The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) Law Enforcement Division is beginning the next cycle of recruitment for wildlife officers. If you want to make a positive difference in California as a member of a professional, effective, responsive law enforcement organization dedicated to ensuring public safety and protecting of our natural resources, this may be the career for you.

Applications must be submitted by July 31, 2020. Apply for a “Warden Cadet” position if you are not currently a peace officer. Apply for a “Warden” (lateral) position if you have your Peace Officer Standards of Training (POST) Basic certificate and are currently employed as a peace officer within the State of California.

For more information, see the “Warden Cadet” job bulletin: https://jobs.ca.gov/JOBSGEN/8FG09.PDF or the “Warden” (lateral) job bulletin: https://jobs.ca.gov/JOBSGEN/7FG12.PDF

All prospective candidates are encouraged to extensively review informational materials on the CDFW website in addition to the above job bulletins. If you have additional questions, email LED’s recruitment officer, Lt. Perry Schultz, at becomeagamewarden@wildlife.ca.gov.

CDFW wildlife officers are fully sworn California peace officers with a fundamental duty to serve and protect the public. They have the authority to enforce all California laws. Wildlife officers patrol the mountains, valleys, deserts, creeks, streams, rivers and ocean. They frequently work alone and cover both rural and urban areas. California’s diverse ecosystem spans 159,000 square miles divided into 58 counties, with a human population more than 39 million. The state has 1,100 miles of coastline, 30,000 miles of rivers and streams, 4,800 lakes and reservoirs and 80 major rivers. Wildlife officers patrol with trucks, off road utility vehicles, personal watercraft, large patrol vessels, snowmobiles and aircraft. They work undercover, conduct surveillances and complete in-depth investigations, including writing and serving search warrants. CDFW’s Law Enforcement Division has numerous specialized teams and assignments including K-9, wildlife trafficking, cannabis enforcement, marine patrol, and oil spill prevention and response.

Successful applicants for warden cadet will attend a POST-certified law enforcement training academy, conducted by CDFW at Butte College in Oroville. Following the academy, probationary wildlife officers will work with seasoned field training officers for several months, where they will learn to apply their training in practical circumstances.