Labor conditions in wildlife fieldwork and implications for scientific integrity and safety

Abstract Wildlife fieldwork underpins ecological and sustainable science, yet the labor conditions of those who conduct it remain uneven. Wildlife technicians routinely operate under hazardous conditions while working on short‐term contracts with limited job security, restricted decision‐making power, and insufficient structural protections. Despite the centrality of their role, technicians often lack formal mechanisms to influence safety standards and working conditions, which directly affects data quality, transparency, and the reliability of conservation outcomes, and ultimately shapes environmental decision‐making and sustainable management. Strengthening labor conditions can enhance safety, reduce bias in data collection, and support the integrity of field‐based sustainable research.