When you work as a conservation officer, taking on the role of the grim reaper comes with the territory.

鈥淭he job is interesting and rewarding at times, but it鈥檚 definitely not for everyone,鈥� said Peter Pauwels, who retired at the end of June after 30 years with the B.C. Conservation Officer Service based out of Greater Victoria.

鈥淲e have to do many unpleasant things in this job. The amount of animals I鈥檝e had to kill is staggering. It鈥檚 never easy, and it takes a toll. For better or worse in some ways, we鈥檙e society鈥檚 killing tool.鈥�

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One of the challenges Pauwels had to deal with that鈥檚 increased dramatically in years is the number of people who take to social media to spread misinformation.

鈥淲hat鈥檚 particularly disturbing is the number of people who think conservation officers enjoy killing animals,鈥� he said.

Pauwels said people are entitled to their opinion, but it鈥檚 a 鈥渄espicable thing to say.鈥�

He added in his 30 years on the job. He鈥檚 never met a conservation officer who enjoyed that part of the job.

鈥淲hen we kill animals, there鈥檚 a valid reason for that. I used to do a lot of media, print, television and radio, but I stopped a couple of years ago because of all the negativity,鈥� he said

鈥淐onservation officers who remain on the job are hardworking, dedicated professionals who should be treated respectfully because they have a difficult job to do.鈥�

Pauwels said he would like to see more officers hired when asked what improvements he would recommend moving forward.

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鈥淭here are many places in the province that are short-handed, and officers are getting burnt out,鈥� he said.鈥漌e鈥檙e simply responsible for too many things. The mandate as COs has become so broad that it鈥檚 increasingly challenging to meet the public鈥檚 expectations without more officers.鈥�

Wild Wise Sooke community coordinator Sam Webb said Pauwels has been instrumental in assisting the organization with its work. Wild Wise is devoted to educating people about co-existing with wildlife and has expanded from East Sooke to include Metchosin, Shirley, and Otter Point.

鈥淚 love Peter and greatly respect his work,鈥� Webb said. 鈥淲ild Wise wouldn鈥檛 be anything without Peter, and we鈥檙e sad to see him go. Our foundation owes so much to him. His focus has always been on education; we鈥檙e grateful for his support. The work conservation officers do invaluable in protecting people and wildlife.鈥�

Dana Livingstone, the founder of the volunteer group Wildlife Advocates Collective in East Sooke, was effusive in her praise for Pauwels as well.

鈥淚鈥檝e always admired the passion, dedication and compassion he brings to his work,鈥� she said. 鈥淧eter cares about every call he鈥檚 taken and has saved so much wildlife, big and small. We need more COs like Peter in the field, and he will be missed.鈥�

Livingstone has witnessed many examples of how Pauwels was always willing to do whatever he could to help injured wildlife.

She recalled an incident in Victoria鈥檚 Rockland area where a large buck had a rat trap fastened to his tongue. Pauwels tracked down the deer, tranquillized it, removed the trap and released the animal. Livingstone was also moved by the amount of time Pauwels devoted on another occasion to try to find an injured doe.

鈥淚t shows Peter鈥檚 dedication and willingness to go the extra mile,鈥� she said.

Pauwels is currently a consultant in the field, monitoring wildlife safety in northern B.C.

鈥淚鈥檓 not ready for the golf course yet. I鈥檓 exploring many opportunities related to wildlife and enforcement.鈥�

鈥� For more on Wild Wise, go to www.wildwisesociety.org.

鈥� For more on Wildlife Advocates Collective, go to its Facebook page.

editor@sookenewsmirror.com
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