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Wildlife, B.S. | Class of
Preston Taylor
Ungulate Specialist
Employer: Yurok Tribe
Job description: The majority of my job consists of managing feral cattle throughout the Reservation, and working to improve native elk and deer populations and their habitat. I also contribute to the Tribe's Wildlife Department goal to re-introduce condors by conducting non-lead ammunition outreach.
About Preston
Why did you choose this program?
The Wildlife Program at HSU has a great reputation for engaging students in field activities, as well as training future wildlife researchers and managers. These attributes, along with the access to outdoor pursuits of Humboldt County are the reasons I chose this program and school.
How did this program prepare you for your job?
HSU's Wildlife Program provided a great foundation for becoming a scientist from how to carry out a research question to getting it published. The upper division natural history courses allowed me the opportunity to delve deeply into aspects of mammal, bird, insect, and other taxa management. Furthermore, the program encouraged me to pursue my passions within wildlife management and provided me the feedback I needed to move to the next step in my life as a scientist.
What did you enjoy most about the program?
I thoroughly enjoyed the labs for courses like Wetlands, Ornithology, Mammalogy, and Entomology, because we were outside in the real world learning about these creatures. I really appreciated the small class size of upper division course, which allowed me to develop relationships with the professors who encouraged my learning. The HSU library and the school's access to peer reviewed journals allowed me to conduct literature research that would have been difficult without being a student. Finally, of course, I cherish the friendships I made while at school and continue to stay in contact with my peers.
What would you say to prospective students who are thinking about applying to this program?
Take advantage of all the resources the school has to offer. Don't enroll in too many lab classes at once. Enjoy your time at HSU, because it will be over before you know it.