Wyoming Game and Fish Department
Baggs Senior Game Warden Kim Olson has been honored because the 2023 Shikar-Safari Wildlife Officer of the Year for Wyoming.
The Shikar-Safari Club International is a conservation-based organization that awards deserving wildlife legislation enforcement officers in all states, provinces and territories within the U.S. and Canada. The annual award honors an officer whose efforts present excellent efficiency and achievement amongst commissioned conservation legislation enforcement personnel.
Wyoming Game and Fish Department Chief Game Warden Rick King lauded Olson’s dedication in a launch saying the respect, sharing that “Olson is a dedicated and exceptional wildlife officer. Her strong work ethic inspires those she mentors and resonates with the community she serves.”
Olson beforehand spent over eight years with Utah’s Game and Fish Department. And with almost 20 years of expertise with Wyoming’s Game and Fish Department, Olson now oversees one of many largest districts within the state, masking almost 3,000 sq. miles.
Her patrol space extends from the continental divide west to the Bitter Creek and Cow Creek-Powder Wash roads south of Interstate 80 to Colorado, encompassing cities equivalent to Wamsutter, Savery, Dixon and Baggs. Olson’s district stands out as one of many busiest hunt areas for deer and elk in Wyoming.
Olson’s dedication goes past conventional legislation enforcement, as she invests appreciable effort and time in coordinating with landowners and the Wyoming Department of Transportation to facilitate the motion of massive sport throughout highways utilizing right-of-way fences.
Beyond her legislation enforcement duties, she dedicates time towards educating hunter security and instilling conservation ethics in Wyoming college students by college packages.
Game and Fish officers additionally praised Oslon as an “invaluable asset”, given her “extraordinary ability to make objective decisions, attention to detail and development of creative solutions to difficult cases.”
Olsen stated she was “very surprised and honored to be chosen” to obtain the popularity, noting that “there are a lot of good game wardens in Wyoming.”
“I have always tried to do what is best for wildlife and to be their voice. I think it’s just that simple,” she added.
Olsen acknowledged many memorable —and stunning — moments over the course of her profession, which she stated is usually aided by the irregular nature of her work. She famous that every single day is completely different and shared a narrative about one notably memorable second when “a bear answered the door” of a cabin she was known as to.
Through her steady advocacy for wildlife, Olson has served a mentor and inspiration to younger wardens.
King known as Olsen “an excellent role model to new game wardens and her local community,” and applauded her “natural ability to foster a conservation ethic and inspire those around her to pursue a career in wildlife management and conservation.”
The Shikar-Safari Club International will acknowledge and current Olson along with her award on March 12 on the Game and Fish Commission’s assembly in Pinedale, Wyoming.
Olson additionally earned a visit to the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Associations’ annual conference, which might be held this summer season in Penticton, British Columbia.
