Environment and Parks
2015 marks the 110th anniversary of dedicated natural resource law enforcement in B.C. The Conservation Officer Service is a dynamic and evolving compliance and enforcement organization, and much has changed over the years.
Download your copy of the commemorative photo book online here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/COS_110Anniversary_booklet.pdf
(flickr.com) November 4th has officially been proclaimed Conservation Officer Day in British Columbia. B.C.'s conservation officers routinely go above the call of duty to defend the province's natural environment and ensure human and wildlife safety.
Conservation Officer Day will raise awareness about the import work performed by the Conservation Officer Service, and how British Columbians can support Conservation Officers in reducing wildlife conflicts and protecting the environment.
View the official proclamation of Conservation Officer Day here: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/COS_Day_2015.pdf
Conservation Officer Service Awards Ceremony
The following awards were presented to the deserving conservation officers:
- Jason Hawkes – Chief’s Commendation for Lifesaving
- Andrew Anaka – Chief’s Commendation for Lifesaving
- Micah Kneller – Chief’s Commendation – Exemplary Service
- Josh Lockwood – Award of Merit
- Kevin Van Damme – Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal
- Steve Jacobi – Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal
- Darryl Ashworth – Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal
- Brad Lacey – Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal
- Dave Webster – Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal
- Paul McFadden – Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal
- Martin Melderis – Peace Officer Exemplary Service Medal
Read more about B.C.'s Conservation Officer Day and service awards: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2015ENV0070-001838
Learn more about the Conservation Officer Service by visiting: http://www.env.gov.bc.ca/cos/110years/
Getting to know your CO
(flickr.com) Dan Bartol, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: Kootenay Region, Columbia-Kootenay Zone, Golden District
(flickr.com) How long have you been with COS? 1 year
What made you want to become a conservation officer?
As a young lad, I thought that being a Boy Scout was the coolest thing in the world. I figured being a Game Warden was just about the closest thing I could do to that, and still get paid. The sense of service to the community, and ability to protect and spend time in the natural environment has always been big motivators for me.
What do you like most about your job?
In a world that is becoming increasingly specialized, a Conservation Officer might trap a grizzly, catch a deer poacher, rescue a stranded angler and give an elementary school talk, all in the same day. The variety of tasks and responsibilities is sometimes overwhelming, but always exciting.
I also feel sincere pride and dignity when a member of the public thanks me for simply doing my job. It’s a very rewarding career and lifestyle.
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
Every Conservation Officer I’ve ever met is primarily motivated by a desire to protect our natural resources and to keep our communities safe. It can be frustrating when officers are portrayed as bullies that like to kill predators and harass resource users. There are a number of difficult and unpleasant aspects to this job, but they must be carried out with integrity if we are to achieve our common goals of resource protection and coexistence with wildlife.
(flickr.com) Do you have an interesting work related story to share?
I once spent 2 hours in chest-waders, hiding waist-deep in an icy lake among thick reeds, watching an “angler” fishing from shore. Each time he caught a walleye, which he was not allowed to keep, he carried it behind a bridge post out of sight, then returned to the shore and continued fishing. When he appeared to be packing up, I ran across the bridge and met him just before he arrived at his vehicle. I arrested him and asked him where the fish were. He was very insistent in assuring me that he’d returned all of the fish back to the water. He was so convincing that I’d almost begun to believe him. After all, he had disappeared out of sight and I didn’t actually see him keep the fish. That’s when a plastic bag that he was carrying, which appeared to be full of fast food wrappers, started to wriggle and flop uncontrollably. The expression on his face was priceless.
Anything else of interest they may wish to share…
I want to thank the people that take the time to report resource violations to the RAPP line and encourage them to continue.
And to young people who don’t know what they want to be when they grow up, and those who don’t mind getting their feet a bit wet and their hands a little dirty – consider becoming a Conservation Officer. As one of my mentors often says, “It doesn’t get any better than this”. Call your local CO and ask them what it takes. You won’t regret it.
