Feature -- by Mark Sproxton

Running along a northwest Calgary sidewalk, the wildlife conservation officer stops and confidently brings his rifle into shooting position. The moose, which has been parading through city streets causing havoc for drivers, comes to a stop from its lumbering, knock-kneed run. As the huge ungulate turns to look at the officer, his gun goes off. The tranquilizer dart finds a home in the moose's backside and the animal is soon sound asleep. It is then quickly hauled out of the city and returned to the wild.

Conservation officer Rod Fyten has always enjoyed the outdoors.

"You never know what's going to happen day-to-day," said Rod Fyten, a conservation officer with provincial government's fish and wildlife division. "In the city we get urban wildlife where we may get a moose running through the city or you may have to put down an injured animal. Up north there are lots of commercial fisheries or lots of bear work. It's specific to where you're working."

But the local conservation officer deals with more than just wildlife. Contact with people remains a constant part of the job. "We conduct a huge number of investigations where we have to investigate, (interview) and charge (people)," Fyten said. The nature of that contact varies and is sometimes dependent on the season. For instance, in the summer conservation officers ensure fishermen on the Bow River are licensed and following the fishing regulations. In the winter the officers will do the same with hunters. "There are definitely some risks we take dealing with people or wildlife," he added.

As funny as it sounds, the role of a fish and wildlife conservation officer is, as Fyten stated with a smile: "protecting people from wildlife and wildlife from people." And it's a demanding job. The Calgary office has staff working seven-days-a-week, meaning the officers regularly work odd hours and plenty of weekends because when the public plays, the officers must work. And there are times when the officers will be called elsewhere in the province to help deal with forest fires, or conduct grizzly bear research or any number of other situations related to wildlife and/or enforcement.

Fyten's personal interests and previous work experience, however, prepared him for his current position. "I had an older brother who chose the same career path," he said. "We've been interested in the same outdoor activities... fishing and hunting and that led me to take courses along that line."

After taking a biological sciences diploma from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT), Fyten spent a few years working before returning to school to complete one year of the conservation enforcement program at Lethbridge Community College. He started work as a park ranger in 1989 and became a conservation officer for fish and wildlife in 2000. (In Alberta, park rangers are also called conservation officers, however, they have a different role than those in fish and wildlife.)

"I like the variety of work and the variety of functions including enforcement, protecting wildlife, resource management and public safety," Fyten said. "I enjoy working hands-on with the fish and wildlife." Many others may too enjoy this type of work but competition for vacant positions is exceedingly tough. And with a small force of around 100 officers for the entire province, the number of positions available will likely remain slim for the foreseeable future.

For those dedicated, however, the majority of people currently working as fish and wildlife conservation officers come through a conservation enforcement type of post-secondary program and have related experience. They must also have a number of specific skills. "You need to be resourceful and you need to be able to work independently," Fyten said. "And I think you have to have a gut feeling to protect the resources."

His advice for those interested in pursuing this career includes phoning the local fish and wildlife office. "I think they'd have to be really interested in this as a career and probably willing to make some personal sacrifices to achieve this career."