There are 6.5 million species of terrestrial mammals. Wildlife biologists have the privilege of studying and spending time with these animals in 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 a backbone and studies individual species of wildlife, 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 about other animal species and how they might be related to humans. Wildlife conservation in the United States was based on the public trust doctrine that for wildlife and fish, water and scenic spots were considered too valuable to a greater good to be held in private property (Brown). American wildlife has been struggling since the 1400s. Native Americans used wildfires extensively until Europeans arrived. Disease decimated the Indians and the wildlife rebounded (Brown). Westward expansion during the 1800s resulted in much wildlife habitat being transformed into farms for European settlers. Historically, large numbers of deer, elk, moose, and beaver lived in the eastern forests; polar bears, musk oxen, elk and caribou in the northwest; and millions of buffalo, pronghorn antelope, and thousands of grizzly bears in the West (Brown). Because wildlife habitats have been plundered and commercial hunting has become enormous, the wildlife population in the United States has declined significantly. At the turn of the century, Americans finally became aware of the decline of wildlife. The disappearance of the bison has become a rallying cry for those worried about Will's future...... 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, and 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”. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nd Web. February 9, 2014. “The Best Universities to Study Wildlife Management and Biology.” " Education. Hearst Seattle Media, LLC, nd Web. February 12, 2014.Wildlife Biologist Benefits?" - Ask.com. Np, nd Web. March 18, 2014Wolfe, Michael "Pros and Cons of Being a Zoologist" eHow.com Web. March 18. 2014