James A. Swan, Ph.D.

James A. Swan, Ph.D., is a columnist for ESPNOutdoors.com, and the author and co-author of nine books including co-author with Lt. John Nores Jr. of <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/crimemagazi0b-20/detail/1599219301">War In The Woods: Combating the Marijuana Cartels On America's Wildlands</a> (Lyons, 2010). Swan is a co-executive producer of the "Wild Justice" reality TV series that premiere on the National Geographic Channel on November 28. The series is produced by Original Productions (Deadliest Catch, Ice Road Truckers). James is also an actor, having appeared in 18 feature films including "Murder In The First" and "Jack", three dramatic series, and over 30 commercials and industrials. (He often plays a law enforcement officer.) A former college professor and psychologist, James has consulted with state, local and federal criminal justice systems. www.jamesswan.com
<a href="http://www.jamesswan.com">www.jamesswan.com</a>

War in the Woods: Combating Marijuana Cartels on Our Public Lands

Nov. 15, 2010

An excerpt from the book War in the Woods: Combating Marijuana Cartels on Our Public Lands.

by Lt. John Nores Jr. and James A. Swan

Nationwide, there are around 7,000 game wardens, or about as many of NYPD's finest as are assigned to cover the New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square.

Nowhere are game wardens abundant, but the situation is especially bad in California, and man and nature are paying a price.

California's game wardens are responsible for protecting more than 1,000 native fish and wildlife species, more than 6,000 native plant species, and approximately 360 endangered species, as well as criminal, civil and traffic law, plus search and rescue, hunter education and assisting wildlife biologists; yet, at any given time, today there are about 240 wardens on patrol in California, and that's nearly 50 wardens more than in 2007, when I began making a documentary about California's game warden crisis..