Forestry and Wildlife Management

The Wildlife/Forestry Conservation Career Diploma program prepares students for an entry-level position in the field of wildlife and forestry conservation.

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Understand how to gather data on water and soil quality, disease, insect damage to trees and other plants, and conditions that may pose a fire hazard
• Recognize how to locate property lines and evaluate forested areas to determine the species, quality, and amount of standing timber
• Characterize the habits and behaviors of wildlife
• Identify how to maintain trails, campsites, and other recreational facilities
• Understand how to patrol forest areas and enforce environmental protection regulations
• Recognize how to communicate with foresters, scientists, and sometimes the public about ongoing forestry and conservation activities
• Recognize how to suppress forest fires with fire control activities
• Understand how to train other forestry workers and coordinate detection programs

Succeed by learning how to use your Penn Foster program.

Objectives:

• Understand how to use your Student Portal.
• Access the Penn Foster Community and use it to find answers.
• Connect with Penn Foster on various social media sites.

Objectives:

• Identify employment opportunities in wildlife conservation and forestry.
• Understand the basic organization and functions of government agencies.
• Learn how to start you own conservation-related business.

Objectives:

• Identify the most common varieties of upland game birds.
• Trap and transplant wild birds.
• Manage suitable habitats for individual species.
• Stock captive-bred birds.

Objectives:

• Describe the life cycles and habitat requirements for waterfowl species.
• Analyze the surveys and data that wildlife managers use.
• Outline the annual process for establishing waterfowl hunting regulations.
• Learn practical techniques, such as how to capture waterfowl and improve nesting success.

Reference: Neotropical Bird Migration

Objectives:

• Learn about population and habitat management.
• Understand ecological principles related to various species that live in North America.
• Describe ecotourism.
• Describe pest damage control.

Objectives:

• Learn about the major small-animal species of North America.
• Continue to learn about wildlife management.
• Receive tips to improve observation and tracking skills.

Objectives:

• Describe principles of big-game management and population dynamics.
• Identify the different types of wildlife lands.
• Understand how to select the most appropriate marking or tagging technique to achieve specific research objectives.

Objectives:

• Understand how to manage each of the big-game mammals and their environments.
• Compare the two orders which contain all big-game animals—Carnivora and Artiodactyla.
• Compare life spans and mating ages between species.

Objectives:

• Understand the need for and application of predation management for wildlife and livestock.
• Analyze the methods and techniques to control or reduce predators.

Objectives:

• Understand why parks were created and the purposes they serve.
• Describe the entire system of parks within the United States, including federal, state, and local parks.
• Identify park organizations.
• Outline the roles and functions of the various park-related professions and trades.

Reference: National Audubon Society Pocket Guide to Familiar North American Mammals

Objectives:

• Describe the physical characteristics of rangelands.
• Identify types of grazing systems.
• Understand how mulch tillage, crop rotation, and terracing techniques are used to manage rangelands.
• Measure vegetation to determine the health of a rangeland and calculate proper stocking rates.

Objectives:

• Understand the basics of forestry.
• Describe how forests are inventoried.
• Use forest inventory information to make resource management decisions.
• Analyze and deter natural and man-made threats to forests.
• Understand the components of a forest management plan.

Objectives:

• Choose an appropriate logging system for a given set of objectives and environmental conditions.
• Identify and combat forest damage caused by insects and diseases.
• Understand the basic principles of fire control.
• Design a simple forest management plan.

Objectives:

• Examine and measure forest health.
• Minimize the detrimental effects of insects, wildlife, disease, and fire.
• Understand the circumstances where a fire can be beneficial to forest health.
• Outline how to suppress a fire when it threatens forest health.

Reference: Peterson First Guide to Birds of North America

Objectives:

• Identify and examine common cold-water game fish.
• Analyze the principal environmental factors that cause the degradation of cold-water fish populations and their habitats.
• Determine the suitability of stream, lake, or pond habitats for cold-water fish.
• Use fish management tools to fix cold-water fishery problems.

Objectives:

• Identify and examine common warm-water game fish species.
• Describe management techniques and objectives for warm-water fisheries.
• Monitor and study fish populations using techniques such as tagging.
• Identify career opportunities in fish management.

Objectives:

• Compare practices for rearing fish in cold-water and warm-water environments.
• Describe basic aquaculture and hatchery requirements.
• Understand the operation and maintenance of hatcheries.
• Practice fish health management and safely deliver a healthy product to consumers.

Objectives:

• Understand the importance of sustainable development for international conservation.
• Identify several major international conservation groups and their goals.
• Describe how geography, climate, natural resources, and population density and distribution affect conservation issues in select countries.

Objectives:

• Plan and organize an outdoor fieldwork trip.
• Choose appropriate gear for your trip.
• Receive tips on how to handle outdoor emergencies and bear or mountain lion attacks.
• Administer basic first-aid care.

Objectives:

• Describe the role of wildlife enforcement.
• Analyze state and federal wildlife laws.
• Understand the rights of private citizens.
• Identify types of violations and evidence as well as proper search and arrest and testimony procedures.

Textbook: Wildlife Law Enforcement