Stuart Bates, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: West Coast, Central Island Zone, Nanaimo
(flickr.com) How long have you been with COS? 9.5 years
What made you want to become a conservation officer?
I came to the decision to become a Conservation Officer a later in life than most. I spent my entire life hunting and fishing and wanted to do my part to protect those activities for the future. I had a great deal of work experience dealing with members of the public as a manager for McDonald’s for 14 years. I enjoyed working in the outdoors, I enjoyed working with the public, and protecting the wildlife and environment was what I wanted to do. After two years of college and two years of work experience in Alberta, I was hired by the BC Conservation Officer Service. The effort it took to become a Conservation Officer was more than worth it.
What do you like most about your job?
Talking to the public about what I do. Whether it’s a one on one conversation with a resident with a bear in their yard, a community presentation or a school talk, informing people about what I do and explaining how decisions are made is very rewarding. The looks on their faces and the laughter when I tell them about some of my experiences as a Conservation Officer let me know that I am doing a good job. Most rewarding is the calls I receive later from people that have listened to me, are now better informed and are passing on the information to friends and neighbours. Even better is when the young students go home and educate their parents.
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
I wish the public was aware that Conservation Officers hate having to put any animal down. Far too often the general public hears that a Conservation Officer put down a bear or another animal and the public blames the Conservation Officer. Putting down an animal is always the last step in a long process. As a Conservation Officer I would love to relocate every bear and cougar I deal with, but the fact is we live on an island and there is no place to relocate a problem predator that does not put it close to another community. This is something we have learned from experience, we are not just hypothesizing. Unlike the movies, predators do not live together in harmony; they will not tolerate each other, moving a predator into another predator’s territory will cause a fight that may result in serious injury to, or the death of, one or both. The primary duty of a Conservation Officer is always public safety and unfortunately that means some animals have to be put down. The tragic part is that most conflicts between people and bears or cougars can be prevented if people would simply secure their attractants. I have actually had people ask me, “When are the bears going to learn”, after I put down a second bear in their neighbourhood in as many weeks.
Do you have an interesting work related story to share?
On May 30, 2013, at about 4 am my cell phone rang – an RCMP officer in Nanaimo had come across two cubs sitting beside their dead mother who had been struck and killed the night before on the Nanaimo Parkway. I arrived on the scene at about 5 am and discovered two cubs , weighing approximately 5 kg each, in a tree next to the Nanaimo Parkway. Due to the location, size of the cubs and height of the tree, I needed help. I put out a call and soon had all the help I needed: another Conservation Officer, more RCMP officers to block traffic, and two fire trucks with several firemen. With a fireman holding on to me, I was raised up to the cubs on a ladder truck and was able to capture the cubs with just a catch pole. I took the cubs to the rehabilitation center where they were raised until they were released at 18 months old. We invited one of the RCMP members that had assisted in capturing the cubs to come and assist in their release. He was very surprised at their new size and the fact that the Conservation Officers just went into the cage with the bears. He hung in there and assisted but later stated he thought that Conservations Officers who wade into a cage full of bears need to have their heads examined. A successful outcome, despite such a tragic start.
Justyn Bell, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: Thompson Cariboo Region-Cariboo Chilcotin Zone- Williams Lake
(flickr.com) How long have you been with COS? 9 years
What made you want to become a conservation officer?
I was inspired by the stories of a close family friend from the COS
What do you like most about your job?
Job variety. In my short career I have worked all over the province exposing me to many unique opportunities such as: investigating serious environmental crimes, catching poachers, capturing dangerous predators, Use of Force Instructor, first responder to emergencies, just to name a few…
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
Understanding that the COS has the same powers as the police, and that often we are forced to intervene with offences outside our mandate.
Do you have an interesting work related story to share?
