10 things park rangers wish they knew

10 things park rangers wish they knew

From grizzly bears to bugbears, five park rangers share the whims of their unique job

There is no doubt that nature is thriving in lockdown. There are heartening stories of the Himalayas emerging from the Indian smog, moles in Britain seen above ground and deer wandering the streets of Japan.

Unfortunately, these phenomena are likely to end not too long after lockdown as people return to business as usual.

To remind readers — and ourselves — to re-engage with nature as responsibly as possible when we're allowed to return, we asked five park rangers to share some things they wish we knew. The Rangers are based in the US (and remain unnamed for confidentiality reasons), but almost all of their points apply worldwide.

We hate it when you disrespect the park

First and foremost, the rangers want you to respect the park. They ask visitors to follow Leave No Trace's seven principles, which teach inexperienced hikers to respect public lands and waters.

These principles are: plan ahead and prepare, travel and camp on durable surfaces, dispose of waste properly, leave behind what you find, minimize the impact of campfires, respect wildlife and be considerate of other visitors - some of which we discuss below.

alt="Never make an illegal campfire">PPA/ShutterstockNever start an illegal campfire

Visitors should be careful about climbing trees or deviating from paths, allowing dogs to roam freely, and using drones in prohibited areas. As one ranger puts it, "The park is our church. So when you pick wildflowers, carve your name on a tree, have an illegal campfire, or leave your trash behind, you are defacing a sacred place for us."

Please do not feed any 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 think nothing of getting close to – perhaps even feeding – a squirrel or a similarly cute creature. Park rangers ask you to keep your distance from all wild animals and never feed them.

alt=“Feeding wild animals accustoms them to people, park rangers say”>Dennis W. Donohue/ShutterstockFeeding wild animals accustoms them to humans

“Feeding wild animals accustoms them to people,” says a ranger. "For example, when a bear loses its fear of us, it becomes comfortable breaking into vehicles and rummaging around campsites. It becomes a 'problem bear,' posing a danger to people and itself."

Don't be a 'Code W'

If you are suffering from an illness, be sure to call for help. However, if you are just feeling a little tired and can't bring yourself to walk out of this steep valley, then please take a moment to collect yourself and then persevere.

Rangers have a special name for tourists who call for help when there is nothing medically wrong with them: a code W for “wimp.”

alt="Some tourists will request rescue just because they are tired">Crazystocker/ShutterstockSome tourists will request rescue just because they are tired

“Some tourists are calling for help because they are too tired to walk,” said a ranger. “We cannot and do not want to send a helicopter for this.”

Another added: "Please pack some common sense. If you're going hiking, check the weather, pack the 10 essentials and always wear appropriate shoes. I've seen people hiking in stilettos..."

The “crazy selfie” isn’t worth it

It is reported that between 2011 and 2017, 259 people died while taking a selfie. These include several deaths in public parks, including that of an Israeli teenager in Yosemite and a married couple in the same park just a month later.

alt=”Parking attendants warn about treacherous selfies”>Guy RD/ShutterstockPark guards warn against risky selfies

Park rangers ask visitors to use caution when approaching cliffs or fragile structures.

“Our motto is protect the park from the people, the people from the park and the people from the people,” says a ranger. “Tragically, sometimes that means protecting yourself from yourself.”

If you get completely lost, stay put

Always pack the 10 essentials and always tell someone where you are going and when you will be back. (If you don't think this is important, watching 127 Hours may convince you otherwise.)

alt="Use the “STOP” principles to reorient yourself">GaudiLab/ShutterstockUse the “STOP” principles to reorient yourself

If, despite your best efforts, you feel completely turned around, follow the “STOP” principles: Stop as soon as you realize you are lost. Think about how you got there and the sights you saw along the way. Observe your surroundings and try to use your compass and map to determine where you are and plan your next steps. Don't move until you have a good reason to. If you're completely lost and can't rely on your plan, stop.

“It’s best to stay in one place,” says an experienced ranger. "It is likely that searchers will reach this location. Moving just one mile creates a search area of ​​three square miles. Moving two expands that to 12 square miles."

We have a diversity problem

“When it comes to nature, we have a diversity problem,” admits one ranger.

In the United States, 20% of national park visitors are ethnic minorities, compared to nearly 40% of the general population, according to the National Park Service.

alt="It's usually the same people who use national parks">Galyna Andrushko/ShutterstockNational parks have a diversity problem

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

“We are trying to increase the diversity of our workforce,” the ranger added. “We hope that people of color will feel more comfortable in nature when they see themselves reflected in us.”

We also have a suicide problem

Between 2003 and 2009, 286 suicide cases were reported in U.S. national parks, an average of 41 cases per year, the CDC reports. Of the 286 events, 68% were fatal.

alt="Parking rangers are trained in suicide prevention">Rokasmal/ShutterstockPark rangers are trained in suicide prevention

“We are trained in suicide prevention,” says a ranger. "For example, a colleague of mine once received a call from a visitor asking how often we patrol a particular overlook. It was a strange question, so he investigated further and realized that she was thinking about ending her life. She was trying to figure out how long it would take for a ranger to find her body. He was able to calm her down, but we don't always have that opportunity. Sometimes we have to recover a body. This can be traumatizing not only for employees, but also for witnesses."

We are not the police

“We will always try to help visitors, but please remember that we are not police officers,” said a park ranger. “We are trained to defuse situations, but we are not full law enforcement officers.”

Rangers must deal with a variety of dangerous scenarios, from white supremacists in Zion National Park to regular Joes acting out after one too many beers.

alt=“Rangers confronted white supremacists in Zion National Park”>Bill45/ShutterstockRangers confronted white supremacists in Zion National Park

“I've been called all kinds of names,” says a ranger who works in one of the three major US national parks (Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon). “Pine Pigs is a particular favorite,” he adds wryly.

Of course, these attacks are often more than just verbal. In 2005, park rangers were five times more likely to be attacked than U.S. Border Patrol agents and 12 times more likely than FBI agents.

It can be a scary job

It can be a scary job as rangers face threats not only from people but also from wildlife. In certain parks, rangers are tasked with calming human-bear conflicts.

alt="Rangers are threatened by both humans and animals">Mark Van Scyoc/ShutterstockRangers are threatened by both humans and animals

“It doesn’t help when people don’t follow instructions,” says one ranger. “I once had to save a bear cub without alerting its mother, but when I asked the assembled spectators to stand back, none of them listened, even though it was a potentially deadly situation.”

Although there are many dangerous species in U.S. national parks, “humans are typically more difficult to deal with,” the ranger adds.

Every park is like a championship

“Just when you think you know everything about a park, you get a question you've never heard before,” says one ranger. “Each park is like its own championship.”

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

In fact, park rangers can recite an extraordinary range of trivia, facts, and historical information about a park's flora, fauna, and geology.

“We always say if you’ve paid to get into a park but haven’t stopped to talk to us, then you’re not getting your money’s worth,” the ranger says. “Whether it’s a secret location in the park or a fact you don’t realize while walking the trails, we can always tell you something you otherwise would have missed.”

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Lonely Planet USA's National Parks is a comprehensive guide to the USA's national parks, ideal for those who want to both explore the top attractions and take the road less traveled.

Mission statement: Bill45/Shutterstock

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