Career As a Fish & Game Warden
A fish and game warden patrols her jurisdiction to prevent fish and game law violations. She'll investigate reports of wildlife damage to crops or property. She will also compile biological data. She'll catch poachers, arrest people breaking the law, and note irregular conditions in the area. A certain educational background is required, as well as physical and educational testing.
Other People Are Reading
-
Pay
-
Fish and wildlife wardens are employed by the federal government, the state government or a local government, and the pay can vary accordingly. As of May 2004, the median wage for state employees was $50,170. The top five paying states for this occupation include Pennsylvania, New Jersey, California, Minnesota and Nevada.
Local government employees typically make $39,800. Those working for the federal government make about $47,960, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Education
-
Those wishing to pursue fish and wildlife careers must complete a full four-year course of study in wildlife management, with 24 semester hours of related course work in the field of natural resource management, history, archeology, and/or anthropology.
-
The Workday
-
The fish and game warden's workday typically consists of patrolling his jurisdiction and looking for violations. As a law enforcement official, he has the authority to issue citations and warnings. If needed, he can arrest those who break the law. He investigates park conditions and reports any potential problems. He also tracks data on wildlife and fish in his respective region. He sometimes is tasked with monitoring pollution levels and gathering related data.
Working Conditions
-
While you get to often work outside, it can often be in difficult weather conditions. Fish and wildlife wardens work in close proximity to snakes, wild animals and insects. They confront environmental criminals, sometimes face-to-face. They typically patrol in a truck, but may also work on foot, on a snowmobile, or in an airplane. As law enforcement officers, they are armed and wear a designated uniform. While the work is often outside, some office work is required.
Benefits
-
As government employees, fish and game wardens enjoy a quality health insurance package that includes agency contributions and group rates toward premiums. They can choose between consumer-driven or high-deductible plans. Anyone with service of more than one year is entitled to retirement coverage. Those with fish and wildlife careers are also entitled to the Federal Employee's Group Life Insurance, the cost of which is shared between the employee and the federal government.
-
References
- Photo Credit park ranger image by Jim Parkin from Fotolia.com