The city of Prince Rupert was trying to discourage illegal waste dumping by placing numerous “no dumping” signs along a 2 kilometre stretch of road on the city limit that was chronically used as a dumpsite. While my partner and I were on patrol we stopped into the dumpsite to collect any evidence from recently dumped garbage that may lead us to suspects. Soon after, a dump truck loaded with yard waste drove past our marked patrol truck down the road. After several minutes we decided to check on the truck and subsequently met it on its way out with an empty load. We asked the driver if he saw the 14 “no dumping” signs posted along the road and his response was “Ya, so I made sure to dump it past them”. He was subsequently charged under the Environmental Management Act and the city of Prince Rupert removed most of those “no dumping” signs to alleviate any confusion for the public.
Shawn F. Brinsky, Sergeant
Region, Zone and Office: Peace/South Peace Zone/Dawson Creek
(flickr.com) How long have you been with COS? 27 years
What made you want to become a conservation officer?
Working outdoors within an Environment Policing Mandate context.
What do you like most about your job?
The working relationships with stakeholders, colleagues or staff which have established because of common interests and goals.
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
A considerable personal toll will be paid by one’s self to work in this occupation for a career. However, if a person is willing to make commit, sacrifice and volunteer the time; the difference one can make and the things one will see and do, in this profession, is unlike most careers.
Anything else of interest you wish to share…
I believe I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to experience a career’s worth of successes throughout my 27 years of being a B.C. CO. Most of which, if not all, can be attributed to the many people I have been able to work alongside or lead.
Bob Butcher, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: Thompson Cariboo - Thompson Fraser Zone
(flickr.com) How long have you been with COS? 21 Years
What made you want to become a conservation officer?
Enjoyment of wildlife related outdoor activities.
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
That we are not responsible for stopping bears from entering your towns and getting into your garbage - you are!
Do you have an interesting work related story to share?
I once relocated a black bear sow and cub 65 kms up a logging road away from the yard I tranquilized them in and they were back in the same yard I removed them from 2 days later.
Jared Connatty, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: Kootenay Region, East Kootenay Zone, Cranbrook Office
(flickr.com) How long have you been with COS? 8 years
What made you want to become a conservation officer?
I love fish and wildlife. When I was kid I met a CO and he was dealing with some bears and was a contact of my dad’s. Seeing him interact with the community and with wildlife, I decided then that’s what I wanted to do.
What do you like most about your job?
The dedicated people I work with, dealing with wildlife, dealing with conflicts between wildlife and humans and the opportunities I have to make a difference when protecting fish and wildlife resources.
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
The fact that the CO job is not a job, it is a lifestyle. You are always on shift in the public eye whether it be at a grocery store or in uniform. As well, I wish people understood more some of the decisions we have to make on a day to day basis regarding fish andwildlife through enforcement or through human/wildlife conflicts.
Do you have an interesting work related story to share?
Recently I had a situation where a grizzly bear cub was caught in a snare while the sow grizzly and a second cub were free. This was 1 in the morning. My partner and I had to tranquilize the caught cub hanging out the truck window and then free it from the snare, all while the sow and other cub were less than 100 yards away. I then had to get the tranquilized cub into the culvert trap while my partner stood on guard keeping the angry sow away. We were able to successfully catch the sow and cub the next night and the whole family unit was relocated with a new GPS collar, allowing wildlife staff and the COS to track the movements of the family.
Anything else of interest youwish to share…
Everyday is a different day as a CO. The scenery is differentand so are the issues which keeps it interesting. There is always something newto face and deal with and you never know what call my come in next. It is also rewarding helping people with issues, like helping people with bears in beehives.
Matthew Corbett, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: Skeena Region, Bulkley-Stikine Zone, Dease Lake District
(flickr.com) What made you want to become a conservation officer?
My father was a Game Warden and some of my favourite memories, growing up, were sitting around camp fires with him and other CO’s listening to them talk shop. Also watching him happy to go to work every day had a big influence on me.
What do you like most about your job?
Remote multi-day patrols, whether it’s staying in wall-tents, sledding into remote cabins, or jet boating up the river for days on end.
Do you have an interesting work related story to share?
