The Last Wildlife Control Officer in British Columbia: Thirty Years of Dealing with Problem Predators

by Dennis Pemble, Karen Pemble

When Dennis Pemble was a kid, he never dreamed of becoming a wildlife control officer. After struggling in school because of a learning disability and being bullied by classmates, Pemble finally found his footing after discovering his aptitude for trapping coyotes and training hound dogs. That short-term job set Pemble on a career path that spanned three decades, taking him on calls everywhere from the remote reaches of the Sunshine Coast to urban parks in Vancouver.

The Last Wildlife Control Officer in British Thirty Years of Dealing with Problem Predators is a memoir composed of thirty-six short stories drawn from Dennis Pemble’s diaries, co-authored with his wife, Karen Pemble. Each wildlife encounter is as educational as it is entertaining, with Pemble sharing expertise on why some animals simply can’t be relocated. He tells tales of near misses, punctuated by moments of hilarity and camaraderie with fellow conservation officers, whether stories of tracking stealthy cougars on the loose (often with beloved hounds Molly, Luke, and Tango leading the charge), relocating grizzly bears, catching a coyote hiding in a gas-station store, and finding the safest way to remove an uninvited guest at the Pacific National Exhibition.

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2023

Reviews

[Deryck Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Received this book as a gift from my CO daughter. She knows me well and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. What an exciting career Dennis had. His tales are filled with humour and excitement that make you feel like your are part of it. Well worth the read.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a spectacular & unique career! Story after story of dramatic experiences & close calls. I really enjoyed this book.

[KG · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this locally based book. Great stories about your tracking dogs and wild animal encounters. The end context on how many animals you interacted with was great. Thank you for sharing!

[Avid Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is entertaining, educational, and exciting. The author made me feel like I was right beside him while he tranquillized and relocated grizzlies and cougars and ran with him after his hounds. Some stories were hilarious, while others kept me on the edge of my seat, wondering what was going to happen next. I loved this book and highly recommend it.