Dr. Ray Sauvajot is an ecologist for the National Park Service in the Santa Monica Mountains. He helps design wildlife studies, provides information to park rangers and the public, and often works with other scientists studying park wildlife. At what age did you choose your career? I have always been interested in wildlife and the outdoors. In eigth grade, I wrote a term paper about careers and thought my ideal job would be an ecologist or wildlife biologist. As I progressed through college, I became sure that this was what I wanted to do. Was there a specific event or person associated with that decision? In college, I became very interested in ecology and wildlife biology while working on a research project in San Diego. I was also a student intern for the San Diego County Department of Planning and Land Use, helping to prepare and review environmental science. These events solidified my interests in wildlife biology and environmental science and provided the hands-on experiences that convinced me to attend graduate school in these fields. What has been the greatest experience of your career? The most satisfying part of my job is seeing the results of my work actually help protect wildlife, such as recommending habitat improvements to better conserve wild species. What specialized skills do you need for the job? A strong background in biology and experience designing and conducting experiments, analyzing data, writing papers and reports, and interacting with many types of people, such as scientists, managers, and members of the public. Although some of these skills can be picked up on the job, a college education and graduate studies are also very important. What is the most frustrating part of your job? Because much of the work I do involves coordinating projects for others, sometimes I get frustrated at not having as much time for hands-on work with the wildlife. Any advice for young people who are considering a career in zoology? Although the field is very competitive, if you are well-prepared, there are many rewarding opportunities. Work hard in school, attend college, and strongly consider graduate school. Also, volunteer to help on wildlife projects that interest you; hands-on experiences are rewarding and a great way to learn! If you could be any cat, which would you be? A bobcat.