Home of the oldest statewide law enforcement agency, serving the citizens of West Virginia since February 1897. The Law Enforcement Section is primarily responsible for the enforcement of the game and fish laws and rules. Officers in the section carry on a continuing program of Hunter Education and Boating Safety Education, as well as enforce laws relating to littering, forestry, state parks, environmental/solid waste, pleasure boating, and whitewater rafting.
Natural Resources Police Officers are the most visible of the division employees. A highly visible force of uniformed officers is a deterrent to violations of the natural resources laws. They also respond during times of emergency such as floods and other natural disasters, as well as assist the State Police during times of strife.
Game wardens in West Virginia work for the state’s Division of Natural Resources and are known as Natural Resources Police Officers. West Virginia lies entirely within the Appalachian Mountains, and the state boasts more than 50 state parks, state forests, and management areas. West Virginia’s combination of mountains, rivers, and plateaus creates a diversity of habitats and a beautiful place to live and work. Natural Resources Police Officers in West Virginia frequently work in tandem with special agents from the US Fish and Wildlife Service to protect the state’s animals and plants, because state and national natural resource areas and recreation areas overlap.
Natural Resources Police Officers in West Virginia also perform search and rescue operations, take part in natural or manmade disaster recovery, and even work undercover to apprehend wildlife violators. This creates significant challenges for West Virginia’s Natural Resources Police Officers. These officers must not only be highly proficient in law enforcement and rescue techniques, they must also be highly knowledgeable about West Virginia’s ecology and natural habitats. Therefore, the Division of Natural Resources sets the bar high for those it hires to be Natural Resources Police Officers.
Applicants with a thorough understanding of the requirements and application process for these positions will be better suited to present their relevant background and skillsets in the best light to enhance their chances of being chosen. Read on to determine which qualifications to showcase in order to become a successful game warden applicant.
You may contact the Law Enforcement Section by writing to the following address.
Law Enforcement Section
Division of Natural Resources
112 California Avenue
Charleston, WV 25305
DNR.Law@wv.gov
