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Reader Participation Day: Do We Need More Interpretive Rangers, Or Law Enforcement Rangers, in National Parks?

Dec 2nd - 18:04pm | anonymous

Most Americans have the historical perspective of a gnat. Wasn't that long ago that the ONLY employees of any national park were gun totin' rangers taking care of "law enforcement" and any other problem or issue.

Dec 2nd - 11:58am | Jon Merryman

I assisted with the administration of the Ranger Skills course taught at Albright Training Center back in 1985... most of the multidisciplinary rangers came from the smaller parks and I was most impressed by them.

Dec 2nd - 09:11am | Anonymous

For me, this question is very personal. My son graduated cum laude in biology and spent the next 8 years in a variety of field work/seasonal positions. He finally became a permanent NPS employee through a ranger academy course at a local university that allowed him to obtain a seasonal LE position that led to becoming a permanent LE ranger.

Dec 1st - 18:50pm | Lee Dittmann

The question is a false dichotomy. We need more of both. I agree in general with many of the previous commenters, that the precise balance of need is something that needs to be decided on a park by park basis.

Dec 1st - 18:39pm | Tamranger

I've been a protection/public safety ranger with a local agency in CA for nearly 16 years and my wife been on the seasonal circuit with Ca State Park and NPS for they past 4 years.   Both type of rangers are equally important and in the end have the same goals of protecting the park resources and park visitors, they just have different, training, tools and techniques for doing it.

Dec 1st - 18:09pm | Lee Dalton

Wow, what a stimulating and thoughtful question and posts. This has been one of the most interesting reads I can remember on this website and there was nothing in any of the postings with which I disagreed. The fact that they were all right to one degree or another speaks volumes about the complexity of this whole thing.

Dec 1st - 13:56pm | Anonymous

my response to that is try getting a county officer to do an ARPA case. Better yet, have the county do a 19 jj case. While looking at the significance of a LE Ranger, most of my contacts come from the general visitor who's making a simple mistake that needs to be educated about the park service in why we're doing what were doing

Dec 1st - 13:54pm | David Smith

This is such an important discussion - thanks so much for providing a forum!

Dec 1st - 13:15pm | pkrnger

What a great question! Back in the 1960's, park rangers were hired who had college education in the natural and physical sciences or in the cultural sciences. They were given on-the-job training to engage in law enforcement activities.

Dec 1st - 13:14pm | MomBug

I fully agree with this

Dec 1st - 12:15pm | Anonymous

I think an important distinction should be made between formal and informal interpretation. While I was stationed at Yellowstone I gave informal interpretation on the wildlife while working in a public safety capacity.

Dec 1st - 12:04pm | Bruce W. Bytnar

This is an overly simplistic question that will find people strongly aligned on both sides of the issue. I worked both in interpretation and protection during my 32 year career in the National Park Service. So here are my simplified views.

Dec 1st - 11:56am | MRC

I'm not interested in law enforcement rangers. And frankly, I never understood, why the NPS has police authority at all. Yes, the parks are federal land, but does that mean it needs federal police? On BLM land the primary police is that of the county.

Dec 1st - 11:23am | Anon

In an alternate reality where the NPS gets a healthy budget, why not get more of both? Then we'd have interp. rangers able to rove and meet the public as well as more than one l.e. ranger to cover 100,000+ acres alone.

Dec 1st - 11:21am | Julie Trevelyan

Great question, Kurt. I'm torn on this one myself.

Dec 1st - 11:21am | Lawrence J Caldwell

Given pkrnger's great answer, I must expose Pogo. I visited Yosemite this summer. I was fortunate to be there the week after their two busiest weeks ever. Every ranger I talked to expressed the need for a little breather. I'm not sure why my week was lighter. The weather was perfect. Nontheless, I think the record crowds were due in part to the Ken Burns documentary.

Dec 1st - 11:09am | Secret Yellowstone

Do you find yourself looking for an "LE" ranger when you're visiting a park, or wish you could find a park interpreter to help you better understand your surroundings?

Dec 1st - 09:33am | Shaina

Some parks could have the two ranger roles combined, but resource protection and law enforcement [traffic violations, domestic disputes] need full time attention in larger parks. It's really a individual park issue, not a one size fits all matter. Not to mention, there are many units where no law enforcement on staff.