Too many to count. To pick one: a recent jet boat patrol with a Terrace and Atlin counterpart where we travelled up the Stikine, Pitman, Spatsizi, and Chukachita Rivers for three days and two nights of remote cabin living. Every check was met with a look of surprise that a Game Warden would be as remote as we were.
Dan Eichstadter, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: Omenica
Simon Gravel, Sergeant
Region, Zone and Office: Lower Mainland, Sea-to-Sky, Squamish
(flickr.com) https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http:%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F231257243&show_artwork=trueHow long have you been a CO? 6 years
What made you want to become a CO?
There are many reasons why I wanted to become a CO but one of the most important factors was the influence that some Conservation Officers had on me while I was working as a Park Ranger. They sounded enthusiastic, confident and passionate about their job. It was contagious and I wanted to be part of their team. Those Conservation Officers became mentors and are still inspiring me many years later.
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
I often wish that more people could realize how lucky we are in B.C. to have a well-trained law enforcement agency devoted to protect our people, natural resources and the environment as a whole. Not many provinces or countries have such a precious gem.
Do you have an interesting work related story to share?
Recently I was doing some angler checks with a local Fishery Officer and we encounter a very poor level of compliance. We posted our catch of the day on the BC Conservation Officer Facebook page and we reached over one hundred thousand people. I realized how much the public was interested and supportive of our work. I also realized the power of social media and I am convinced that it will play an important role in our business for the years to come.
Cam Hill, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: Omineca Region and Zone, Vanderhoof
(flickr.com) https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http:%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F231257407&show_artwork=trueHow long have you been with COS? 21 years
What made you want to become a conservation officer?
The work environment. My work place is 50,000 square kms of rivers, lakes, mountains and forests. It doesn’t get any better than that!
What do you like most about your job?
The variety in our work. On any given day we might find ourselves in a jet boat on a river somewhere checking anglers, hunters or searching for missing persons or we might be in town or on a farm or ranch trying to outsmart, capture or tranquilize a bear, cougar or wolf. We could be doing compliance checks at a multiagency road check on a busy highway or checking hunters alone six hours from pavement. We might be trying to solve the mystery of why a clear stream is now running brown or we might be standing in a classroom influencing a new generation of outdoorspeople. We could be boating, sledding, quadding, flying by helicopter, traveling by horseback or pickup or just riding our five wheeler (office chair) in front of the computer. Our work can be challenging, exciting, and complex but generally rewarding.
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
That we rely heavily on the good people of British Columbia to be our eyes and ears out there. Many of our best files come from public complaints.
Anything else of interest you wish to share…
As a Conservation Officer we have the ability to greatly influence the thought patterns and actions of resource users/abusers. I get a great deal of satisfaction knowing that my approach to a situation might have a positive influence on the behaviour of someone and that that change may have a ripple effect.
Steve Jacobi, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: Surrey-Chilliwack
Mark Kissinger, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: Region 1, South Island Zone, Cowichan Valley
(flickr.com) What made you want to become a conservation officer?
Seeing the impact that professional, respectful and enthusiastic officers can have on a community and way in which a community views, uses and values its natural resources.
What do you like most about your job?
The ability to be an educator, protector and enforcement officer all in one job.
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
That it encompasses all areas of the environment and that we not only protect people from the environment but that we also protect the environment from people.
Do you have an interesting work related story to share?
I had just completed my first season on the North Shore of Vancouver working as a Bear Response Officer. Our approach to handling bears was mainly based on human dominance, trying to look and sound big, so that the bear would leave the garbage bin and head back into the green space. Clapping our hands and shouting “get going” in a rough voice was a big part of our repertoire. After the bears had slowed down for the winter I was lucky enough to get posted to Clearwater where I worked with two great officers who quickly added some new tools to my belt.
