Requirement
3. Field work, or a life history. Do ONE, and they are not equal
Required Often forgotten
Three routes: 6 hours across two habitats, 15 hours across five different days in one area, or a written life history with no field time at all. Decide this before you plan anything.
Notes and warnings
Warning. THE THREE ROUTES ARE NOT EQUAL, AND THE BADGE PRINTS THEM AS IF THEY WERE. 3(a) is six hours in the field across at least two visits. 3(b) is FIFTEEN hours, and the badge fixes the spread at five different days. It is the longest single commitment on the whole badge. 3(c) needs no field time at all. That is not a reason to pick the short one; sitting still in a wood is how most people who earn this badge remember it. It is a reason to decide now rather than after two outings.
What this is made of
Where this step comes from
- Mammal Study Merit Badge Requirements (Merit Badge Hub, last modified 2025-12-31), Requirement 3 · States "Do ONE of the following".