Dec 1st - 09:15am | Anonymous

Maybe at Manassas, legal incidents are infrequent. The rest of the parks need more LE rangers. Gangs at Lake Mead, drinking and drugs at beach parks, drug smugglers at our border parks. We need to protect our parks first. Let's pose this question: Should Organ Pipe NM have more interpretive rangers or LE rangers?

Dec 1st - 05:57am | Lawrence J Caldwell

I went to Manassas National Battlefield about three weeks ago. Ranger Gregory Wolf relived the battle on Henry Hill for our small group huddled on that blustery cold knob. Afterwards I complemented him on his storytelling skills. His story and voice were as pleasant and moving as Shelton Johnson, the Yosemite ranger featured on the Ken Burns documentary.

Santa Fe Woman Becomes 1 Millionth Visitor To Arches National Park

Dec 2nd - 15:42pm | Anonymous

It's the Monitor and Merrimack formations on BLM land between Arches and and the Island in the Sky District of Canyonlands NP.

Dec 2nd - 13:00pm | Bogator

This is a great park right in the middle of slick rock country in Utah. When my wife and I first drove into this park, we thought we had landed in a Roadrunner cartoon. We expected to see Wile E. Coyote pop up at any time. All kidding aside, there are opportunities for windshield tourists, walkers and serious hikers alike.

Young Woman Dies After Being Submerged in Firehole River in Yellowstone National Park

Dec 2nd - 13:12pm | Arreis

I wasn't there nore have i met anyone in her family but i give my best wishes ans condolances to her family just becase i'm a teen dosn't mean i cant be poliht but i do have a question wouldn't the people in her party have noticed her gone and how did she slip in the first place.

Flamingo Lodge is No More

Dec 2nd - 11:49am | Jon Merryman

And if you forget your jumper cables you can tie two baby gators tail to tail and clamp them onto the battery terminal! :-) I had the same problem with my car when I was there, but took three months to fix it. Was in no hurry!

Dec 1st - 20:53pm | James Adams

I was in Flamingo last week (Thanksgiving 2010) it was beautiful as always. Mosquitoes were thick as soup but so were the hawks and other birds. I spent most of my time changing out the trucks alternator on the side of the road next to Mrazek pond. There are worse places to be stranded. Can't wait to go back .

Grand Canyon National Park's Watchtower Gets A Facelift

Dec 1st - 23:48pm | Tony D.

Wonderful, insightful, well-researched article, that reminds me of how the last time I was at the Grand Canyon, I barely saw it! Now I want to go back. Thank you Jane!

Dec 1st - 10:08am | Lee Dalton

This place is indeed a treasure and when I climbed into it for the first time a year or so ago, even my unpracticed eye noted the need for some work. This is good news.

National Park Mystery Photo 29: Pretty Fancy Headwear, No?

Dec 1st - 23:24pm | Mellody

It's calvary alright, about 1865. Fort Laramine did not have the treaty signed until 1869. That is a privates, full dress uniform hat.

Dec 1st - 20:29pm | Kurt Repanshek

Blackfeet Dreamer is right about Civil War-era, Lee Dalton nailed the location. Tomorrow we'll provide some more details.

Dec 1st - 20:13pm | Lee Dalton

Oh, and it's either from the cavalry or infantry that was stationed there during the Indian wars of the late 1800's.

Dec 1st - 20:12pm | Lee Dalton

How about the bunkhouse at Ft. Laramie?

Dec 1st - 20:03pm | Blackfeet Dreamer

I'd say Civil War era cavalry due to the crossed swords. Perhaps Getysburg?

Dec 1st - 17:55pm | Kurt Repanshek

No, 'fraid not. Creative, but not the answer we're looking for.

Dec 1st - 13:53pm | Park Service Kid

Headgear imposed on White House guards during the Nixon regime.

Group Warns About Move To Cut Funding for National Parks

Dec 1st - 19:52pm | Anonymous

Unbelieveable! Can anyone really believe national parks can exist without public funding? Name an area that is natural, cultural, or historical that can operate purely on fees and/or private funding. Better examples are Disneyland, Elvis Presleys Graceland, and a variety of locally known mansions or tour homes.

Dec 1st - 17:42pm | Ron Saunders

To Ada

Dec 1st - 13:24pm | d-2

When Smokie Mt Hiker says the taxpayer is tapped out, I think SMH illustrates one of the strangest perceptions going on by most Americans today. This is the idea that they are in the same boat as the richest Americans.

