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Classroom example Wilder Institute

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The question

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For you

About Wilder Institute

For you

Sources

Can helping individual owls help a population recover?

Wilder Institute · Connected to the Calgary Zoo. Field program in southeastern Alberta.

Graphic-novel illustration of a field ecologist recording observations of a burrowing owl beside its burrow on the prairie.

Where it fits

Pick your class
  • Biology 20 · Ecosystems and population change
  • Biology 30 · Population and community dynamics

How it works

Schematic · not to scale

From care to evidence

A four-stage conservation sequence: vulnerable young owls, winter care, spring release in pairs, then monitoring survival and breeding. A feedback arrow returns evidence to future care and release decisions. Release is not the same as population recovery.

  1. Vulnerable young owls face a difficult early life stage.

  2. Care through winter supports food, welfare and health.

  3. Pairs return to prairie habitat in spring.

  4. Monitor survival, breeding and offspring after release.

The return arrow shows evidence informing the next intervention. A release is a step; recovery is the question.

The lesson, in the real world

Supporting a vulnerable life stage is an intervention. Measuring recovery requires following what happens next.

  1. 1

    Wilder temporarily brings vulnerable young burrowing owls into care through their first winter.

  2. 2

    Animal-care teams provide daily care while veterinarians monitor health and body condition.

  3. 3

    Adults are released in breeding pairs in southeastern Alberta, with supplementary food and monitoring.

  4. 4

    To evaluate recovery, ask about survival and reproduction after release, over time and against a useful comparison. Counting released owls answers only part of that question.

    Our explanation
Source: Wilder Institute: burrowing owl program(opens in a new tab); Wilder Institute: owl care team (2023)(opens in a new tab)

Who does this work

All roles in this example

Role

Conservation research and population ecology

Find out whether an intervention helps a wild population recover.

Observed in a 2025 researcher interviewGeneral explanation, written by usSource: Wilder Institute: population ecologist interview (2025)(opens in a new tab)

Conservation researchers connect observations of individual animals to changes in a population. They plan what to measure, compare outcomes and explain what the evidence can and cannot establish.

What might you actually do?

  • Plan a comparison

    Choose measures of survival, breeding and population change, and decide what to compare them with.

  • Follow animals after release

    Record observations over time, accounting for animals that are difficult to detect.

  • Interpret the evidence

    Ask whether results reflect the intervention, environmental conditions or other explanations.

Typical of this kind of work in general. Not a description of any one person’s job at Wilder Institute.

Often works with
Animal care teamsVeterinariansLandownersField technicians
Classroom connection
Survival and reproduction at different life stages affect population change. A successful release alone does not establish population recovery.

Related job postings

Similar work at other employers in Calgary, AB, not openings at Wilder Institute. These are live searches: results change daily and we have not checked them.

Saved job examples

How employers have described this kind of work, saved on the date shown. Employers have not reviewed or endorsed this page.

  • Environmental TechnicianEnmas · Calgary, Alberta, with travel for fieldwork.Accepting applications
    Employer posting · saved 5 Oct 2026

    Environmental Technician

    Enmas

    A separate environmental employer; this is not a Wilder Institute position.

    Source: Enmas: Environmental Technician(opens in a new tab)
    Location
    Calgary, Alberta, with travel for fieldwork.
    Work arrangement
    Permanent full-time; approximately 70% fieldwork and 30% office support.
    Experience
    Experience with surveys and reporting is sought, but the posting says exact experience is not required. No numeric experience minimum or specific credential is stated; professional-registration eligibility is requested.

    Collect field evidence about wildlife and habitats to inform environmental decisions.

    The work, in our words

    • Perform wildlife sweeps, nest searches and targeted species surveys.
    • Assess wetlands and other biological features.
    • Analyze field observations and prepare technical reports and mitigation recommendations.

    Skills the posting asks for

    Species identification · Field data collection · Habitat assessment · Technical reporting

    Classroom connection

    Editorial interpretation: offers a Calgary comparison for observing animals and habitats outside a conservation-breeding programme.

    What this example establishes: Not evidence of owl head-starting or a Wilder partnership. Page heading says Environmental Technician; body says Environmental Field Technician. Do not label it a student job.

    Accepting applications when checked 7 Oct 2026

    Original employer description still invites applications by email. No email sent.

