Guest post by Matthew Ilseman
Game Wardens have a history that dates back to the Middle Ages. They are related to Rangers of the American Frontier and other forest warriors. As such they may be seen as forerunners of modern to special operation units. Modern spec ops, however, has also influence on modern game wardens as shown in John Nores book Hidden Wars: How Special Op Game Wardens are Reclaiming American’s Wildlands from the Drug Cartels.
The book details Nores’s creation of the Marijuana Enforcement Team of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. It follows the creation, the training, and the missions of the team. Their targets are Mexican drug cartels that illegally grow marijuana on public lands. The tactics they use are similar to military special ops and police SWAT teams.
To be honest this book is not as riveting as the book I previous reviewed, With the Old Breed. That book was a horrifying recollection of a Marine fighting in the Pacific. While Nores does describe fire fights this book is not a good read for those looking for a true life adventure story. The operations of Nores’s team are described clinically. What the book is, however, is a window into a serious problem that that is largely unknown to many people.
Nores describes how illegal growing operations imperil people and the environment. Being part of Mexican drug cartels, the illegal growers are armed and willing to use violence. Civilians on occasion have been murdered and at one time Nores’s partner was shot. It also shows the damage it does to the environment. This includes poisoning the area with illegal pesticide among other pollutions. The cartels also reroute water supply making drought worse. In California drought is a major issue.
If not riveting, the book is interesting in how various tactics are employed. Among other innovations Nores details the creation of scout/sniper teams to work with the MET. This seems more military than law enforcement though from the operations discussed it seems that teams lean heavy on the scout aspect than the sniper. They are not simply assassinating illegal growers. Most operations end in arrests not deaths.
Nores’s thinks highly of working with K9 teams. These seem highly effective. While some might think criminals getting dog bitten is cruel, Nores points out K9s save both officer and arrestee in violent encounters. The K9s also do searches among other things. He gives special mention to a K9 name Phoebe, or sometimes called Fur Missile, who he had a pleasure to work with. Ironically, everybody who Nores works with Phoebe is the one detailed. The men and women who are part of his team are only known by call signs and aren’t really described. This may be to protect them from retaliation from the cartels.
Unfortunately, this does make it hard to have anyone or anything to grasp on to. While Nores writes clearly, he is not the prose stylist that Joan Didion is in her non-fiction, for example. The fire fights and arrests are described dryly. So the book is not a literary masterpiece. I do think, however, it is important that people read this for a significant reason. That is a man on the ground view of the effects of public policy.
Nores mentions the effects of California Values Act which made it impossible to deport the illegal growers captured the vast majority of whom are illegal immigrants. It also shows that legalization of marijuana did not make the black market disappear over night. Apparently, around 80 percent of growers are illegal while 20 percent are licensed. In fact, it seems to have become harder to prosecute the cartels.
It is not as simple as legalization is bad though since he mentions that the CDFW gets much revenue from legal marijuana to fight the illegal operations. Also, his mission is strongly supported by licensed marijuana growers who are horrified by the violence toward people and the destruction of the environment by illegal ones.
One of the most interesting parts of the books is when Nores describes the shrines set up by the Cartels. They burn votive candles to various saints. These include both saints recognized by the Catholic Church and others. Most common is Santa Muerte (Death.) Nores mentions that rituals often involve killing and cannibalism. Grisly details are not really given though which may be for the best. This section is a window into a very strange world.
So while it may not be the most affecting read on an emotional or aesthetic level, you will learn something. It is also a fairly short book that is not hard to read. So if you are interested in any of the issues it deals with (and if you aren’t you probably should be) you should give it a read.
Wayne says
The day-to-day work of a game warden is dangerous enough. I befriended a former North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission enforcement officer (game warden) through my job. He was a former collegiate wrestler with biceps the size of softballs and a master’s in wildlife management. When folks would ask what he did as a warden, his usual response was, “You don’t want to know what I did as a warden.” He would point out that almost all the perpetrators he dealt with were armed and either drunk or stoned. I’d want him on my side in any guerilla situation.
JimC says
For sure. It’s one of the most dangerous gigs in law enforcement, for just the reasons you cite. Add in cartel involvement and it is real Wild West stuff. The Angeles National Forest was just getting weird as I left for Oregon. Outside Magazine would dub it “Forest Prime Evil” due mostly to cartel grows that were both toxic and immediately physically dangerous.
Matthew says
The book makes clear that being a game warden is dangerous. Basically most of the people they encounter has a knife or gun. They also have to deal with natural disaster and dangerous animals. Hidden War is a window into something a lot of people don’t know about.
