code: WCT-105
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-105 Plant Ecology
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Animal Ecology

Animal Ecology

This course examines the parameters of population structure, taxonomy, identification of mammals, birds, amphibians and invertebrates, predator/prey and parasite/host relationships and basic genetics. In addition, in this course students will learn to make field identifications, conduct animal population surveys and assessments.

Hours: 60
Course Code: WCT-115
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-115 Animal Ecology
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Limnology

Limnology

This course covers the ecology of freshwater rivers, streams and lakes. Subjects covered are watersheds, streams, lakes, lake types and water quality.

Hours: 60
Course Code: WCT-125
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-125 Limnology
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Computer Literacy

Computer Literacy

This course will assist the student developing competency with computers and computing technology as employed in the typical workplace. Using Microsoft Office, students will be introduced to typical desktop tools to create and manage information including: word processing and desktop publishing, spreadsheets, databases and electronic presentations. Students will learn to navigate the Windows operating system, use a personal information management software (GroupWise), use the Internet for research and manage files in a networked computing environment.

Hours: 45
Course Code: WCT-135
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-135 Computer Literacy
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Technical Math for Natural Sciences

Technical Math for Natural Sciences

This course covers basic mathematical calculations required for wildlife and environmental science technologies. Topics covered include the proper treatment of approximate numbers and measurement error, units of measure, algebraic equations, functions and graphs, trigonometry, vectors, exponential and logarithmic functions, variation, and basic geometry.

Hours: 45
Course Code: WCT-145
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-145 Technical Math for Natural Sciences
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Map Use and Analysis

Map Use and Analysis

This course is designed to allow the student to use and practice many mapping and navigation aspects in the field. Focus will be placed on gathering and translating data, preparing maps, and experiencing how a Global Positioning System (GPS) and Global Information System (GIS) are applied in occupational fields.

Hours: 60
Course Code: WCT-205
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-205 Map Use and Analysis
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Botany

Botany

This course builds on the skills and knowledge gained in the Plant Ecology course and covers the areas of plant adaptations, plant families, plant anatomy, diseases and winter identification of plants.

Hours: 30
Course Code: WCT-210
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-210 Botany
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Ecology

Ecology

This course builds on the skills and knowledge gained in the Plant Ecology and Animal Ecology courses. There is a focus on lab work and population assessments. Subject areas covered include animal behaviour, habitats and niches, life histories, soils, and conservation.

Hours: 45
Course Code: WCT-220
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-220 Ecology
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Wildlife Management I

Wildlife Management I

In this introductory course students will study many aspects of wildlife management. Subject areas to be examined include: various issues surrounding human and wildlife populations and various wildlife population survey methods. Students will benefit from learning experiences in the classroom and in the field.

Hours: 60
Course Code: WCT-305
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-305 Wildlife Management I
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Zoology I

Zoology I

This course is designed to introduce students to the study of zoology. It is a survey of invertebrates with a focus on field and lab identification of invertebrates commonly encountered by wildlife technicians. This course includes the use and care of microscopes, and the collection and preservation of specimens.

Hours: 60
Course Code: WCT-315
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-315 Zoology I
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Zoology II

Zoology II

This course is a survey of vertebrates with a focus on the field identification of the vertebrates commonly encountered by field technicians. Included in this course are specimen collection and preparation and vertebrate anatomy and dissection.

Hours: 60
Course Code: WCT-325
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-325 Zoology II
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Statistics for Natural Sciences

Statistics for Natural Sciences

This course covers the essentials of statistical collection, analysis, and interpretation. Topics covered include the principles of statistical design, frequency distributions, descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency and dispersion, basic probability, standard normal distributions, linear regression and correlation, and a variety of statistical tests for goodness of fit, differences between means, and identification of outliers. Emphasis will be placed on the use of statistical software for data analysis.

Hours: 45
Course Code: WCT-335
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-335 Statistics for Natural Sciences
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Communications for the Sciences

Communications for the Sciences

The vital role that communication plays in the science field will be emphasized in this course. The importance of accurate recording of laboratory and field activities as well as the ability to communicate findings to both the scientific and general communities will be stressed.

