HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Summertime means more people are spending time outside, and more people are heading to the lakes.
While people are out having fun, there are only a handful of officers patrolling the water.
According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, despite a population boom in the state, it has had the same number of officers patrolling the waters since 1983. The commission said there are currently 208 wildlife officers across North Carolina.
What you need to know
According to the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission there are currently 208 wildlife officers across North Carolina
In Mecklenburg County, there is only one wildlife officer stationed in the county
Officer Sampson Parker Jr., the wildlife officer for Mecklenburg County, has help from other county officers on busy weekend days, but says the commission needs more officers to keep everyone safe
According to the commission, it sold 10% more fishing licenses in 2020 compared to 2019. In Mecklenburg County, there was a 26% increase in licenses
NCWRC Officer Sampson Parker Jr. is the only wildlife officer stationed in Mecklenburg County. He said on a busy summer weekend, resources for the commission are stretched thin.
“We’ve got myself and my sergeant and one other officer on Lake Norman. Mount Island Lake is not getting covered today. Then we’ve got two officers on Lake Wylie,” he said.
Parker said while he’d like to see more officers out on the water, he knows the team has to be on high alert to make sure everyone stays safe.
“Any time there’s a serious boat incident, with injury or fatality, those are definitely the hardest calls to go on,” Parker said. “You never want to go to something like that. That’s part of the job and why I got the job was to prevent stuff like that.”
Parker says he’s watched the lakes get even busier during the coronavirus pandemic. According to the commission, it sold 10% more fishing licenses in 2020 compared to 2019. In Mecklenburg County, there was a 26% increase in licenses.
The commission is hiring more officers across the state. To learn more or to apply, click here.