The Commission has successfully reintroduced beavers, river otters, elk, bald eagles, ospreys and peregrine falcons. Your chance of seeing one of these species is greater today than ever because of these efforts. Law Enforcement Wildlife law enforcement is one of the Game Commission's most important responsibilities. It's conducted by a force comprising about 200 full-time wildlife conservation officers and close to 700 deputy wildlife conservation officers. Conservation officer duties include enforcing hunting and trapping laws to protect wildlife, investigating hunting accidents, conducting wildlife surveys and providing educational programs.
Officers are uniformed and have received extensive law enforcement and wildlife management training.
All full-time officers are graduates of the Game Commission's Ross Leffler School of Conservation, America's first wildlife conservation officer school. More than 500 officers have graduated from the school since it was established in 1936. Wildlife conservation officers are empowered to enforce the Game and Wildlife Code, Fish and Boat Code, Forestry Laws and Pennsylvania's Crimes Code, and they frequently assist local and state police, especially in rural areas. Our officers have been involved in missing person searches, guiding police in remote wilderness areas and drug eradication programs. Officers also provide assistance in emergency responses to accidents and disasters.