When US Fish and Wildlife Captain Chris Johnson reached the mandatory retirement age, he wasn’t quite ready to hang up his hat, so he did what most never would; after 33 years of federal service, he went right back to the Academy and became an Alaska State Wildlife Trooper! Join us as Chris shares stories of the outdoors from “Alaska’s Playground” - the rugged and stunningly beautiful Kenai Peninsula.
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Here’s what we discuss:
Mandatory retirement from Federal law enforcement service
Torn between becoming a professional football player or game warden
Began career with the National Park Service and local PD in Minnesota
Joined USFWS in 1989
First full-time Federal wildlife law enforcement officer in the Alaska refuge system
Part-time positions now being phased out
Arriving at the 2-million acre Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
“The playground of Alaska.”
A one-day orientation
The first of many bear mauling cases
Charged by three juvenile brown bears in a row
A sow had been shot
Cubs became dangerously habituated to humans
The best bear defense
Bear incidents increased through the years
Black and brown bears tend not to mingle
Joined first USFWS Honor Guard team
Only federal member of state Serious Incident Response Team (SIRT)
Back to the Academy!
Previous experience was a huge advantage
Hoping to rejoin SIRT
The moose that shot back
Teasers for a follow-up: a truck through the ice and a ‘warm’ welcome to the Kenai
Credits
Hosts: Wayne Saunders and John Nores
Producer: Jay Ammann
Art & Design: Ashley Hannett
Research / Content Coordinator: Stacey DesRoches
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