Victoria Monroe was hired last month as a wildlife biologist for the Fairfax County Police Department. Monroe, 27, attended Colorado State University, where she received a degree in psychology with an emphasis in animal behavior. She also earned a master’s degree in zoology.
How did you come across this job?
My husband, who’s Australian, and I were finishing up the immigration paperwork for him. I found out that I needed a salary-based position, and my animal care job was only $10 an hour. My resume had been passed on, and the chief animal control officer for Fairfax County Animal Services encouraged me to apply for the wildlife biologist position.
How was the application process?
There were a lot of people applying, and it turned out that I was one of eight selected people to do an interview, but I still didn’t think I would get it. I had been sick before the interview with an abscessed tooth and a sinus infection. It was terrible! I showed up for the interview and thought I had bombed but I had scored the highest in the writing portion. I was astonished because I was so sick and I thought they would think I had swine flu or something.
What do you do, exactly?
Right now, every season I develop and implement a deer management contract. I have to work with the game department, Fairfax Park Authority, regional park authorities.
What do you like about your job?
I love getting out there and being with the animals and interacting with people. I’m an animal lover, but I’m also a naturalist. From a scientific perspective, it’s a balance about respecting the animals and the people.
How do you help Fairfax residents?
I like educating people. For instance, one lady was trapping and killing groundhogs for years. I talked with her for five minutes and advised her about nonlethal alternatives. I want to have a positive impact and educate people.
