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Wildlife biology is about the biology, ecology, and behaviour of vertebrate animals, especially mammals, birds and fish species. This specialization focuses on the management and conservation of wildlife species and their habitats, recognizing that wildlife species are important in ecosystems and are important to society.
Many of the courses in the specialization are ‘hands on’, and will take students into a field setting to study wildlife in their natural environments. The specialization focuses on the most recent techniques and findings in wildlife research, and how they have and can be applied to real world problems in conserving wildlife and minimizing human-wildlife conflicts.
Macdonald Campus is an ideal location to study wildlife biology. Students are surrounded by a number of opportunities for hands on experiences, including:Ìý The Lyman Museum, Canada’s largest arboretum (Morgan Arboretum), a full-scale bird observatory (91ÉçÇø Bird Observatory), the Ecomusem Zoo and field courses to Africa, Barbados, Panama and the desert.
THIS SPECIALIZATION MAY BE TAKEN WITH THE FOLLOWING MAJORS: Environmental Biology
For questions about the Wildlife Biology Specialization, please contact the bsc-advisor.agenvsc [at] mcgill.ca (student advisor).
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COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 24 credits
To view the list of courses:
Bachelor of Science (Agricultural and Environmental Sciences) (B.Sc.(Ag.Env.Sc.)) - Wildlife Biology (24 Credits)
Offered by:Natural Resource Sciences
Degree:B SC Agricu and Environm Sc
Program Requirement: This specialization focuses on the ecology of vertebrate animals, their biological and physical environment, and the interactions that are important in the management of ecological communities and wildlife species. Students have access to local wildlife resources including the Avian Science and Conservation Centre, the 91ÉçÇø Arboretum, the Stonycroft Wildlife Area, the Molson Reserve, and the Ecomuseum.
For information on academic advising, see:
Required Courses (15 credits)-
ENVB 529
GIS for Natural Resource Mgmt
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Environmental Biology: Applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and spatial analysis techniques to the presentation and analysis of ecological information, including sources and capture of spatial data; characterizing, transforming, displaying spatial data; and spatial analysis to solve resource management problems.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Prerequisite(s): At least one environmental science course and one ecology course or permission of instructor
- Restriction(s): U2 students and above. Not open to students who have taken GEOG 201, GEOG 306 or GEOG 307, ENVB/BREE 430, or BREE 529. Limited to 32 students.
- Fall
- Terms
- Instructors
- Jeffrey A Cardille, Viacheslav Adamchuk, Jaskaran Dhiman
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WILD 307
Natural History of Vertebrates
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Resource Development: The diversity and natural history of Canadian vertebrates illustrated with trophic, phylogenetic, and macroecological approaches.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- This course carries an additional charge of $20.54 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Murray Mitchell Humphries
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WILD 350
Mammalogy
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Resource Development: This course focuses on the evolution, classification, ecology and behaviour of mammals and relations between humans and mammals. Also structure, systematics and identification of local and world mammals, as well as field methods will be emphasized.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Prerequisites: AEBI 211 and WILD 307
- An additional fee of $19.58 is charged to all students registered in WILD 350, Mammalogy, a course that has a required field trip.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Murray Mitchell Humphries
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WILD 401
Fisheries&Wildlife Management
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Resource Development: Principles of fisheries and wildlife management are considered and current practices of research and management are discussed.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Prerequisite: WILD 307 and ENVB 305 or permission of the instructor.
- A fee is charged to all students registered in WILD 401, Fisheries and Wildlife Management, a course that has a required field trip. This fee is used to support the cost of excursions, accommodations, food and fees associated with visiting research facilities where final projects are devised, and data are collected in the field (e.g., at the SUNY-ESF Adirondaks Ecological Center in Newcomb, New York). The Department of Natural Resource Sciences subsidizes a portion of the cost of this compulsory activity.
- A fee of $410.60 is charged to all students registered in WILD 401, Fisheries and Wildlife Management, a course that has a required field trip. This fee is used to support the cost of excursions, accommodations, food and fees associated with visiting research facilities where final projects are devised, and data are collected in the field (e.g., at the SUNY-ESF Adirondaks Ecological Center in Newcomb, New York). The Department of Natural Resource Sciences subsidizes a portion of the cost of this compulsory activity.
- Terms
- Instructors
- Murray Mitchell Humphries, Kyle Elliott, Melissa McKinney, Denis Roy
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WILD 420
Ornithology
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Resource Development: Taxonomic relationships and evolution of birds. Examination of the physiology, migration, identification and ecological processes of North American birds.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Prerequisite: WILD 307 or permission of instructor
- This course carries an additional charge of $20.54 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips. The fee is refundable only during the withdrawal with full refund period.
