While protecting wild animals, he must at the same
time protect visitors against them. Bears particularly, are dangerous.
They may appear to be tame, but they are not. Visitors are warned not to
feed or disturb wildlife. Some species are highly dangerous; also
feeding tends to "pauperize" these animals, affecting their natural
habits and their health. The park ranger also tells visitors they should
not risk swimming alone in icy mountain lakes, where cramps or heart
attacks can be fatal; and that in experienced climbers should not
attempt dangerous climbs among high cliffs.
The park ranger fights against forest firesto
prevent them and to stop them once they start. He patrols the park,
summer and winter, for one reason or another. When surplus elk or
buffalo are wanted by a State park or zoo, he helps trap and transport
themsometimes an exciting, if routine, duty.
He goes on rescue trips on which he risks life and
limb. He performs countless official and personal acts of helpfulness.
Pleasantly he mustand almost always doesrespond to incessant
"Oh, Ranger, where * * * or what * * * or why * * *"
He is a dedicated man, usually with one or two
degrees in one of the natural sciences. His salary does not allow for
opulent livingand on some assignments his home is a tent. He never
will become wealthy on the job; his wealth is measured by the
satisfaction he derives from the inspiring surroundings in which he
lives and works, and the opportunities he has to serve visitors. To many
of them he brings new awareness of America's greatness.
This dedication is not confined to the ranger staff.
Although the park ranger is the man that most visitors meethe and
the park naturalist and the historian, whose uniforms all look alike to
the uninitiated behind him is a large staff of loyal workers in
almost every field. From top administrator to temporary laborer, all
make up the staff that provides for the protection of the park and of
the visitor. Without these men and women behind the rangers, the parks
could not function.
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BUSY RANGERS ON A BUSY DAY, Yosemite National
Park. Life can be hectic over a long weekend when thousands of
visitors come into some of the parks. Automobile entrance tickets must
be sold, change made, printed matter and other information given as
requestedand meanwhile the line of incoming cars grows longer and
longer. Here rangers at the Arch Rock Entrance Station to Yosemite are
busily processing two lines of incoming cars on the morning before
Decoration Day, 1955.
RANGERS RETURNING FROM A WINTER RESCUE EXPEDITION.
Park rangers often are called upon to search for lost persons or to
rescue people injured far from the nearest roads, even in winter. At
such times they must carry on their backs a great deal of equipment.
Their strange garb here is for protection against wind, sun, and
cold.
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