By Doug Fletcher,Staff Writer

Maine’s Warden Service is 10 people short, down by seven wardens, two sergeants and one investigator.

By the time replacements are ready to take to the state’s woods and waters in a couple of years, there likely will be more vacancies, said Mark Latti, spokesman for the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

The lack of wardens is causing officials to scramble in an effort to keep districts covered. Typically, the service has tried to keep up to 100 wardens in the field.

“It does create scheduling challenges,” Latti said.

It could also result in overtime as remaining game wardens are stretched to the limit to protect people and the game they pursue. Or it could mean that areas of the state are left without game wardens on duty.

Either could affect morale.

Wardens in the past have complained of being overworked and not being allowed to concentrate on fish and wildlife law enforcement. Often, wardens find themselves enforcing ATV, snowmobile and boating laws rather than pursuing poachers.

Latti said morale issues haven’t led to the depletion of the service’s ranks, however.

Of the 10 existing openings, nine stem from retirements, he said. Only one warden left the department by resignation.

“When we had to restructure in 2003 it was very difficult,” he said, referring to demotions and cutbacks that resulted from the Legislature’s paring of the department’s budget. “But we’ve moved from there and we continue to do our jobs.”

He added, “The budget challenge of two years ago has been overcome.”

The number of openings is in line with past openings, Latti said. “If anything, we went a little longer” before beginning to recruit.

To deal with the staffing shortage, supervisors have been shifting wardens from one district to another to make certain that game laws are being enforced. Wardens also are charged with enforcing inland boating laws and searching for people who get lost, whether they’re hunting, fishing or merely out for a walk.

The department’s last recruiting effort was in 2001. Wardens who signed up during that drive were qualified to begin enforcing Maine’s fish and game laws in August 2003.

Latti said it typically takes 18 months to two years to get recruits to the point where they can do their jobs on their own. By that time, the shortage could grow to 12, based on projections.

Starting pay for a game warden is $15.34 per hour. The rate is capped at $20.47. Sergeants and lieutenants earn more.

Wardens are eligible for overtime, however, and the state benefits package is considered excellent when compared with those offered by many private employers.

In the past, warden jobs have been highly sought-after by people interested in law enforcement and the outdoors.

“Maine’s game wardens are among the state’s most highly trained and trusted law officers,” said Roland D. Martin, the commissioner of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, in a press release announcing the recruitment effort. “The extensive recruitment process ensures that we get the best candidates.”

The Warden Service was created in 1880 to protect Maine’s fish and wildlife. It is the second-largest state law enforcement agency, behind Maine State Police.

Game wardens have to have extensive knowledge of wildlife, hunting, fishing, trapping and other outdoor activities such as whitewater rafting, a strong will to work in law enforcement and a willingness to work outdoors in all weather conditions, Latti noted.