PARK RANGERS—THE BACKBONE OF NATIONAL PARK PROTECTION

STEPHEN MATHER LOVED THE RANGER UNIFORM. The Service's first director, Mather gave of his energies and even his health and wealth to develop the National Park System for the use and enjoyment of all Americans. Of him, former Congressman Cramton said on the floor of the House of Representatives: "There will never come an end to the good that he has done." (Photograph by Hileman.)

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 fires—to 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 them—sometimes 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 must—and almost always does—respond 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 living—and 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 meet—he 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.

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 requested—and 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.