10 things that park guards would like to know

Veröffentlicht: 13. Juli 2022, 16:22 Uhr

Aktualisiert: 09. Juni 2025, 22:41 Uhr

Von: wom87

from grizzly bears to bugbears five parking guards share the moods of their unique job

There is no doubt that nature thrives in the lockdown. There are encouraging stories about the Himalaja, which appears from the Indian smog, moles in Great Britain that are seen above the earth, and deer that wander through the streets of Japan.

Unfortunately, these phenomena will probably not end for too long after the blocking when people work again as usual.

To remind the readers - and ourselves - to deal with nature as responsibly as possible, when we can return, we asked five parking guards to share a few things that they wished we knew. The rangers are based in the USA (and remain unnamed for reasons of discretion), but almost all of their points apply worldwide.

We hate if you disregard the park

First and foremost, the rangers want them to respect the park. You ask the visitors to follow the seven principles of Leave No Trace, teach the inexperienced hikers, to respect public land and water.

These principles are: plan and prepare yourself, travel and camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave what you find, minimize the effects of warehouse already, respect the wildlife and take into account other visitors - we go into some of them below.

alt = "Never make an illegal campfire"> PPA/Shutterstock Never make an illegal campfire

Visitors should make sure to climb trees or deviate from ways, to let dogs run around freely and to use drones in forbidden areas. Like a ranger puts it: "The park is our church. So when you pick wildflowers, scratch your name into a tree, make an illegal campfire or leave your trash behind, you deface a holy place for us."

Please do not feed wild animals, be it a bear or a squirrel

Most of us know that you shouldn't approach a bear. However, some of us will not think about getting close to a squirrel or a similarly cute being - maybe even feeding. Park guards ask you to keep your distance from all wild animals and never to feed them.

alt = “Feeding wild animals she gets used to people, say park guards”> Dennis W. Donohue/Shutterstock Feeding wild animals accustomed to humans

"Feeding wild animals gets used to people," says a ranger. "For example, if a bear loses his fear of us, it will be comfortable to break in in vehicles and rummage around at campsites.

be not a 'code

If you suffer from an illness, you will definitely call for help. However, if you only feel a little tired and cannot get it over yourself to go out of this steep valley, please take a moment to collect and then stay through.

Ranger have a special name for tourists who call help if they lack nothing: a code W for "wimp".

alt = “Some tourists will request a rescue just because they are tired”> Crazystocker/Shutterstock Some tourists will request a rescue just because they are tired

"Some tourists call for help because they are too tired to continue," says one ranger. "We cannot and do not want to send a helicopter for that."

Another adds: "Please pack some common sense. If you go hiking, check the weather, pack the 10 essentials and always wear suitable shoes. I have seen people who hike in stilettos ..."

The "crazy selfie" is not worth it

It is reported that 259 people died between 2011 and 2017 while making a selfie. This includes several deaths in public parks, including that of an Israeli teenager in Yosemite and a couple in the same park.

alt = “Park guards warn of tricky selfies”> Guy RD/Shutterstock Park guard warn of risky selfies

Parkranger ask the visitors to be careful when they approach cliffs or fragile structures.

"Our motto is" protects the park from the people, people in front of the park and the people from humans, "says one ranger. "Tragically, this sometimes means protecting yourself from yourself."

If you get lost completely, stay on the spot

Always pack the 10 essentials and always say to someone where you go and when you will be back. (If you do not consider this important, you can convince the view of 127 hours.)

alt = "Use the" Stop "principles to reorient yourself"> Gaudilab/Shutterstock Use the "Stop" principles to reorient yourself

If you feel completely over, despite all efforts, follow the "stop" principles: stop as soon as you notice that you have lost. Think about how you got there and what sights you saw on the way. Watch your surroundings and try to use your compass and card to determine where you are and plan your next steps. Don't move until you have a good reason. If you are completely lost and cannot rely on your plan, you stop.

"It is best to stay in one place," says an experienced ranger. "It is likely that seekers will reach this area. If you only move a mile, a search area of three square miles is created. Shortening of two expands this to 12 square miles. '

We have a diversity problem

"When it comes to nature, we have a diversity problem," admits a ranger.

According to the National Park Service,

In the USA, 20 % of national park visitors belong to ethnic minorities, compared to almost 40 % of the total population.

alt = “There are usually the same people who use national parks”> Galyna Andrushko/Shutterstock National Parks have a diversity problem

In England, only 1 % of the national park visitors come from ethnic minorities compared to 14 % of the total population, based on figures from Natural England and the Office of National Statistics.

"We try to increase the diversity of our workforce," adds the ranger. "We hope that People of Color feel more comfortable in nature if they are reflected in us."

We also have a suicide problem

Between 2003 and 2009, 286 suicide cases were reported to the United States national parks, which corresponds to an average of 41 cases per year, reports the CDC. 68 % of the 286 events were fatal.

alt = "Parking guards are trained in suicide prevention"> Rokasmal/Shutterstock Park guard are trained in suicide prevention

"We are trained in suicide prevention," says a ranger. "For example, a colleague received a call from a visitor who asked how often we patrol a specific viewpoint. That was a strange question, so he examined her and realized that she was thinking about ending her life. She tried to find out how long it would take until a rank would find her body. on employees, but also traumatizing on witnesses. ”

We are not a police

"We will always try to help visitors, but please remember that we are not police officers," says a parking guard. "We are trained in defusing situations, but we are not full -fledged law enforcement officers."

Ranger have to deal with a variety of dangerous scenarios, from white racists in the Zion National Park to ordinary Joes who act too much after a beer.

alt = “Ranger dealt with white racists in the Zion National Park”> Bill45/Shutterstock Ranger dealt with white racists in the Zion National Park

"I have already been addressed with all possible names," says a ranger who works in one of the three major US national parks (Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon). "Pine Pigs" is a special favorite, "he adds ironically.

Of course, these attacks are often more than verbal. In 2005, park guards were attacked five times more often than US border protection officers and twelve times more than FBI agents.

It can be a scary job

It can be a scary job, since Ranger are not only threatened by humans, but also by wild animals. In certain parks, Ranger has the task of calming down human-bear conflicts.

alt = “Ranger are threatened by humans and animals”> Mark van Scyoc/Shutterstock Rangers are threatened by humans and animals

"It doesn't help if people do not follow instructions," says a ranger. "I had to save a bear young without alerting his mother, but when I asked the gathered viewers to step back, none of them listened, even though it was a potentially fatal Situation."

Although there are many dangerous species in US national parks, "dealing with people is usually more difficult," adds the ranger.

Every park is like a championship title

"Especially when you think you know everything about a park, you get a question that you have never heard before," says a ranger. "Every park is like its own championship title."

alt = “Ranger know a lot about the flora, fauna and geology of her parks”> Lorcel/Shutterstock Ranger know a lot about the flora, fauna and geology of their parks

In fact, parking guards can recite an extraordinary range of interesting facts, facts and historical information about the flora, fauna and geology of a park.

"We always say if you have paid for entry to a park but have not held up to speak to us, then you will not get your money's worth," says the ranger. "No matter whether it is a secret place in the park or a fact that you don't notice when walking on the way, we can always tell you something that you would otherwise have overlooked."

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