Outdoors: 'Game warden' is the official title

For many years, more than I can remember, the green-uniformed men and women, who guarded Pennsylvania’s wilds — both forest and fields — were “game wardens.”

When talking about these officers, I always called them game wardens, which was a lot easier than saying “wildlife conservation officer” — their official title used by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Well things are going to change.

The PGC announced Tuesday (Dec. 26) that the agency’s law enforcement officers will be known as “state game wardens,” starting Jan. 1.

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A news release announcing the change said: “For the first time in its 122-year history, the Pennsylvania Game Commission will call its law-enforcement officers 'state game wardens.'" For most of that time, field officers were known as "game protectors" and in later years they became "wildlife conservation officers.”

In making the announcement, PGC’s Executive Director Bryan Burhans said:  “The job titles previously used to describe our field officers — game protector and wildlife conservation officer — didn’t fully identify their unique and diverse responsibilities. The goal here is to more clearly identify our officers and their purpose. We believe ‘state game warden’ will help communicate this.

“In addition, this title already is well understood by the public. The word ‘warden’ is America’s oldest title for the men and women who serve wildlife in this capacity.

“Since the recodification of the state’s Game and Wildlife Code in 1987, field officers were titled wildlife conservation officers. Prior to that, they were called district game protectors. But neither title resonated with the public. Many never associated them with Game Commission officers.”

The agency explained that game wardens are known by many different titles depending upon the state wildlife agency for which they work. The titles reflect the varying sets of broad duties they fulfill. Most wardens share a basic duty to enforce the laws that regulate hunting, protect wildlife and the environment. However, their duties extend into education, research and a host of conservation programs.

More:You can now officially call them Pa. game wardens

For example, Pennsylvania game wardens coordinate and supervise Hunter-Trapper Education programs. They also represent the agency at conservation and sportsmen’s club meetings, respond to nuisance wildlife complaints and deal with injured wildlife and suspected rabid-animal calls. Warden work also includes wildlife surveys, wildlife trap-and-transfer, field research and providing programs to civic groups and public schools.

“It was the variety of work, which has accompanied the position since game protectors were defined by law in 1895, that inspired the former titles our officers have had,” Burhans said.

“There is no 'off' season for our officers,” he said. “The breadth of responsibilities is what sets game wardens apart from other traditional law-enforcement professionals. Being a game warden requires a very unique person willing and able develop a diversity of skills in support of the agency.”

Burhans said renaming full-time agency officers "game wardens" will help the public know what these officers do.

It’s important to point out, though, that game wardens are sworn peace officers with statewide law-enforcement authority. They are highly trained and equipped as well as any police officer. They are expected to know and follow standards for protecting civil rights, gathering evidence that will hold up in court and prosecute violations of many different laws.

“As one of the most familiar faces of our agency, it is critical that that game wardens are recognized for who they are and what they do,” emphasized Burhans. “Anything less is unacceptable.”

WALKING FISH — The Maryland Department of Natural Resources is helping Noah Bressman, a Ph.D. candidate from Wake Forest, study the method northern snakeheads use to move on land.

A dreaded invasive species, the snakehead has the ability to remain out of water for days and can move over most terrain. Other fish species use their fins to move out of water. Bressman says snakeheads do it differently. 

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“(Northern snakeheads) make almost the same movements as soldiers,” Bressman said. “Soldiers crawl by moving their leg and opposite arm to move.”

Northern snakeheads do this by moving their back fin and head in opposite directions, propelling them forward. Yet, the muscle movements that snakeheads use to traverse terra firma has not been fully understood.

Bressman describes the fish’s behavior on land as “ambitious,” but it will take more time, research and analysis before any conclusions can be made. The researcher will be back in Maryland for more observations in early 2018.

Regardless of scientific interest, the snakehead is invasive and troubling for native species. Maryland anglers are encouraged to catch and keep them, and never return a snakehead to the water alive. There’s no season or catch limit.

Also of interest, a gallery of photos below: