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An environmental conservation officer is a form of law enforcement that protects the wildlife and the environment that they live in. Conservation officers are sometimes also referred to as: game wardens, wildlife officers, wilderness officers, or gamekeepers.
Duties of conservation officers vary depending upon what type of area they live in. For example rural areas may have issues that deal more with wildlife and natural resources compared to large cites that would have issues that deal with pollution or not dumping chemical waste at proper sites (Huss 14). Conservation officers report conditions of fish and wildlife and their habitats, recommend changes in hunting and trapping seasons, and implement control measures (trapping or relocating animals. They also patrol areas to prevent illegal killing of game, deal with poachers, prevent pollution of waterways, and investigate suspected violations (Lawson 332). Conservation officers do not just deal with habitat, fish, and wildlife but they also must deal with the people that interact with each of those things. “Experienced conservation officers give seminars to educate the public on ecology and the value of natural heritage… and seminar topics include gun safety and the needs of wildlife” (Lawson 342). Also conflicts between hunters and land management experts maybe need to be resolved because different views may arise: for example the killing of female deer. Hunters believe female deer should not be hunted because they replenish animal numbers whereas land management experts may believe the killing of female deer is necessary to prevent over population (Lawson 340).
ECOs have been around for more than 125 years although previously called game protectors. In 1880 the first 8 men were given the name of game protectors and had the authorization of bringing any who violated that which they were protecting. Their job was to protect game and catch poachers, although they went beyond this by protecting streams from pollution as well. As the duties of the game protectors changed so did their name. In 1960 game protectors names were changed to conservation officers. In 1970 as the Conservation Department came together with the State Health Department and became the Department of Environmental Conservation. After this the name went from conservation officer to environmental conservation officers and the people employed as such went from being peace officers to police officers with more legal power then they previously had (Huss 15).
To become a conservation officer one must major in something that deals with wildlife resources, recreation management, fish and wildlife management, criminal justice, or a science major related to these. As a junior in college one can become a trainee in which they may receive a part time job and will be under the supervision of an experienced conservation officer. Depending upon the state and what the trainee majored in, after graduation and completion of the trainee program one may have to go to law enforcement school to become a peace officer at the very least (Warden Trainee). “In addition they should be physically fit, have good communication skills and are able to make rational decisions in difficult situations” (Warden Trainee). One must also take and pass the state civil service exam for Environmental Conservation Officers (Huss 13). Then an aspiring conservation officer is ready to apply for a job. “Applicants should have the knowledge, skill and ability to work outdoors at all times and in all weather extremes” (Warden Trainee).
In Pennsylvania there is a difference between a conservation officer and a game warden. In general they are just called Wilderness officers. The difference between the two is that a conservation officers duties deal more with the prevention of game law violations and the well-being of wildlife and the habitat they live in. They may propose new ideas about number control in different species or suggest the relocation or extended hunting, fishing, or trapping seasons (Lawson 332). A game warden deals more with the legal aspect. They do investigations of destruction of property by humans or animals. They also deal with preventing the illegal killing of animals, they check tags to make sure they are valid, make sure hunters are killing in the appropriate seasons, and proper weaponry is being used (Lawson 332). Some similarities that game wardens and conservation officers have are they both try to bring people together to improve lake and stream health as well as creating healthier habitats. They raise awareness about regulations and issues by giving talks to civic groups, schools, and sporting groups. They also make hunter safety available by finding instructors and materials necessary for a person to successfully complete a hunter’s safety course (Lawson 332-333).