North American Game Warden Museum

Coordinates: 48°59′40″N 100°04′20″W / 48.994514°N 100.072248°W / 48.994514; -100.072248

The North American Game Warden Museum transitioned from a temporary into a permanent museum when it opened in 2005. It is located in the International Peace Garden on the international border between the Canadian province of Manitoba and the U.S. state of North Dakota. It is sponsored by the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association.^[1]

History

This museum has been located at the International Peace Garden since its inception. Originally founded on a temporary basis in the 1990s, the permanent museum opened in 2005 at the same location “for its natural beauty, central North American location and recognition as an international tourism destination.”^[1]

Purpose

The underlying purpose of this museum is to raise the professional profile and celebrate the work of game wardens and their colleagues, conservation officers. The name each group of professionals goes by depends on their governmental jurisdiction; for example, in Michigan the title "conservation officer" is used.

This museum's management has set forth a fourfold mission statement:

1. protecting "the wild" in an overcrowded, polluted and too-civilized planet, so that "natural gifts" are preserved for future generations through legal enforcement and public education;
2. recognizing the important and dangerous role of game wardens who often work alone in desolate and remote locations, facing armed foes;
3. honoring and memorializing fallen heroes and other officers, who work in a largely unsung role, thereby helping their morale, and
4. educating the public about the work and mission of conservation officers, thereby increasing support for their efforts.^[1]

Recognizing the wardens' roles

Confronting armed poachers in rural and even remote locations can be lonely, dangerous and even fatal work for game wardens.^[1] Recognition of the ultimate sacrifice of these officers at this museum is considered to be important, concomitant to recognition at the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial.^[2]

Officers are exposed to other risks beyond being killed by hunters, trappers and armed fishermen.^[2] Heart attacks, motor vehicle, boating, snowmobile and airplane accidents, animal attacks, drowning, hypothermia, etc. also take their toll while on duty.^[2][3]

In North America game wardens are typically employees of state or provincial governments. 26 of the 50 U.S. states have government departments entitled Department of Natural Resources or a similar title. These departments typically patrol state or provincial parks and public lands and waterways dedicated to hunting and fishing, and also enforce state or provincial game and environmental laws on private property.

Game wardens/conservation officers are front and center in keeping out (or in check) invasive species.^{[4][clarification needed]}

In an increasingly interconnected and globalized world, their concerns are much more comprehensive than local enforcement. They also enforce broader conservation laws, such as the Endangered Species Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and similar laws/treaties. or the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (in Canada) which implements the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).^[5] As necessary, they will work in tandem with appropriate national or federal agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or Environment Canada.

See also

• Department of Natural Resources
• Environment Canada
• Environmental Protection Agency
• National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington, D.C.
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

References

Further reading

• Alberta Game Warden magazine.
• International Game Warden magazine.
• Ehlebracht, Mike, Wyoming Conservation Officer, Familiar Story by a Different Name: Pogue and Elms: A Tragic Loss, International Game Warden Magazine.

External links

• Map of Peace garden showing museum location.
• American Police Officer Hall of Fame and Memorial.
• Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies.
• Association of Midwest Fish and Game Law Enforcement Officers, North American Game Warden Museum.
• Badge of Honor Memorial Foundation.
• North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association