Matthew Henry is the new conservation officer (CO) based out of Clearwater in September, and says he’s really enjoying learning about the Clearwater area and the surrounding region.
”Our area goes from Agate Bay Road near Barriere to the south, and to the north we go all the way to McBride,” says Henry. “It’s a huge area, which offers some challenges for two officers here. Right now, I’m being mentored by Warren Chayer, a very familiar face around town and longtime CO. Just to have his local knowledge has been so helpful in getting acquainted with the area.”
Henry is a recent graduate from Lethbridge College in Alberta, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Conservation Law Enforcement. He also has training from the Lac La Biche Academy, where he took four-and-a-half months of additional training in a “paramilitary, depot-like” regimental style instruction prior to being assigned to his first post in Wells Gray Country in the North Thompson.
https://lethbridgecollege.ca/
Before completing his training, Henry worked as a seasonal conservation officer in Manitoba. Coming from a small farming community in that province, he was hoping to be posted to a rural community like Clearwater following graduation, and he says that the community “is already feeling like home.”
Describing his job, he says as conservation officers they are responsible for the enforcement, and ensuring compliance, of a variety of environmental legislation. COs are also appointed as special provincial constables under the police act of British Columbia.
”It’s 33 statutes that we are authorized to enforce, but of course our primary mandate is fish and wildlife enforcement and environmental crimes. We are given the tools to deal with whatever situation may come up. Kind of a day-to-day, no two days are the same in our work.”
Henry explains that during the hunting season the priority is to get out and do a lot of patrolling, having a real presence on the landscape while checking as many hunters and anglers as possible, doing compliance inspections, and making sure people are following the laws related to hunting and fishing.
The job carries on throughout the seasons, with ice fishing during the winter that carries over into spring. In summer a CO’s responsibilities also involve wildfire response as needed, including being moved across the province assisting in evacuation orders if required. There is also the public safety aspect of the job surrounding human-wildlife conflict; examples of this are bears around town and other conflicts with livestock and wildlife.
“It’s great to wake up in the morning and feel that you can make a difference, even if it’s just on an individual level with the people you meet every day. That is one of the parts of the job I like the most, meeting different people. It’s always interesting. It’s great to see all the people out on the land recreating. Most often they are pleased to see us out there as well.”
The CO works with local partners through Simpcw, the Department of Fisheries, Commercial Vehicle Safety Enforcement, federal wildlife officers with Environment Canada, the RCMP and other first responders, and the local fish hatchery. “It’s especially great working together in a rural area. We rely on those good partnerships.”
Henry says that most of the people who recreate outdoors and who hunt and fish are following the rules. “It’s in their best interest to see us out there, as we protect the resources for them and future generations.”
He stresses that “The number one thing about managing human-wildlife conflicts is attractants,” adding that if there is no food source available to bears or other wildlife, they will have no reason to be in a resident’s yard.
“I stress every day to people, to please make sure you are properly managing your attractants by keeping those in some sort of bear-proof container. If you have too much garbage that you can’t store, make a trip to the transfer station and deliver it there. We still have hunting season open until December, making it so critically important for us to have the public being our eyes and ears. If you see something, say something.”
You can phone the RAPP line at 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP) or #7277 on the TELUS Mobility Network if you suspect potential poaching or polluting. If the situation is not an emergency, report the incident online or contact the nearest Conservation Officer Service district office.