Early in the first week I was called out to a ranch that had a cougar problem. The cougar had attacked the farm dog and had been circling the house all night. Myself and two officers arrived with hounds in the morning to track the cougar.. The hounds chased the cougar towards a lake, as soon as the cougar hit the shore it turned around and came screaming back towards us. The two officers with me dove behind trees for cover and put their sights on the cougar. Myself being the new guy and fresh from Vancouver, ran towards the large cougar head on, playing chicken with it clapping my hands. Luckily the cougar veered off at the last second and the hounds eventually treed it. My two fellow officers informed me that we don’t clap our hands in Clearwater if a cougar is running towards you.
Joel Kline, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: Cariboo-Chilcotin Region, Quesnel Office
(flickr.com) https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http:%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F231258311&show_artwork=true
How long have you been with COS? 6.5 years
What made you want to become a conservation officer?
Love of the outdoors.
What do you like most about your job?
Flexibility, not knowing what each day will bring.
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
How many pieces of legislation we enforce, compared to some other agencies.
Do you have an interesting work related story to share?
Too many of them to write down. A recent helicopter patrol into the Itcha Ilgachuz Provincial Park, patrolling for moose and caribou hunters, was a blast, and I feel blessed to be able to get out to the remote areas and enforce the regulations.
Greg Kruger, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: Kootenay Region, Columbia-Kootenay Zone, Invermere District
(flickr.com) https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http:%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F231246386&show_artwork=trueHow long have you been with COS?16 years.
What made you want to become a conservation officer?
I had a love for the outdoors at a young age, and as I got older and needed to start thinking of a career, I knew instantly that a Game Warden was the job for me.
What do you like most about your job?
I like knowing that I can make a difference for the resources and people of B.C. It always hits home when I hear the public thank me for having a CO out in the woods checking for compliance or ensuring public safety when dealing with other duties such as problem wildlife or boat safety checks.
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
It would be nice to have more people understand that the COS basically maintains the law and order in the backcountry. Without a committed group of highly trained resource law enforcement professionals out ensuring compliance beautiful B.C. would not have the diverse and plentiful fish and wildlife we have today.
(flickr.com) Do you have an interesting work related story to share?
Every day seems to have its own interesting event or adventure. The stories that mean the most to me are the ones that get the community talking about the good work that we do. For example, this spring, we were able to apprehend a couple of “poachers” who decided they needed elk meat and went on a night hunt during the closed season on private property. The stars aligned on this one as we had timely public reporting and were able to follow a continuous blood trail for over 5 kilometers along the highway right to the suspects’ shop. The local community was very grateful the COS was there for this investigation into the blatant disregard for the wildlife and the laws to protect it.
Anything else of interest youwish to share…
Although the job has changed over the years resulting in less time in the field, I still feel a sense of pride putting on the uniform and feel it is the best job in the world. Currently, we have a high school student signed up for his work practicum as he has expressed a desire to pursue this career. I have told him that he has to make a living doing something and it might as well be something he will enjoy when he heads off to work. If he really wants to be a B.C. CO then it will happen. Just like all of us he has to go through post-secondary education, work in related seasonal jobs to gain experience, and stick with it, persistence will pay off!
Bradley Allan Lacey, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: Peace Region, South Peace Zone, Dawson Creek office
(flickr.com) https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http:%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F231258669&show_artwork=trueHow long have you been with COS? 20 Years
What made you want to become a conservation officer?
To provide a voice for things without one (wildlifeand environment) and to help members of the public
What do you like most about your job?
Engaging wildlife on many fronts, assisting the public and the variety of tasks re: work
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
We can't make everything better without the public's assistance , education and involvement. We are a small organization and are the government faces for environmental issues to most of the public in our communities.
Brittany Mueller, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: West Coast, Central Island Zone, Port Alberni
(flickr.com) https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http:%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F231247469&show_artwork=true
How long have you been with COS? 4.5 years
What made you want to become a conservation officer?
I remember meeting my first Conservation Officer and knowing then I would one day wear the uniform. I have always had a passion for the protection of the environment and natural resources.
What do you like most about your job?
Knowing that I am protecting the environment and everything within it. Every day is a new challenge but that also comes with great reward.