Hours: 45
Course Code: WCT-346
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-346 Communications for the Sciences
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Environmental Chemistry

Environmental Chemistry

During this course students will learn the chemical and physical processes that affect the fate and transport of compounds in the environment. Units of concentration, chemical kinetics and chemical equilibrium will lay a foundation for exploring the equilibrium processes involved in air-water partitioning, sorption, acid base equilibrium, and precipitation-dissolution. Learning the physical processes of mass balances and mass transport will allow students to explore mechanisms involved in long range transport of atmospheric pollutants, transport of pollutants in the soil and water systems and nutrient cycling.

Hours: 45
Course Code: WCT-350
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-350 Environmental Chemistry
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Wildlife Management II

Wildlife Management II

This course is designed to continue students' understanding of wildlife management issues and practices. Subject areas include: Hunting and angling, game farming, trapping, wildlife population survey techniques, socioeconomic surveys, and consumptive and non-consumptive uses of wildlife. Classroom learning will be augmented with extensive field work. The major project of this course is an assessment of an assigned area of habitat. Students will produce a project proposal, a detailed map of the area, and a comprehensive habitat management plan for their area.

Hours: 60
Course Code: WCT-405
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-405 Wildlife Management II
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Fisheries Management

Fisheries Management

In this course, students will learn fish identification techniques, harvesting methods, population assessment, the marine and freshwater fisheries, and habitat management. In addition, students will be able to collect and preserve specimens, conduct surveys, determine age, operate a fish counting fence, and participate in electrofishing. Students will experience classroom-based, lab-based and field-based learning.

Hours: 45
Course Code: WCT-410
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-410 Fisheries Management
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Forestry

Forestry

In this course students will learn about many aspects of the forest industry and forest management. Subject areas that will be examined include: commercial forestry, forestry for wildlife and recreational values, forest pests and diseases, forest harvesting and regeneration, silviculture and holistic forest use. Additionally, students will learn about forest fire supressiont, fire ecology and forest cruising techniques. Students will experience classroom-based, lab-based and field-based learning.

Hours: 60
Course Code: WCT-425
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-425 Forestry
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Job Search Strategies

Job Search Strategies

This course will prepare students to conduct research into job availability in their field as well as pursue employment opportunities using tools such as a resume and cover letter. Students will participate in interviews to hone their skills.

Hours: 15
Course Code: WCT-435
Detailed Course Outline: WCT-435 Job Search Strategies
Academic Year: 2012-2013

Program Facts
Start Date:
Length:2 years
Location:Charlottetown
Credential Issued:Diploma, Wildlife Technician

Graduate Opportunities

Admission Requirements

  • Grade 12 or equivalent with credits at or above the general level
  • English, math and biology all at academic grade 11 or 12 level (all at minimum 65%)
  • Resumé including work and volunteer experience with applicable dates, membership in groups, associations or athletics, awards and distinctions, and any other information about yourself relevant to the program
  • Rabies and Tetanus vaccinations - form to be completed after acceptance. (Please note that these vaccinations can be expensive and are time sensitive. Please see your Public Health agency for more details.) form
  • Medical form completed by physician indicating fitness of the applicant - form

Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees
Year 1 $4,725
Year 2 $4,725

View a full breakdown of costs and booklist for this program.

Articulation Agreements

  • University of Newcastle
    Up to 1 year credit (100 credit units) toward the Bachelor of Science. This degree may be completed with an additional 2 years of study (140 credit units).
  • University of Prince Edward Island
    2 years credit toward Bachelor of Wildlife Conservation Technology.
  • Royal Roads
    Entrance into the third year of the Bachelor of Science degree with one additional chemistry course.

We have 4 agreements for this Holland College program. For a complete listing, see our Degree Pathways page.

Contact

If you have any questions concerning the Wildlife Conservation Technology program, contact:

  • Ben Hoteling
  • Applied Science & Technology Office (902) 629-4206