![]() ![]() Once hired, warden recruits must attend basic training at the Wyoming Law Enforcement Academy. The screening process for applicants includes a panel interview, psychological evaluation, polygraph, physical fitness assessment and background check, King said. “The Minimum requirement is a bachelor’s degree with at least 20 hours of wildlife related coursework,” he said. ![]() New game wardens must meet demanding qualifications, and then go though intensive training, King said. ![]() A spokesman for the Boone & Crocket Club, a prestigious ethical hunting and wildlife conservation group, surmised that many poaching cases go undetected. Wyoming just closed one of its largest poaching cases ever. News agencies also reported shortages in Georgia, Arizona, Kansas and numerous other states, raising concern over whether that could lead to more wildlife crimes slipping through the cracks. The Game website highlighted a shortage of wardens in Maine. Wyoming isn’t the only state struggling to fill its warden rosters. “Current starting salary for entry level game warden is $4,200 per month with standard state benefits and retirement under the Warden, DCI, and Highway Patrol system,” he added. Well-qualified applicants can shop around for higher salary offers,” King said. Nearly all law enforcement agencies are having a hard time recruiting for positions right now. Specific to game wardens, King agreed that a salary hike could help, adding that recruitment problems are hardly unique to Game and Fish. Nesvik told the committee that salary hikes would probably help recruitment and retention throughout the department. Wildlife biologists are the exception – Game and Fish has had good retention among them. That highlights a steady downward trend and recruitment and retainment numbers for most departments in the agency, he said. The latest game warden applicant pool was about half of what it would have been 10 years ago, Game and Fish director Brian Nesvik recently told the Legislature’s Joint Appropriations Committee. “I anticipate about 30-40 (of the initial 121 applicants) will be asked to participate in the entire process, but history has shown we will be lucky to make job offers to about five or six,” King said. However, that will probably still leave the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s recruitment efforts short of its goals, Rick King told Cowboy State Daily. General Wildlife Disease Incident ReportĪccording to the Wyoming Department of Health, people who have been exposed to birds potentially infected with bird flu should monitor for illness for 10 days after their last exposure.Wyoming could get roughly half of the new game wardens it needs, and low salaries could be partly to blame, officials said.Ī total of 121 applicants for roughly a dozen open positions might initially seem like plenty.The Game and Fish says it has been monitoring for the virus's presence in wild birds and is asking anyone who encounters clusters of dead birds to contact their regional Game and Fish office or fill out the online form. All game should be thoroughly cooked to an internal temperature of 165 degrees F before being consumed.Do not feed sick/found dead carcasses/tissues to domestic animals - such as dogs and cats.Do not eat, drink or smoke while handling animals.When done handling game, wash hands thoroughly with soap or disinfectant and clean knives, equipment and surfaces that come in contact with game.Wear rubber or disposable nitrile gloves while handling or cleaning game.Field dress and prepare game outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.The department is also urging hunters to take the following precautions when handling harvested wildlife: ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |