Fieldwork: Safety, Ethics & Legal Responsibility

Fieldwork: Safety, Ethics & Legal Responsibility

All finalized F-coded assignments are centralized in the Fieldwork & Applied Learning topic. Fieldwork must always be completed lawfully, ethically, and within your abilities.

• Follow all laws, permit rules, property restrictions, and site regulations. Never trespass or collect animals without authorization.
• Plan for weather, terrain, traffic, communication, and other site conditions before beginning.
• Do not handle an animal that you cannot identify or any venomous animal. Use only methods for which you have appropriate training.
• Minimize disturbance. Return cover objects carefully and leave habitat as you found it.
• Decontaminate boots and equipment as required to reduce the spread of wildlife disease.
• Record observations accurately and obscure sensitive locations when sharing them.

No assignment requires you to accept an unsafe situation. Stop and request guidance or an accommodation if conditions, access, or ability make an activity unsafe or inappropriate.