“We need to have more mainstream media programs that show conservationists as heroes, and examples of good work, as well as problems and crises,” says James Swan. This was the objective he had when he started Snow Goose Productions with his wife, Roberta, and son, Andrew. Through Snow Goose Productions, James has helped produce over 20 documentaries, TV pilots, short films, and commercials.

In 2004 James started shooting short educational videos for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. While working side-by-side with California game wardens, James learned the importance of their work as well as the severe funding and resource limitations that they face. Back then there were only 192 wardens for 38 million Californians. While many know that game wardens enforce fish and wildlife laws to protect native plants, wildlife, and endangered species, James discovered that they do much more: “In California, game wardens work on land, water, and air, often without backup. Not only do they handle wildlife crime, but also civil crime and they are deputy US Marshals that perform search and rescue.” It requires more education to become a game warden than a regular patrol officer, and game wardens have the highest risk of death on the job. After learning about the unsustainable situation that California and it's game wardens were facing, James published several articles in ESPN and American Forests Magazine to bring attention to the issue.

In 2007 the California game wardens approached James again. This time they asked Snow Goose Productions to craft a documentary about the shortage of game wardens in California. For the next two years, James and his son traveled through California with game wardens in planes, boats, snowmobiles, and patrol vehicles, filming their work. He was exposed to the dangerous nature of their work first-hand.

In 2009 the documentary, titled "Endangered Species; California Fish and Game Wardens," premiered to a standing-room audience at the Sacramento International Sportsmen's Exposition. Since then it has been screened at the CA Fish and Game Commission, Safari Club International annual convention, and at the National Law Enforcement Museum in Washington, DC. as well as TV throughout California. Over 1,500 copies have been distributed nationwide, and the feature has been distributed to all members of the CA Assembly and Senate, as well as all California colleges that have law and environmental studies programs. The documentary inspired the National Geographic TV series, "Wild Justice ", which James co-produced from 2010 to 2013. The series, which aired for three seasons, featured the day-to-day adventures of California game wardens. Today, there are eight other game wardens reality TV shows. 

James’ work brought much-needed awareness to the crucial work that game wardens do for the country. Currently, there are still far fewer game wardens nationwide (8000) than what is necessary to protect our natural areas and wildlife. However, since the release of Endangered Species, the number of game wardens employed in California has nearly doubled. James is currently working on two books to further bring awareness to the issue. One book will highlight some of the extraordinary cases he’s seen game wardens oversee, and the other will address crucial everyday work that game wardens do across the country.