Aaron Berscheid is a district wildlife officer for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Aaron covers the ìwildî side of Northeast El Paso County, including Black Forest, Falcon, Peyton and Calhan. He also covers some of Elbert County, north of U.S. Highway 24 and south of State Highway 86, including the towns of Elbert, Kiowa, Ramah, Simla, Matheson and a small portion of the Limon area.
When Iím out in public, itís not unusual for people to ask me questions. I enjoy it because I get to meet new people, and the interactions often are very pleasant. So I always try to take time to answer them.†But I was stopped cold by a recent question from someone who approached me at a gas station.The question? What zoo park do I work at?It was an innocent question from someone who just hadnít heard of Colorado Parks and Wildlife. I very politely answered the question and we had a long, pleasant conversation.†I explained that Colorado Parks and Wildlife is responsible for protecting our wildlife resources and providing a quality parks system statewide. And I described how my job plays into that mission. My new friend shook my hand and thanked me for the conversation.†This got me thinking. How many others among Coloradoís 5.75 million residents donít know what Colorado Parks and Wildlife is all about? With so many newcomers to Colorado ó weíre the second fastest-growing state in the U.S., adding 200 new residents every day for the last 10 years ó a lot of our new neighbors probably have never heard of CPW.So I think this is a good time to explain what my job is and what I do for wildlife and the citizens of Colorado.My specific job title is ìDistrict Wildlife Manager.î I often refer to myself as a ìWildlife Officerî and historically my job has been titled ìGame Warden.î (Colorado officially dropped the ìgame wardenî title decades ago after enacting standards requiring all wildlife officers to hold college biology degrees.)The wildlife officer job was created a century ago at the end of the market hunting days when wild game was killed and sold in markets for a profit. This type of wildlife management, or lack thereof, led to the drastic decline of wildlife populations and even the extinction of some species.†Drastic change was required, and soon came to rise was the North American Model of Conservation. This model understood that hunting, fishing and the wise use of natural resources in the U.S. was the only way that we as a total population could be good stewards of the land and wildlife in the country. And this is where the need for a profession that enforces this new model was born.Wildlife officers were hired to enforce wildlife laws and regulations. There is a long, rich history attached to the wildlife officer profession and it has evolved over the decades. Here is a basic breakdown of what my job is in 2021.Generally speaking, one-third of my time is spent doing law enforcement. I am a certified peace officer in the state of Colorado, and I can enforce all the laws, like any other police officer or sheriffís deputy. I typically stick to enforcement of hunting and fishing laws and regulations, but I can help other agencies when asked. And I will act to protect and preserve human life.Another third of my time is spent working on the management of the wildlife in my district. Unlike my predecessors who often rode horseback, you might find me counting deer from a helicopter, surveying pronghorn from a plane, or observing small game from my work truck.†I help our terrestrial biologists monitor big game herds in the area and consult on current management practices to determine if changes need to be made. I work hard to be aware of all related issues to wildlife in my district.The last third of my time is spent on education and customer service. Writing columns for The New Falcon Harald falls into this category. But I also work with local schools in my district to provide programs about wildlife and Colorado Parks and Wildlifeís role in Colorado. I also work in outreach programs to get people interested and into hunting and fishing activities to help promote wildlife in Colorado.I wear a vast array of hats, and I never know what to expect each day when I step foot in my truck. That is not a complaint. Actually, I love the variety of issues I confront in my job and the challenges I face each day.So, basically, I am here to promote and protect the wildlife and outdoors of Colorado for those who currently enjoy them and for future generations. I promote the importance of wildlife and their habitat as an intrinsic benefit and value to everyone.In the coming months, Iíll share more stories as I write about wildlife issues in our community: Got a question, problem or column idea, please email me at aaron.berscheid@state.co.us or call me at 719-227-5231.†I might even answer your question in a future installment of ìWildlife Matters.î