Being a Conservation Officer is more than a job, it’s a way of life. It is truly one of the best careers.
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
Conservation Officers have a very difficult job to do. We have to manage both people and wild things. We do this job because we have a passion to protect, a passion to ensure future generations can experience the great environment and everything within it. We are the voice for wild things, wild things for which we love. However our job is also the protection of the public. That comes first above the life of a wild animal. Sometimes we have to put down wildlife as a result of conflict, or risk to public safety. It is the worst part of the job, but it is a part of the job, and the safety of the public has to come first.
It is a difficult decision that officers do not enjoy to do, especially because we are there to protect, to be the voice, to strive towards both people and wildlife coexisting.
Do you have an interesting work related story to share?
I had the opportunity to assist the local Port Alberni RCMP in teaching First Nation youth survival skills. Together with the RCMP we taught the youth how to safely use knives, light matches, and finally build a fire to boil water. By the end of the course the students were confident in themselves and their new skills. It was so rewarding to be able to teach such valuable lessons.
Mike Newton, Sergeant
Region, Zone and Office: West Coast, North Island Zone
(flickr.com) https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http:%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F231256725&show_artwork=true
How long have you been with COS? 17 years
What made you want to become a conservation officer?
I wanted a challenging and rewarding career where I could make a positive difference in the protection of BC’s fish and wildlife resources. I strongly believe in the promotion and preservation of BC’s legacy as an international hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation destination, and I wanted to work to preserve the opportunities and the lifestyle these resources afford the citizens of British Columbia.
What do you like most about your job?
I love working in the diverse geographic areas of B.C. whilst dealing with the wide variety of core mandate workloads we service as Conservation Officers. I’ve been fortunate to work in the wilderness of the Cassiar Mountains (Dease Lake, northern B.C.); the rugged and remote West Coast, (Haida Gwaii and Vancouver Island), and I thoroughly enjoy the individual nuances of working in the various cities and communities where I’ve served. The diversity and challenges of this job are endless. It’s impossible to become bored.. This day to day work diversity coupled with the satisfaction of fulfilling my life goal to protect and promote B.C.’s fish and wildlife resources makes this my dream job.
(flickr.com) What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
Our service area and the numbers of communities we service; our workload and volume of calls for service; our geographical zone boundaries vs. our staffing numbers and resources. Perhaps then the public as a whole would show a bit more patience and understanding for us and realize that we are “the thin blue line” that protects the environment, but the responsibility for this task lies with each citizen of the province, and we need every person out there to assist us with this task (by utilizing resources such as RAPP, Bear Aware etc.)
Do you have an interesting work related story to share?
In my first three weeks as a new CO, I assisted wildlife branch on a Stone Sheep and Mountain Goat aerial survey in the Cassiar Mountains; I worked alongside other CO’s and bear biologists to trap and relocate 13 Grizzly Bears from a landfill that was to have a new electric fence installed; I wrote my first ticket to an individual who was poaching trout and angling without a licence, and I assisted the RCMP in the search for a criminal at large.
What diversity! Since then, the stories are so many, so diverse and yet they all have a consistent theme. CO’s work hard in an incredibly diversified workplace serving the public of B.C., but most importantly we protect those that cannot protect themselves - the province’s amazing fish and wildlife resources. These are truly ours to protect, and our responsibility to hand intact down to our kids.
Kevin Nixon, Sergeant
Region, Zone and Office: Skeena, Bulkley Stikine Zone, Smithers
(flickr.com) How long have you been with COS? 25 years
What made you want to become a conservation officer?
The love of the outdoors, hunting and fishing
What do you like most about your job?
The huge variety that I get to do. No two days are alike
(flickr.com) Region, Zone and Office: South Island Zone, Duncan
Peter Pauwels, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: South Island Zone, Victoria
Jeff Piwek, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: Skeena Region, North Coast Zone, Atlin District
(flickr.com) How long have you been with COS? 4 years
What made you want to become a conservation officer?
