Career offers a range of activities
What could be better than spending your day out in the beautiful outdoors? That's the allure for Shawn Farrell, a conservation officer, and Brent Liston, a forest ranger, at the provincial Department of Natural Resources
About 1 1/2 years ago, the department separated the duties of forest rangers into two categories: enforcement and resources.
The decision to create two types of officials was partly based on the fact that investigations were being interrupted if a forest fire or other natural disasters occurred. In some instances, the forest ranger would not get back to the crime scene for days.
"We were able to choose what job we wanted to do. I love enforcement - I just wish I had gotten into this sooner," said Farrell. "I did have to do another interview when the job was split because of the demand for the conservation officer positions. It was a little tense."
Conservation officers are responsible for enforcing 25 provincial and federal acts and regulations. These range from the Fish and Wildlife Act to the Crown Lands and Forests Act to the Clean Water Act. Federal responsibilities include the Canada Wildlife Act and Protect Natural Areas Act.
The Fish and Wildlife Act alone has 11 regulations, covering such areas as hunting, general angling, pheasant preserves, forensic analysis, exotic wildlife and nuisance wildlife control.
"You have to be well versed in a number of things. I am continually learning new things," Farrell said. "We also have to do a couple of qualification courses every year.
"We have to take a daytime and nighttime firearms course, and we have to undergo a use-of-force program. This is two days of behavior-modified scenarios. We pick a situation out of a hat - such as coming across a poacher - then respond to the instructor and his behavior."
Every three years, Farrell is required to go through a re-certification of defensive tactics. This course must be passed.
"Our qualification programs are modelled after the RCMP and we have certainly moved ahead in our capabilities," said Farrell. "We are partners with NB Crime Stoppers, which has been a good thing for all parties.
"Sometimes, people are too scared to phone us about a misuse of a resource. This is especially true in the smaller communities because everyone knows everyone and their business. Crime Stoppers gives them the chance to help us anonymously."
Both Farrell and Liston took a one-year course at the Maritime Forestry Ranger School in Fredericton. The school was renamed the Maritime College of Forestry Technology three years ago. The course is now two years in length.
Farrell and Liston patrol an area that runs from Gagetown to Woodstock, and from Deersdale to McAdam. Every day is varied for each man and the season determines what activities will be done.
"We know where the trouble spots are, as well as what areas are busy during the different hunting seasons," Farrell said. "The district is big but we can get anywhere we need to be."
For Liston, and the other rangers, spring and summer represent the dominant forest fire season. Just before the season begins, a fire suppression field day is conducted.
"We do a mock fire scenario every year. We check all our equipment - from tankers and hoses to pumps and sprinklers," Liston said. "We do this before green-up, which is when the snow has just melted and the grass is dry and brittle.
"I love to fight fires - whether they are big or small. So far this year, we've had only a few fires in comparison to last year's season."
During the forest fire season, there is always one forest ranger on stand-by, ready to jump in the truck. The crew is increased on high alert days.
"We also issue burning permits and inspect the area beforehand. Throughout the year, we go to all the licensees to do a pre-cut inspection," said Liston.
"We follow up during the cutting to make sure the company is utilizing the area's resources properly. We check the loads as they leave."
The province has a public fuel wood program that allows people to go on specified crown lands to cut their own wood. There is also a salvage program for people to harvest wood after the licensee is finished.
"People can take as much as seven cords of wood. If you have the equipment, it's an economical way to get your wood."
The forest rangers also visit Grade 4 students in the district's schools.
"We talk about how important our natural resources are and describe the flora and fauna," Liston said. "Education is so important. For example, we can have problems with bears when they come out in the spring and have no food source.
"If people leave garbage out or have birdseed that the bears can reach, they will come back again and again. Normally, bears are scared of humans, but the lure of food overcomes that fear."
In some cases, the bear is trapped and relocated to another area. Liston cannot stress the importance of putting the garbage out the day of pick-up.
Other duties include campsite inspection on crown lands, stocking fish and doing population and habitat surveys of fish and wildlife.
"These surveys help our biologist to know how and where the populations are. They also help us to determine where to place the moose and deer caution signs along the highways," said Liston. "We also collect the big game road kill - bear, deer and moose - examine the bodies to get more information.
Both Farrell and Liston enjoy the variety of the job and the fact that they are helping people and the province's natural resources.
The Fine Print
Education: A two-year course is offered at the Maritime College of Forest Technology. There are courses offered at other schools and universities. The provincial Department of Natural Resources requires conservation officers to complete a conservation enforcement course. Conservation officers and forest rangers must complete ongoing certification courses on an annual basis.
Demand: All of the department’s positions are filled at this time. Openings would come about due to retirement by officers and rangers.
Salary range: $33,900 to $57,000. Conversation officers earn slightly more than forest rangers because they carry guns.
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