Complementary Courses (9 credits)9 credits from the following:
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BIOL 307
Behavioural Ecology
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Biology (Sci): How an organism’s behaviour relates to its physical, biological, and social environment, using evolutionary and ecological perspectives. Emphasis is on general principles, covering topics such feeding, predator avoidance, aggression, reproduction, social behaviour, communication and cognition.
Offered by: Biology
- Winter
- In some weeks, lecture will be replaced by interactive discussion periods, practical exercises, or student presentations
- Prerequisites: BIOL 215 and BIOL 216 (or equivalents), or permission of the instructor
- Terms
- Instructors
- Simon M Reader, Mélanie Guigueno
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BIOL 427
Herpetology
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Biology (Sci): Principles of biology as exemplified by amphibians and reptiles. Topics include: adaptation, social behaviour, reproductive strategies, physiology, biomechanics, ecology, biogeography and evolution. Laboratories will emphasize structure, systematics and identification of local and world herpetofauna as well as field methods.
Offered by: Biology
- Fall
- 2 hours lecture; 3 hours laboratory
- Prerequisite: BIOL 205 and BIOL 305 or permission of instructor.
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken BIOL 327.
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ENVB 437
Assessing Environmental Impact
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Environmental Biology: Principles and practice of Environmental Assessment (EA) in Canada and internationally. Exploration of issues surrounding impact assessment for sustainable development in different sectors, including their limitations.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Open to U2 students and above.
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ENVB 506
Quantitative Methods: Ecology
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Environmental Biology: The process of formulating models of natural systems and confronting them with data, along with the necessary statistical computing skills. Emphasis on hands-on experience with current approaches for building, fitting, and comparing models.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Winter
- Prerequisites: AEMA 310 and ENVB 305; or graduate student status; or permission of instructor
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken AEMA 306 or AEMA 406.
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PARA 424
Fundamental Parasitology
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Parasitology: Systematics, morphology, biology and ecology of parasitic protozoa, flatworms, roundworms and arthropods with emphasis on economically and medically important species.
Offered by: Parasitology
- Prerequisite(s): AEBI 211 or LSCI 230 or permission of instructor
- Restriction: Not open to students who have taken WILD 424.
- Terms
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year
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PLNT 358
Flowering Plant Diversity
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Plant Science: Principles of classification and identification of flowering plants and ferns, with emphasis on 35 major families of flowering plants and the habitats in which they grow.
Offered by: Plant Science
- A 4-day field week is held the week preceding the start of classes
- Prerequisite: AEBI 210 or ENVR 202 or permission of instructor
- A $95.46 fee is charged to all students registered in this course, which has a fieldwork component prior to the beginning of classes in August. This fee is used to support the cost of excursions, a hand lens, instructional handouts and identification aids. Students who have already received a hand lens may request a reimbursement of a portion of this charge through their department.
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WILD 302
Fish Ecology
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Resource Development: Introduction to the biology and ecology of freshwater and marine fishes. Topics include taxonomy, physiology, biogeography, competition, predation, fishing, and conservation. Lab exercises and field trips emphasize familiarity with local fishes and their ecological interactions.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Prerequisite: AEBI 211 or permission of instructor
- This course carries an additional charge of $41.07 to cover the cost of transportation (bus rental) for local field trips. The fee is only refundable prior to the deadline to withdraw with full refund
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WILD 421
Wildlife Conservation
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Resource Development: Study of current controversial issues focusing on wildlife conservation. Topics include: animal rights, exotic species, ecotourism, urban wildlife, multi-use of national parks, harvesting of wildlife, biological controls, and endangered species.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
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WILD 475
Desert Ecology
3 Credits
Offered in the: - Fall
- Winter
- Summer
Resource Development: A three week field course exploring relationships between climate, geology, landforms, biodiversity, biotic adaptations and ecosystem conditions in the arid regions of Arizona and southern California. Focus is on the Sonoran and Mojave deserts but includes the transitions to adjacent grassland and forest biomes of the Sky Islands and Colorado Plateau. Exploration of issues arising from human use of land and water, and conservation in arid environments. Experiential learning involving team and individual projects and assignments before and during the field trip.
Offered by: Natural Resource Sciences
- Odd-numbered Winter terms; enrollment limited to 20.
- The course begins and ends in Phoenix AZ. Students are responsible for their transportation to/from Phoenix.
- The course requires camping and living under desert conditions.
- Restriction(s): Restricted to U2 and U3 students.
- Prerequisite(s):Permission of the instructors is required to register. To be eligible students are required to have at least one systems-focused course, one ecology course and two organismal courses. Students should consult the instructors for list of appropriate courses.
- A course fee of $1,596.23 covers the cost of transportation, camping, admissions and most meals during the field trip.
- Terms
- This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year
- Instructors
- There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year
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