In general, when going into zoology, would I have to be away frequently for long periods of time?

Question

Or is it just a few months out of the year?

Answer 1

It depends on the type of job you get with your degree. Some jobs you will never move around ever, some jobs will require some to a great deal of travel.

I have a friend who works in a zoo (she's one of the main keepers), she travels about once a month. Sometimes the travel takes her away for a couple of hours, sometimes a couple of weeks.

If you're teaching, you may never travel. If you are working for a rescue group or are studying a particular animal, you may travel all of the time.

Answer 2

if you go into zoology you are most likely working most time in a lab. Most zoologists don't do field studies. Only very few zoologists ever work in a zoo.
If you do however end up doing field studies it can be anything, from a few months to the entire year in the field. Most likely this will be when you are a graduate student. If you just get a BSc you are most likely working as a technician, then they expect you to keep the lab running and stay at home. If you become a professor you won't have enough time to stay in the field for extended periods of time.

Answer 3

Depends on who and where you work! If you work at a zoo, for a university, museum, etc..you will most likely stay put. If you are doing actual field work for a university than you may do some traveling. I work as a seasonal wildlife biologist for quite some time before I got a permanent stable job and had to travel 3-6 months per year for a total of 7 years.