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A
Job To Love
Imagine walking along a narrow footpath
that leads you through the forest to
a stretch of smooth, flat stone. You
take a seat on an overhanging rock that’s
been warmed by the sun. Around you,
green grass pushes through the melting
snow. Spring is on its way, and you’ll
soon be patrolling the lake in a fishing
boat. You love that your job changes
with the seasons, bringing you new scenery
to view, new duties to perform, and
new wildlife to watch. The best part
of your job is that you help ensure
that visitors treat this beautiful,
wide-open area and its wildlife with
respect.
Conservation
officers look after our natural
areas to make sure no one harms wildlife
or damages the environment. They mostly
work outdoors in parks and other wilderness
areas. Conservation officers usually
work alone or in a small team. Many
conservation officers live where they
grew up. Aboriginal conservation officers
use their traditional knowledge and
skills to make sure wildlife and resources
are properly managed to meet the needs
of their families and future generations.
No
job is perfect. As a conservation
officer, you really have to like the
outdoors, no matter what the weather’s
like—rain, snow or shine. You’ll
work all kinds of hours, including
very early mornings and late nights.
At times, you’ll run into people
who are breaking the law. Laying charges
against them can be stressful if they
become verbally abusive or even physically
violent. Even so, you might like this
job that gives you the freedom to
set your own hours and the authority
to protect wildlife and resources.
Job
Description
Conservation officers are a combination
of detectives, adventurers, and scientists.
They patrol natural areas by boat, truck,
ATV, snowmobile, horse, plane, and foot
to make sure people are treating the
environment responsibly. For example,
a conservation officer might normally
patrol a provincial or territorial park
and, as a special assignment, work undercover
to catch wildlife poachers. Conservation
officers work for provincial and federal
parks, agencies that make environmental
laws, and the government.
Job
Duties
- Patrol
natural areas to ensure their conservation
and protection
- Collect
information about animals’
food and shelter for wildlife biologists
- Investigate
environmental crimes, like toxic
waste dumping
- Write
reports on issues, like wildlife
abuses or wildlife populations
- Tranquilize
wild animals that wander into towns,
and return the animals to the wilderness
- Check
fishing and hunting licences
- Inform
park visitors of the laws, and arrest
those who break them
- Give
directions to hikers
- Teach
outdoor safety to the public
- Speak
to the media to address public concerns
Fact
Approximately 5.5 million Canadians
fish every year.
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High
school courses that will prepare you
for this job include biology, math,
chemistry, and English. Aboriginal studies,
history, and languages will prepare
you for working in a multi-cultural
setting. Talk to your career or academic
counsellor about options such as earth
sciences, physics, and computers.
The minimum education requirement for
this job is a one-to-three year college
program in renewable resources management
or a related subject like environmental
science. A bachelor’s degree in
law enforcement, natural resources or
a related subject will make you more
competitive, and you’ll find it
easier to get a job and negotiate your
salary.
Look into specific high school prerequisites
set by the college or university you
would like to attend.
Before entering the workforce, some
conservation officers might require
training in:
- Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation (CPR)
- Firearms
safety
- Standard
and Wilderness First Aid
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Conservation
officers with a college diploma make
an average of $32,000.00 per year.
Conservation officers with a bachelor’s
degree make an average of $45,000.00
per year.
Conservation officers with several
years of education and experience
make an average of $52,000.00 per
year.
Financial Assistance
In addition to the general scholarship
tips listed in the BUILD MY CAREER
section, the following award is specific
to conservation officers:
The Golder Associates Environmental
Award
$1,000.00 for first-year students
of Keyano College’s Natural Resource
Industry Environmental Technology
program.
Contact: Keyano College
8115 Franklin Avenue
Fort McMurray, AB
T9H 2H7
Telephone: (780) 791-4800
Toll-Free: 1 (800) 251-1480
Fax: (780) 791-1555
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Some
of the best knowledge you’ll
gain for this job will come from listening
to the stories and wisdom of your
relations. Ask your Elders what traditional
methods they use to care for the environment
and to prevent the decline of animal
populations. Join your family on camping,
hunting, and fishing trips. Know the
rivers, creeks, hills, and landmarks
around your home. Learn how to track
animals and people. The time you spend
outdoors will make your studies easier
and your understanding of the natural
world will appeal to employers.
Relate to people in similar jobs:
- Conservation
biologist
Wildlife technician
Relate
and interact with land use planners.
Ask them what they like about their
jobs, and how you should get started.
The North American Wildlife Enforcement
Officers Association
website: www.naweoa.org
Canadian Wildlife Federation
350 Michael Cowpland Drive
Kanata, ON
K2M 2W1
email: info@cwf-fcf.org
website: www.cwf-fcf.org
Parks Canada National Office
25 Eddy Street
Hull, PQ
K1A 0M5
Telephone: 1-888-773-8888
email: information@gc.gc.ca
website: www.parkscanada.ca
Relate with other students. There
are Aboriginal student associations
and resource centers at most colleges
and universities. Visit these centres
to find out what they have to offer.
Also, look into community, friendship,
and multi-cultural centres.
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