Fish and Wildlife Sciences

Courtney Conway’s 10-year study on the effects of ranching on sage grouse populations.

Drive innovation in fish and wildlife sciences

As a student in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, you'll combine your passion for the outdoors with the scientific knowledge needed to understand, conserve and manage fish, wildlife and their habitats. Explore animal ecology, behavior and population dynamics while examining the social, economic and policy issues that influence conservation and natural resource management.

Through hands-on learning and field experiences, you'll study the conservation of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, develop strategies to restore and protect habitats, and learn to address the complex challenges facing fish and wildlife populations.

You can focus your studies in wildlife sciences, fishery sciences or conservation biology, each providing specialized knowledge and practical experience while sharing a common foundation in science, stewardship and conservation.

Whether you pursue wildlife sciences, fishery sciences or conservation biology, you'll graduate prepared to advance the sustainable management and conservation of fish, wildlife and the ecosystems they depend on.

Request more information

Interested in learning more about the degrees offered by our department? 

Connect here

Inside U of I – FWS

Current students, staff and faculty can have access to additional resources on the Inside U of I FWS page.

Access internal resources

Fish and Wildlife faculty

Meet the educators and researchers in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences

Department leadership

  • Frank Wilhelm

    Professor of Limnology, Department Head, Associate Director, Center for Research on Invasive Species

  • Joanna Minor Scarpare

    Administrative Specialist II

Department faculty

  • David Ausband

    Assistant Unit Leader, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

  • Jocelyn Aycrigg

    Associate Research Professor

  • Christopher Caudill

    Professor of Fisheries

  • Courtney Conway

    Professor of Wildlife Sciences and Unit Leader of the Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

  • Matt Falcy

    Assistant Professor of Biometrics and Assistant Unit Leader, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

  • Tracey N. Johnson

    Director of Research, Rinker Rock Creek Ranch Associate Professor

  • Brian Kennedy

    Professor of Fishery Biology and Ecology

  • Ryan Long

    Professor of Wildlife Sciences

  • Simona Picardi

    Assistant Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management

  • Michael Quist

    Professor of Fisheries Management and Assistant Unit Leader, Idaho Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

  • Janet Rachlow

    Professor of Wildlife Ecology

  • Dennis Scarnecchia

    Professor of Fisheries Science and Management

  • Brian Small

    Professor of Fish Physiology, Director of the Aquaculture Research Institute

  • Pedro Viadanna

    Assistant Professor of Aquaculture and Fish Health

  • Kerri Vierling

    Associate Dean; Professor of Wildlife Resources

  • Lisette Waits

    Distinguished Professor of Wildlife Resources
University of Idaho Office of Equity and Diversity staff portraits

Research that makes an impact

Dive deeper into the research done by Aldwin Keo, a Warm Springs tribal member and doctoral candidate in the fisheries department.

Read about native fisheries
A man in an arctic setting looks through a telescope device to observe something in the distance.  

Teaching Students Conservation

See how our Simona Picardi and her students are transforming wildlife conservation through quantitative ecology and GPS tracking research

Read about their research