WFCB

Our mission is to promote research and understanding of the biology of wild vertebrates.

Our students emerge with a solid biological foundation on which they superimpose training in the ecology and management of wildlife and fish in natural as well as human-altered environments. They are established and emerging leaders in wildlife and fish biology, ecology, conservation, and management, with jobs as private consultants, agency wildlife or fish biologists, zoo biologists, and wildlife veterinarians, among others. The major prepares students well for post-secondary study, including veterinary school, graduate school, or pursuit of professional degrees in applied biology and ecology.

Latest News

How Can People and Wildlife Better Coexist?

Living with wildlife is just something we do, whether we’re waiting for turkeys to cross the road at UC Davis or watching a coyote trot across a field at dawn.

But as people and the built world expand into natural habitats, wild and domestic animals — including humans — are increasingly sharing the same spaces, with mixed results. Interactions with large carnivores tend to conjure the strongest feelings, from awe and wonder to fear and anxiety.

UC Davis Team Breaks ‘Big Day’ County Record with 173 Birds

The wind was whipping across a dark, open field near the southern edge of Yolo County when two small burrowing owls suddenly burst into flight. For a team of birders from UC Davis, the birds marked the 173rd species of the day, breaking a county record that had stood for 25 years.

It was the exciting conclusion of their “Big Day,” a fast-paced birding challenge to find and identify as many bird species as possible in a 24-hour period. Their effort – spanning 150 miles of driving, 17 miles of walking and 41 stops – combined careful planning with a love of birds.

Labs to Lives - Dr. Daniel Karp

At UC Davis, Daniel Karp leads studies on how we can protect wildlife while growing abundant, healthy safe food. His USDA-funded research shows that removing natural habitat from farmland—often done to reduce foodborne illness—can actually make things worse. Farms that preserve habitats attract birds that eat crop-damaging pests and are less likely to carry foodborne disease. Karp’s work helps farmers adopt win-win practices that support biodiversity, food safety and sustainable agriculture.