I was hired as a student CO after my second year of university, 3 hours into my first day I was standing wide-eyed in a farmer’s field assisting a full time CO investigate a poached mule deer and observing witness interviews. I had never had a more interesting first day and I’ve been excited to go to work every day since.
What do you like most about your job?
The variety of work and the remote scenery I get to see on a daily basis. But most of all that I have almost complete autonomy in deciding how and where I dedicate my time.
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
A lot of people complain that CO’s are never out finding poachers red-handed. What people don’t realize is that dealing with garbage conditioned bears in the spring and fall takes up most of our time. if neighbourhoods and individuals put more effort into locking up their garbage and fruit, there would be a lot more time to patrol backroads.
Do you have an interesting work related story to share?
Just like every CO I have at least one story worth sharing every week. My favourites are flying or ATVing into remote lakes and/or camps. I get to see a lot of wildlife and beautiful scenery and it’s always good to be where you’re not expected. This past winter I was snowmobiling in mountains covered in pockets of glacial ice, probably some of the most interesting winter terrain I’ve seen.
Andrew Riddell, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: North Peace, Fort St. John, BC
(flickr.com) https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http:%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F230850600&show_artwork=trueHow long have you been with COS? 1 year
What made you want to become a conservation officer?
Growing up in British Columbia I was able to explore and enjoy much of B.C.’s back country and take in its beautiful landscape and wildlife. I became a CO to protect our resources and wildlife so others could enjoy the outdoors as much as I have.
What do you like most about your job?
What I have enjoyed the most since starting this job is the team work that comes with the career. I don’t refer to team work simply with other Conservation Officers, but also the team work with the public in assisting the COS with reporting violations and the willingness to assist.
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
I would like the public to understand that this career is not just fun and games, and being able to explore the backcountry on quads and snowmobiles. COS requires numerous hours in the office to follow up on calls and to complete reports. Numerous times I have heard people comment that calling the CO’s won’t help because they won’t do anything; when in fact that isn’t true. The COS takes in numerous calls on a daily basis, and at times are triaging calls based on the severity of the issue; all calls and complaints are taken seriously and I encourage everyone to come forward with any concerns they have.
Jeff Scott, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: Kootenay Region, East Kootenay Zone, Cranbrook Office
(flickr.com) How long have you been with COS? 15 years
What made you want to become a conservation officer?
Opportunity to work outside with wildlife.
What do you like most about your job?
Variety of work with the seasons. The opportunity to travel to remote and unique areas of the province.
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
CO’s don’t enjoy killing animals, especially bears that have been feeding on garbage. CO’s deal with numerous pieces of legislation, not just the Wildlife Act.
Do you have an interesting work related story to share?
While out on a summer campfire ban patrol, assistance was provided to the RCMP locating a stolen truck out of Alberta. I saw the stolen vehicle drive by me on the highway so I turned around and followed the vehicle. With the RCMP, the vehicle was stopped. I was able to arrest one of the two occupants of the truck, while the other occupant was arrested by the local RCMP.
Gareth Scrivner, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: Skeena Region, North Coast Zone, Terrace Office
(flickr.com) What made you want to become a conservation officer?
I was a Game Warden on private fly-fishing lakes in the UK and liked what I did, so when we relocated to Canada with my BC wife I looked at continuing in the same field. The work here has way more variety and responsibility.
The Conservation Officer role is challenging and provides you with opportunities to learn and develop in many different facets that keeps you continually engaged.
What do you like most about your job?
Never knowing what the next day will bring, being responsive to calls for service or planning and conducting patrols, or working on our files in the office.
Do you have an interesting work related story to share?
One memory that springs to mind is seeing 8 different Grizzly Bears in downtown Kitimat in a 2 hour period. The river went into flood and washed the dead salmon away and pushed the Grizzlies out of the riverside habitat and next thing they were all through town. Quite the busy work shift!
