The State of Ohio takes protecting wildlife seriously. So much so that Wildlife Officer Jasmine Grossnickle had to complete a nine-week outdoor wildlife management training course as part of the education process to do her job as the only wildlife officer in Miami County. Grossnickle shared details of her responsibilities with the members of the Troy Rotary Club during their March 29th meeting.

A graduate of The Ohio State University’s wildlife management program, she did not think she’d be in law enforcement. When she applied for the job, she had to complete that nine-week course, along with other studies, as part of Ohio’s specialized law enforcement program so as to be able to handle nearly every aspect of criminal and wildlife enforcement. It’s an outdoor job she loves. Though she is the only officer in the county, there are covert officers who move between regions of Ohio to enforce poaching and other crimes. If necessary, Grossnickle works with local, county and state law enforcement organizations to coordinate multi-jurisdictional efforts related to criminal activity.

Her most important role is enforcing the laws related to hunting, fishing and trapping. That includes verifying permits and licenses, patrolling for traffic, drug, and other criminal acts on state property, as well as general enforcement. She investigates acts of negligence, such the destruction of wildlife habitats and populations, while monitoring wildlife patterns, including surveying bird behaviors, migration and populations. A fun part of her job is educating the public on river recreation, archery, hunting and proper respect for Ohio’s unique wildlife. To learn more, visit http://wildlife.ohiodnr.gov.

Troy Rotarians, and the Troy Rotary Foundation, support several community projects annually. In 2014-15, more than $16,000 in scholarships and community aid was distributed from the fund, including the annual Shoe Project, Troy After Prom and support for summer camps at Brukner Nature Center and Waco Air Museum. Club members are always looking for new topics to share at weekly meetings. If you are interested in presenting your business or organization, please visit the Troy Rotary Web site at www.troyohiorotary.org and submit your information in the “Contact Us” section. Troy Rotary is a member-involved, goal-oriented service club focused on socio/economic issues that have an impact both locally and internationally. You can follow their activities on Facebook at Troy Rotary Club.