Dec 1st - 11:14am | Ada

Interesting, it is not just taxes that some special interest groups don't want to pay to support the NPS budget they are also curtailing their volunteer work.

Nov 30th - 14:37pm | Ron Saunders

I have always paid my share of taxes with no complaints, as have most others. Always glad to help fund and support worthwhile endouvers such as our national parks. But, I am one of a group of people that would say " cut funding to the National Park System ". They want or need more funding? Don't ask for my help.

Lame-Duck Congress Has Plateful of National Park-Related Legislation To Consider

Dec 1st - 19:35pm | Ron Saunders

I did not have the guts to add up how much it would cost to buy and build and manage all these initiaitves, particularly noting the 17 million for 30 acres at the Jimmy Carter Park ( are you sure about that ). The cost of the studies scared the hell out of me. If these are such good ideas, how much can it cost to say lets do it.

Welcome Friends of the Smokies To the Traveler's List of Sponsors!

Dec 1st - 16:29pm | Holly Demuth

From improving trails to saving hemlocks, sparking learning in schoolchildren and managing wildlife—bears, elk, trout, salamanders, and all—there is a lot going on in our Great Smoky Mountains National Park. National Parks Traveler highlights these important topics. Friends of the Smokies raises funds to support them. Thanks to all who help make it happen with your donations.

Dec 1st - 09:52am | Holly Scott

We are so proud to be affiliated with National Parks Traveler. I often share links to content from the Traveler in my e-blasts, and I always learn something about our wonderful park from the articles.

Dec 1st - 07:33am | Danny Bernstein

Hey, Welcome Friends of the Smokies: I'm proud to be a member and supporter of the "Friends". They fund projects in the Smokies that our taxes would never be able to pay for. Danny www.hikertohiker.com

Some Like it Hot: An Interview With Yellowstone National Park's Geyser Guru, Mike Keller

Dec 1st - 15:30pm | Alley Keosheyan

A delightful article - I particularly liked Mr. Keller's list of his favorite geothermal features in the park. Having just moved to Evanston, Wyoming from the Grand Canyon, Arizona area, I'm looking forward to exploring Yellowstone National Park with my family very soon. Perhaps we'll get to meet this very lucky man!

Judge Tosses Surprise Canyon Lawsuit

Nov 30th - 17:29pm | d-2

For the purposes of RS 2477, a "road" for access for miners that Original Bigfoot writes about, is not the same as a public "highway" as RS 2477 sanctions. Miners have access to their mines. There is an constitutionally protected right of access. And, miners often improve their access roads. But is that a public "highway" in the meaning of RS 2477?

Nov 30th - 14:43pm | Anonymous

Off road vehicle users; 4WD extremists have no right to this wilderness as now covered in the expanded Death Valley park. I hiked up to Panamint City in spring 2007, and it is a unique area with actual water running out the mouth of Surprise Cyn.

Comments Show Opposition And Support For New Power Line Corridor Across Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Nov 30th - 15:44pm | Donna1234

Once the Delaware Water Gap is built up like this, it cannot be undone. 200 foot towers have no place in such a park. It is unspoiled wilderness in N.J. and Pa., a place my family has been enjoying year-round for thirty years. The access roads and resultant construction will disturb the wildlife and park users. I am against this, and I do not live in or near park.

Secretary Salazar Hopes To Negotiate R.S. 2477 Solution With Utah Officials

Nov 30th - 14:28pm | d-2

Anonymous: you are wrong. RS 2477 WAS repealed. All that was retained were the valid existing rights. In other words, if the right of way is already established, if the highway is already there, it has the right to continue.

Contract Issued For "Missing Link" on Foothills Parkway in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Nov 30th - 14:22pm | Lepanto

What a shame that Superintendent Ditmanson lacked the skills to block further road construction in the Smokies.

Comments Being Taken on Proposal To Stop Importation, Transportation of Burmese Pythons

Nov 30th - 13:56pm | retic/gator fan

These new laws an regulations do nothing more than make criminals out of responsible owners do little if anything to protect the public if were real looking at public safety then we should start with dogs far more dog attacks an deaths occurs every year than all forms of reptile keeping including alligators,large pythons an venomous snakes put together I find these laws to be nothing more than

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