There are 6.5 million species of land mammals. Wildlife biologists are privileged to study and spend time with these animals as part of their daily lives. I would have to be a wildlife biologist to be able to study land mammals. Wildlife biology is a field of biology in which terrestrial animals are studied. It deals with all animals with backbones and studies individual wildlife species, their habitats and surrounding ecosystems (Fitzgerald). He also studies how animals can interact with their ecosystem. Without wildlife biology we would not have in-depth knowledge of other animal species and how they might be related to humans. Wildlife conservation in the United States has been based on the public trust doctrine where wildlife and fish, water and scenic places have been considered. too valuable for a superior good to be held in private ownership (Brown). Wildlife in America has struggled since the 1400s. Native Americans used fires heavily until Europeans arrived. Diseases decimated the Indians and wildlife recovered (Brown). Westward expansion in the 1800s caused much of the natural habitat to be turned into farms for European settlers. Historically, large numbers of deer, elk, elk, and beaver lived in the eastern forests; polar bears, muskoxen, moose, and caribou in the Northwest; and millions of buffalo, pronghorn antelope, and thousands of grizzly bears in the (brown) West. As wildlife habitats were occupied and market hunting became enormous, the wildlife population in the United States declined dramatically. At the turn of the century, Americans finally noticed the declining numbers of wildlife. The disappearance of the bison has become a rallying cry for those concerned about the future of wil...... middle of paper... them. Wildlife biology is the perfect choice for my career. Works Cited Brown, Robert D. "The History of Wildlife Conservation and Research in the United States." ncr.ncsu. Np, nd Web. March 8, 2014. “Courses You Should Take in College to Become a Wildlife Biologist.” Daily life. Global Post and Web. February 12, 2014.Fitzgerald, Helen “What are the different branches of biology?” eHow.com Web. March 18, 2014"Summary." US Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, n.d. Web. February 9, 2014."Best Universities to Study Wildlife Biology and Management." Instruction. Hearst Seattle Media, LLC and Web. February 12, 2014.Pros of being a wildlife biologist?" - Ask.com. Np, nd Web. March 18, 2014Wolfe, Michael "Pros and Cons of Being a Zoologist" eHow.com Web. 18 March. 2014