Mention local law enforcement and most people think of police, their sheriff’s department or Michigan State Police.

But there’s another branch that plays a vital role in the state, especially in the heavily forested lands of the Upper Peninsula: conservation officers with the Department of Natural Resources.

When an accident happens on the ATV or snowmobile trails, or someone is lost or injured, they can be among the first to respond, sometimes having to reach fairly remote areas. And unlike most other law enforcement, they may be called in to deal with wildlife in distress as well.

According to the DNR, these fully licensed law enforcement officers receive additional training to protect natural resources — fish and wildlife, state parks and forests, rivers, lakes and streams.

The state has 250 men and women who patrol all 83 counties to make sure not just state laws but DNR rules and regulations are being followed, the DNR stated in a news release.

In recognition of this work, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has proclaimed today to be Conservation Officer Appreciation Day in Michigan.

“DNR conservation officers work hard every day to protect Michigan’s natural resources and the millions of visitors who value them,” DNR Director Scott Bowen said. “It is less a job and much more a calling.”

In 2023, DNR conservation officers contacted more than 420,000 people through their patrols and outreach, “in a job that is anything but predictable,” the DNR states. “A shift might begin at 3 a.m., gearing up in green with hunter orange and silently leaving home to ensure they are in the woods before the first shots of opening day, or responding to reports of ORV trespassing, illegal hunting from vehicles with loaded and uncased firearms, and hunters or hikers who didn’t return home on time. Sometimes it’s about celebrating an angler’s first catch or rewarding young boaters for properly wearing their life jackets.”

So if you chance to interact with a conservation officer, treat him or her with the respect you’d show to any other member of law enforcement. They’re just trying to do a complex job.

“These officers serve as front-line protectors, helping to ensure that the next generation can safely, successfully enjoy hunts that put food on the table, camping trips, hikes and other adventures on scenic public lands, and responsible participation in boating, off-road vehicle riding, snowmobiling and other outdoor pursuits,” Bowen said.