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Trading in the controls of various U.S. Coast Guard Cutters and Small Boats to an FWS 20-foot Alweld flat bottom river boat, retired Coast Guardsman turned Senior Federal Wildlife Officer James “Jim” Reynolds is no slouch at the helm. As if the job of a river based FWO was created just for him, Reynolds is at home on the water.
Reynolds wasn’t always at home on the water. He grew up landlocked, exploring the outdoors around Little Rock, Arkansas. Similar to many that find themselves as a Federal Wildlife Officer, Reynolds was someone who enjoyed working with people and the outdoors. In 1991, Reynolds began his service as a navigator or “Quartermaster” for the U.S. Coast Guard. At about halfway through his career Reynolds changed jobs from being a Quartermaster to Boatswains Mate. Reynolds found himself at his first duty station in Kodiak, Alaska working on the bridge of the 230-foot U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis (The Galloping Ghost of the Alaskan Coast).
“I wanted an ongoing mission, something that was always going on rather than long periods of time training and waiting”
With twenty-two years of service with the U.S. Coast Guard, Reynolds retired in 2014. During his time in service, his career took him to duty stations like Kodiak, AK; Charleston, SC; Wilmington, NC; Gloucester, MA; Rockland, ME, South Padre, TX; Honolulu, HI; and lastly Tennessee. Reynolds served in positions such as Deck Watch Officer on a 378-foot cutter, Law Enforcement Boarding Officer, and Small Boat Coxswain.
“With every change in station, I tried to go far, far from the last place I was”
It had been 20 years since he was stationed in Alaska, Reynolds was on a cruise ship headed up the Chilkoot Inlet near Skagway, Alaska. Looking over the guardrail, reminiscing about Alaska’s beauty, he told his sister he is moving back one day. A year later, Reynolds moved to Anchorage, Alaska. In 2019, after some convincing from another recently retired service member (SFWO McDonald), Reynolds joined the ranks of about 200 other Federal Wildlife Officers around the country. The mission of Refuge Law Enforcement translated right over from his favorite Coast Guard mission of doing law enforcement off the waters of South Padre Island, Texas.
After the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center and lengthy pause from training at the National Conservation Training Center, thanks to the COVID 19 pandemic, Reynolds was able to join his Field Training Officers, SFWO Mike Koole in Montana and then SFWO Chuck Melven in Minnesota. Once fully commissioned, SFWO Reynold’s desire for returning to Alaska was put on hold for a bit. He accepted a position in the Northwest North Dakota Complex, patrolling refuges such as Upper Souris NWR, Lostwood NWR, J. Clark Salyer NWR, and Des Lacs NWR.
In 2022, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would again reap the benefits of Reynold’s two decades behind the controls of a various vessels by moving him to the Alaska Region. Reynolds primarily focused on the Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge but would regularly support other refuges. There he was able to share his knowledge and expertise on the water with other Federal Wildlife Officers.
Currently, Reynolds is the primary Federal Wildlife Officer to the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. Building off the lasting relationships and experiences of the late SFWO Robert Sundown, and recently transferred SFWO McDonald, Reynolds drives on with the vision of Refuge Law Enforcement.
“Guided by the founding principles of the National Wildlife Refuge System, and the mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we shall protect wildlife and habitat and make refuges safe places for staff and visitors, we shall conserve America’s natural recourses for now and in the future, and we shall exemplify excellence in public service to all”
In Alaska we are shared stewards of world renowned natural resources and our nation’s last true wild places. Our hope is that each generation has the opportunity to live with, live from, discover and enjoy the wildness of this awe-inspiring land and the people who love and depend on it.
