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State game warden numbers expected to dwindle
Tom Stienstra, SAn Francisco Chronicle
June 10, 2004
The number of state game wardens protecting California's natural resources is projected to shrink by the turn of the year to a ratio of only 1 game warden per 182,500 residents.
"Yes, it's an issue," said Ryan Broddrick, director of the Department of Fish and Game. "We need more people in the field. I want more eyes and ears on the ground."
In an interview this week in Yosemite National Park, Broddrick confirmed rumors that 28 more game wardens are expected to retire by January from a force already depleted by early retirements, the elimination of unfilled positions in 2001, a hiring freeze and low pay compared to the California Highway Patrol.
That would leave huge gaps in patrol, especially in rural counties in Northern California, Broddrick said, so he will order that some office supervisors be transferred to the field.
"We're going to straight line supervision and reduce bureaucracy," Broddrick said. Three years ago under previous director Bob Hight, game warden Terry Hodges of Oroville said that the DFG turned into an "administrative machine" that reduced patrol effectiveness. Hodges, now retired, said that DFG lieutenants were shifted from the field into office positions, and that paperwork was "tripled."
Broddrick, a former game warden himself, said that assessment was accurate, but that even if he is successful in shifting supervisors to field patrol, "we'll be lucky to break even."
Broddrick said projections show that, by January, only 200 game wardens would be in the field to protect fish, wildlife, endangered species and habitat in a state with 36.5 million people.
Because of job responsibilities that include signing off on stream alteration permits, responding to toxic spills and pollution reports, among other non-patrol duties and lengthy reports required for each, game wardens say they spend little time providing general patrol and surveillance to protect fish and wildlife.
In addition, the DFG has confirmed in the past that there are too few game wardens in the field to consistently respond and prosecute violations in progress reported to its toll-free poacher hot line.
Tom Stienstra, SAn Francisco Chronicle
June 10, 2004
The number of state game wardens protecting California's natural resources is projected to shrink by the turn of the year to a ratio of only 1 game warden per 182,500 residents.
"Yes, it's an issue," said Ryan Broddrick, director of the Department of Fish and Game. "We need more people in the field. I want more eyes and ears on the ground."
In an interview this week in Yosemite National Park, Broddrick confirmed rumors that 28 more game wardens are expected to retire by January from a force already depleted by early retirements, the elimination of unfilled positions in 2001, a hiring freeze and low pay compared to the California Highway Patrol.
That would leave huge gaps in patrol, especially in rural counties in Northern California, Broddrick said, so he will order that some office supervisors be transferred to the field.
"We're going to straight line supervision and reduce bureaucracy," Broddrick said. Three years ago under previous director Bob Hight, game warden Terry Hodges of Oroville said that the DFG turned into an "administrative machine" that reduced patrol effectiveness. Hodges, now retired, said that DFG lieutenants were shifted from the field into office positions, and that paperwork was "tripled."
Broddrick, a former game warden himself, said that assessment was accurate, but that even if he is successful in shifting supervisors to field patrol, "we'll be lucky to break even."
Broddrick said projections show that, by January, only 200 game wardens would be in the field to protect fish, wildlife, endangered species and habitat in a state with 36.5 million people.
Because of job responsibilities that include signing off on stream alteration permits, responding to toxic spills and pollution reports, among other non-patrol duties and lengthy reports required for each, game wardens say they spend little time providing general patrol and surveillance to protect fish and wildlife.
In addition, the DFG has confirmed in the past that there are too few game wardens in the field to consistently respond and prosecute violations in progress reported to its toll-free poacher hot line.
