Absentee Update

So the absence from the web. Well not not entirely true; I have been on Facebook in order show my friends and family of whom I don't see everyday that I am in fact still alive, and sites like Craigslist and other job search engines to find a job. Which I did find one by the way, of all places through Facebook. I'm working behind the register at the Roger Dean Stadium Team Store during their Spring Training season. I'm one month down and one more to go before its over. I've been working there just about every day this month so I haven't had too much leisure time to sit in front of my laptop to type a blog.

I'm almost finished with Shaun Ellis' book The Man Who Lives With Wolves and I've thouroughly enjoyed it. At some parts it just seemed so unreal what he was putting himself through in order to understand and learn about wolves. Though most of the scientific community looks down on his actions, I commend him even though it was dangerous.

The graduate search is coming along. I'm getting away from Animal Behavior tracks and looking more into Wildlife Ecology and Conservation programs. The Wildlife Society has a wonderful site of which includes a list of universities and colleges offering wildlife biology and management degree tracks. Right now, mostly because of costs I'm looking at UF. However, I have high hopes for University of Minnesota. For someone wanting to work with wolves I think this place would be ideal. It is "somewhat close" to the International Wolf Center in Ely by only 5 hours. Not only that, David L. Mech is an adjunct professor. A wolf behaviorist and the founder of the wolf center. What I wouldn't give to be a grad student under him. It would be a dream. I'm going to scour the rest of the list at the Wildlife Society site to seek out other schools.

Since my grades aren't much to get me into grad school alone, I've been looking for entry level positions at animal parks, sanctuaries, etc, but so far all I've found are unpaid volunteer and internship positions. I'm looking specifically at different wolf parks. Again, mostly unpaid. Ah the life of living in limbo...

Watching: Bones, season 3

Checking out my options

I sent out a few emails today inquiring about information on what to do for graduate school and was blessed with some swift replies:

Hi, M----. One of our volunteers wishes to pursue a similar course - she might be better able to help guide you as she is currently still in school. I kind of fell into it and have no college training relating to the wolves. I can tell you any career would have to be research or government based as there are few paid positions in sanctuary/rescue/non-profit orgs. Claudia? Deanna

Hi M----;
I would Google schools that have Major: Animal Behavior and Ethology as a Masters program. I am considering this but as of today, I am in BA in Biology and moving towards an Environmental Science Masters. My BA would allow me to work with the animals or allow me to work in Wildlife Biology, Candid and Habitat Conservation. You can also take paid or pay for internships in wolf behavior practicum or internship in some of the wolf parks. Also http://www.ecojobs.com/ will give you an idea of what jobs are out there and what degrees are required for these positions. Then you may want to look at which universities are supporting these Masters programs and look at what they have to offer. Research opportunities sometimes show up if you keep checking. Claudia

 I'm still waiting to hear back from someone up at Seacrest. I'll most likely send a similar email up to the International Wolf Center tomorrow. Its kind of funny because today in the mail I got an invitation to Marymount Univ to come up and listen in on a talk by faculty members on Counseling and Forensic Psychology. To think that's what I had wanted to do up until a few months ago.

I was up online last night looking at some books to start reading or even reread. I'll star with the few books that I have. I might start with Shadow Mountain: A Memoir of Wolves, A Woman, and the Wild by Renee Askins. Its been sitting on my shelf since earlier in the summer so I might as well start it. One that I would really like to read is The Wolves of Mount Mckinley by Adolph Murie.

My dad just walked in. He had been talking to our neighbor across the way who works at the jail. Aparently he wants to talk to be about getting me into the jail for a few days or something out of the week. I wouldn't be paid but it would get my foot in the door. I was just kind of like "Great...." trying to show my total lack of enthusiasm but I don't think it got across. Maybe I'll go for a day or so and then walk in the house and say "This is not what I want to do." That would be a good way to break the news to my parents that I'd rather spend my life with wolves than people. I'm supposed to be getting in touch with someone my uncle knows as well. I almost wish I had never said the words Forensic Psychology, meh.