Quixotic Mainer says
I’ll try and pick this book up, looks like a thrilling gig.
The frontier in a tactical sense isn’t too far away, as soon as folks step off of civilization mentally as well as physically; we’re largely there again.
Matthew says
Yup.
SQUIRE RUSTICUS says
I bought and read both of his books (War in the Woods also) a couple years ago. They are books that everyone whom wants to legalize drugs, supports open borders, BUT claims to care about the environment should get a copy of. The fools that blindly follow the belief that there is no downside to drugs and illegal immigration should read carefully what is happening to our wild places.
What has happened to America ?
The same idiots that lecture me for working in oil and gas, have no problem with buying dope from Cartels whom poison the water, an the wildlife of the Western forest. I remember getting some thoughts from vegans at livestock shows, wearing leather Doc Martins, about the cruelty of the beef industry.
Anyway, the books offer a first hand look at the experience of Law officers in an endless war, where police dogs live only a short time due to the toxins and hazards of the profession. Where mountain lions, bear, the beast of the wild woods die of poisoned water, from pesticides illegal in America, so Cartels can feed people’s need for drugs. Those whom use drugs, should be ashamed of what they have done to our World, our lives.
Matthew says
It’s a complicated issue, but at least all the problems with drugs aren’t going to disappear if they are legalized. The Mafia after all did not disappear with prohibition.
lane batot says
Amen!
lane batot says
At first glance, I thought that photo of the fellow on horseback with the raised gun was YOU, Jim C.!…..But yes, definitely a book I’d like to get–I checked Hudson’s Bay Company/Amazon, but it doesn’t seem any real book copies are available there yet(just fake books–you know that “kindle” stuff, etc……) Reminded me of a book I got and read years ago–which I went ahead and looked up on Hudson’s Bay Company/Amazon while I was lingering there–a really good one about modern day game wardens titled “Game Wars”–quite cheaply available, and highly recommended! I always though “Game Wars” would make a great movie, or better yet, an even greater mini-series. That would get the message out to far more of the public……I had to deal with marijuana growers where I used to live in isolated Southern Appalachia–luckily nothing near so sinister and dangerous as Drug Cartel types–just the local mountaineer culture. Some of the locals actually thought, when I first moved to the area, I was a Narc! NOT a good thing to be viewed as, if one wanted to continue living in the area! I managed to dispell the beliefs talking with locals, and finding and returning their lost bear hounds on numerous occasions. I garnished quite the bizarre reputation of being this guy who roamed al over the mountains with a pack of wolves–I tried repeatedly to correct that notion, explaining that some of my dogs were just PART wolf, but the “pack of wolves” story was just too good to drop, I guess–in the end, it might have actually benefitted me somewhat. There was a local hang-out that was a combo gas station, pool hall, grocery, bar, diner, and VHS video rental(known as the “Slab Cafe'”–quite the enterprising institution) where EVERYONE in this isolated community traded to some degree–I got my gas and rental videos there. One day, the owner of this Going Concern(whom I had heard was definitely part of the local Marijuana Growing activity) approached me conversationally and casually mentioned “I heard you roam all over those mountains with yer wolves” “Yes, yes I do!” I replied, and I wasn’t about to lose this opportunity, “And you know? I have found pot patches in many spots!” The fellow’s eyes nearly popped when I blatantly mentioned this, of course! “And you know what? That ain’t NONE OF MY BUSINESS! Just like I wouldn’t bother anybody’s corn patch or other crops, and I ain’t no snitch, neither! People leave me and my dogs alone, and I won’t bother them!” You can bet, word got around quick, and the suspicion surrounding me dropped quickly, and I ended up being rather accepted in the community. Finding those lost bear hounds on a regular basis certainly helped, too!
lane batot says
….And a great guest post, Mathew! Thanx!
Matthew says
Thanks. Your Welcome.
Wayne says
Could Lane’s book be Wildlife Wars: The Life and Times of a Fish and Game Warden by Terry Grosz? He was a career U.S Fish & Wildlife Service officer before he retired and became an author. It’s a good read covering all sorts of investigations involving wildlife infractions, and there’s a sequel as well. I’d love to have a beer with this guy and listen to more of his stories.
lane batot says
Wow, I haven’t heard of that one–I’ll havta look it up! The one I mentioned IS “Game Wars”, by Mark Reisner–early 1990’s publication. It’s a GOOD ‘UN too!
Jean Nave says
Interesting. I have always had a great respect for game wardens. Having lived most of my life in rural America, I’ve seen many times when they have helped to stop very bad behavior.
Matthew says
The book increased my respect for them.