Kevin Van Damme, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: Interior Region,Thompson Fraser Zone,Kamloops
(flickr.com) https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http:%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F231257675&show_artwork=trueHow long have you been with COS? 23 years
What made you want to become a conservation officer?
A love for working with animals and the outdoors
What do you like most about your job?
- The variety in the work I do.
- Meeting new people and helping them better protect the resources.
- Working in the field in the back country.
- Working with animals, understanding animal behavior and resolving animal conflicts with people.
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
That all Conservation Officers share an interest and a passion for the resources that we protect we are mandated to protect public safety which at times involves the unpleasant task of capturing and euthanizing conflict animals.
Do you have an interesting work related story to share?
I have worked with many K-9 partners who have shared many interesting adventures with me tracking and capturing conflict cougars and bears. On December 28, 2013, I was with two of my K-9 tracking partners Bust and Boomer responding to a wounded cougar living under a porch; this cougar had killed a pet at the house. The cougar had left bloody paw prints causing the resident to be very concerned for his family’s safety. This call was like many others I had been on with my K-9 team. I was concerned for the dog’s safety given the fact the cougar was wounded. During the initial tracking Bust, my lead dog located the cougar near the house. Both Bust and Boomer tracked the cougar into a thick patch of trees when I heard Boomer cry out. As I was only 50 meters behind my team I was able to see the cougar had bit Bust and was attempting to bite Boomer, the cougar dropped Boomer and walked away as I called out for my dogs. It was too late for Bust who sustained a severe bite to the head. Boomer was very lucky as the big cats teeth caused injuries that Boomer recovered from. Bust will be remembered for his valued service to the COS K-9 unit.
Tracy Walbauer, Sergeant
Region, Zone and Office: Skeena, North Coast, Terrace
(flickr.com) What made you want to become a conservation officer?
Seeing vast tracks of wilderness essentially unprotected while growing up, wanted to do what I could to ensure its remains wild.
What do you like most about your job?
Giving a voice to fish and wildlife that otherwise go unheard.
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
That we don’t just shoot bears/cougars. That we are the protectors of our environmental resources, enforce over 20 pieces of legislation, and routinely work evenings/weekends.
Dave Webster, Conservation Officer
Region, Zone and Office: Kootenay Region – West Kootenay Zone – Grand Forks Field Office
(flickr.com) What made you want to become a conservation officer?
Growing up in rural Manitoba I always loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing so it seemed like a great career choice and it was.
What do you like most about your job?
The thing I like most about being a CO is the variety of work we encounter on a regular basis. You never know what you will be faced with from one day to the next and that is never boring.
What do you wish more people knew about your job/conservation?
I wish more people understood just how complex and challenging our work is. Being a CO is so much more than just setting bear traps or issuing tickets for barbed hooks. Conservation Officers are highly trained investigators with extensive knowledge in a wide variety of areas and that makes us very unique in the law enforcement community.
Do you have an interesting work related story to share?
Over my 20+ years as a CO I have had so many unique and interesting experiences it is tough to narrow it down to just one. The one that does stand out for me right now is the Christina lake bear feeders. An estranged couple living on a rural 80 acres of land above Christina Lake began feeding bears on their property and did it for several years. It eventually got to the point that they were spending close to $3000 a month on dog food to feed over 30 bears that would show up in their yard twice a day, every day to get fed. It was a surreal scenario that presented multiple challenges in dealing with the property owners, the bears, the surrounding community and the media. Not your average day at the office.
I have had some incredible opportunities throughout my career as a CO. Just a few examples are In 2007 I was certified through Winnipeg City Police as an Instructor in Emergency Vehicle Operations which has allowed me to participate in the training of our new recruits at the annual WCLEA Academy. I participated in the 2010 Winter Olympics as part of the Integrated Security Force, the largest of its kind ever assembled in Canada. I have served on the Executive Board of the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association at all levels including President. NAWEOA is a benevolent association that works hard to represent and support over 8000 Officers and their families from across North America.
I consider myself very lucky and I am very proud to be a member of the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service.
