2004 Education & Outreach Newsletter

The Senior Volunteer Program

The following story is a composite of many different people who compose the Department of Fish and Game's South Coast Region Senior Volunteer Program. These dedicated men and women serve an important role with the Department, performing routine administrative tasks, responding to wildlife incidents, and providing public information. For additional information, please visit the SVP website.

A typical day in the life of a Senior Volunteer:

0730 Arrived for duty. Started coffee for the others and checked the voicemail and e-mail. Two new coyote calls and a car that needs to go to the repair shop. Looks like it is going to be a busy day!

0745 SVs Smith and Garcia report for duty. Briefed them on the coyote calls, both are located in North San Diego County. Checked the citations, and there are 3 to go to Vista Court. SV Smith makes file copies of the citations and the arrest reports, while SV Garcia inventories the equipment in Go-Bag #2.

0815 SV Smith calls dispatch and advises that she and SV Garcia will be en route to Vista via the auto repair shop. SV Garcia drives the Senior Volunteer Jeep, while SV Smith takes the keys to a warden vehicle, grabs a few out of service signs, and heads off to the garage to drop the vehicle off for a 12000 mile service and check of the brakes. The warden who drives this vehicle is on vacation for 2 weeks, and when she returns, her vehicle will be waiting at the South Coast Region office, freshly serviced and ready for patrol.

0900 SVs Smith and Garcia head up Interstate 15 to the city of Vista, in northern San Diego County. Mrs. Alexander, the president of her condo association called yesterday to report a couple of coyotes which had been sighted in the neighborhood. Some of the residents of the complex are frightened by the animals. The complex is next door to an elementary school and some canyons, which could spell trouble. If the volunteers find a potential problem, they will notify the local warden.

0945 SV Smith drops SV Garcia at Vista court. 3 citations are filed, saving a Fish and Game Warden’s time for patrol.

1000 SV unit arrives at Creekside Acres complex in Vista. They knock on the door of unit 134 and are greeted by Marion Alexander, president of the homeowners association.
“Mrs. Anderson, I’m Emma Smith, and this is Frank Garcia, we’re volunteers with the Department of Fish and Game. I understand you are concerned about some coyotes.”
“Thanks for coming so soon,” replies Mrs. Alexander. “We see them everyday, there are 3 of them. I’m afraid they are going to bite one of our residents, or worse!”
“Let’s take a look around,” says Frank Garcia. “Where do you usually see the animals?”
Mrs. Alexander takes the Senior Volunteers on a short tour of the complex, pointing out the elementary school and canyons nearby. The volunteers spot two bowls—one with water, the other with cat food, on a neighbor’s porch. Emma explains that leaving food and water out like this is an invitation for wildlife, like coyotes, for a free meal.
The volunteers pass out “Living with California Coyotes” brochures to Mrs. Alexander and several of her neighbors. They make some notes on their findings, and stop at the elementary school, which is on summer break. They leave some brochures and a business card with the principal and advise him to call Fish and Game if he sees any coyote activity that raises a concern.

1130 SV Garcia notifies dispatch and the office that they have completed their visit and are going to head up the coast to talk to fisherman, and to get lunch. The Senior Volunteers stop by the Oceanside pier and make 14 contacts with citizens, and hand out some fishing regulations. When they stop to say hello to one father, who is fishing with his daughters, they pull out 2 junior fishing licenses and present one to each of the girls. The girls excitedly show off their new “licenses” to everyone within earshot. Another successful contact. A man walks over and tells the volunteers that someone is snagging lobster at the end of the pier, a double violation, because it's not lobster season, and the method of take is illegal. The volunteers take the information, and give the man a card with the number for CALTIP, the Department's 24 hour poaching hotline. They also call the local warden with a description of the subject who is allegedly snagging lobsters. Fortunately, the warden is only minutes away, and arrives on scene to contact the poacher, and cites him for possession of 3 lobsters out of season, and using illegal method of take.

1215 Lunchtime! Even while they are eating, the volunteers are approached by citizens with questions about the current regulations, or the cost of a fishing license. Emma and Frank happily answer their questions, while eating lunch. They refer some of the citizens to the Fish and Game Office, while others are given regulations booklets, or cards with the Department's website information.

1430 Emma and Frank return to the South Coast Region office. This time, Emma calls in to dispatch, while Frank update their vehicle mileage log and notes the expenses for the day: $14.75 for gasoline and $4.00 for a carwash. This information, along with the contacts made on the coyote call and the pier are noted on Frank's Daily Activity Report, along with the fact that Emma was working with him. Emma completed a wildlife incident report for the coyote in Vista, and forwarded to the area lieutenant. Another exciting day at Fish and Game!

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Each year the Senior Volunteers provide thousands of hours of assistance to the Department. Their tasks range from the mundane, such as filing reports and counting licenses, to the exciting, such as riding along with Fish and Game Wardens and going on sport fishing trips with biologists, to help with fish counts. Volunteers also help with educational and public relations events such as Junior and Family Pheasant hunts, National Hunting and Fishing Day celebrations, street fairs, fishing derbies, and the like.

Senior Volunteers serve 3 days a month, minimum, and attend monthly meetings and training sessions. Senior Volunteer Program applicants must be 50 years of age, possess a valid California Driver's license, be in good health, and pass a modified background investigation.