    Original posting(opens in a new tab)

How to prepare

  • Zoology (BSc)

    University of Calgary

  • Environmental Science and Technology

    Olds College of Agriculture & Technology

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Ways in

For your students

Ways to prepare for this work

Programs that teach skills this work uses. Each is one route in, not a requirement, and no program has endorsed this page.

Showing routes for conservation research and population ecology. Show all

  • University of CalgaryUniversity degreeCalgary

    Zoology (BSc)

    Study animal structure, function and diversity, with a broad foundation in animal biology.

    About this route

    An undergraduate route. The Wilder job example also asks for animal-care experience; a degree alone does not meet every requirement.

    Official program page(opens in a new tab)

    Why it connects to the work · our interpretation

    Conservation research and population ecology

    Understanding animal biology supports questions about survival and reproduction; this is a foundation for research, not a guarantee of a research-lead position.

  • Olds College of Agriculture & TechnologyTwo-year diplomaOlds, Alberta

    Environmental Science and Technology

    Field and laboratory learning in soils, vegetation, water and wildlife, using tools such as GIS, GPS and environmental sampling.

    About this route

    Includes work-integrated learning. Check the official page for current admission requirements.

    Official program page(opens in a new tab)

    Why it connects to the work · our interpretation

    Conservation research and population ecology

    Field observation, mapping and monitoring are useful in conservation projects. This route prepares for technical work; it is not equivalent to qualification as a lead population ecologist.

Ask the class

Use it in class

Ask the class

What would you measure over several years to decide whether this intervention is helping? What comparison would make your conclusion more convincing?

Saving animals and restoring a population are connected but different goals. Scientists need evidence about what happens after release, not just a count of animals cared for.

Mindset it shows

Evaluate outcomes beyond the most visible success metric.

About Wilder Institute

Conservation research and animal care, working together for wildlife.

Headquarters
Calgary, Alberta. Its head office is listed at 1300 Zoo Road NE.
Source: Wilder Institute: offices(opens in a new tab)
Local connection
The Calgary Zoo is part of the organization. Owls spend winter at the Archibald Biodiversity Centre; releases take place in southeastern Alberta. The animal-care job example is near Strathmore.
Source: Wilder Institute: About Wilder(opens in a new tab); Wilder Institute: burrowing owl program(opens in a new tab); Wilder Institute: Animal Care Technician (On-Call in Strathmore, AB)(opens in a new tab)
Team size
Not verified. We have not found a dated, sourced figure.
The problem
At-risk species need support that addresses survival, habitat and the challenges of returning animals to the wild. The burrowing owl program focuses on vulnerable young birds.
Source: Wilder Institute: burrowing owl program(opens in a new tab)
What they do
Conservation breeding, animal care, field research and partnerships to support species recovery.
Source: Wilder Institute: About Wilder(opens in a new tab); Wilder Institute: burrowing owl program(opens in a new tab)
Who benefits
At-risk wildlife and the people and communities working to conserve it. In the owl program, landowners help provide release sites on prairie grasslands.
Source: Wilder Institute: About Wilder(opens in a new tab); Wilder Institute: burrowing owl program(opens in a new tab)

Wilder describes itself as a global conservation charity bringing together conservation, animal care and public engagement. Its work includes the Calgary Zoo and species recovery programs.

Source: Wilder Institute: About Wilder(opens in a new tab)
Organization website(opens in a new tab)
Who does this work

Read each source’s date and scope: a documented role is not proof of a current vacancy or of where every position is based.

Reported as Wilder Institute states it. Wilder Institute has not reviewed or endorsed this page.

Sources and course fit

Sources checked 24–29 Sep 2026

Where it fits

  • Biology 20 · Ecosystems and population change
  • Biology 30 · Population and community dynamics

Editorial mapping to published CBE course topics. Pending educator review. No outcome-code alignment is claimed.

Organization claims are reported as the organization states them. Wilder Institute has not reviewed or endorsed this page.

What we know, and how
TypeClaimHow we know
workCares for young owls through their first winter, then releases and monitors adult pairs.Source: Burrowing owl programOrganization-stated
rolesPopulation ecologist leads the program. Animal care technicians and vets support it.Source: Researcher interview, Jul 2025; Care team account, 2023Observed · 2025 and 2023
pathwaysEcology, zoology, environmental science.Source: UCalgary science program guidesInferred direction
course fitBiology 20 and Biology 30 population units.Source: CBE Biology 20–30 topicsEditorial · pending review

Solid green: the organization states it. Outlined: seen in a dated source. Dashed: our interpretation, not yet researched, or announced but not yet real.