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National Park Rangers are a Resource

Voyageurs National Park rangers are an integral part of keeping the Park a wonderful place to visit, protecting nature, as well as assisting visitors. Lisa Kaczke, staff writer for the International Falls Daily Journal, interviews several Park rangers about their day to day jobs and their passion for Minnesota’s wildest National Park.

One theme that resonates among many rangers is the feeling that visitors view them as the “bad guy” rather than as a useful resource for experiencing the Park and staying safe. According to Kaczke:

VNP Park Ranger Scott Taylor said park rangers duties are varied. And while some people may be most familiar with the enforcement duties, there is more to the job, he said.

“The only time people talk to park rangers is when they need help out there and you’re saving someone’s life,” Taylor said. “It’s good when people can think of park rangers as not just the bad guy that wants to write tickets. We’re there to help.”

Ranger Kevin Grossheim explains that rangers have two very important tasks—helping visitors and helping the environment. He enjoys that his job requires a variety of duties and explains some of the responsibilities a ranger has, reported by Kaczke:

“No two days are the same,” Grossheim said of a ranger’s job. A day’s duties could begin with putting in buoys and checking campsites and end with a search and rescue or a medical emergency, Grossheim said.

“The plan goes out the window with an injury, lost person or fire,” Grossheim said.

Summer duties include visiting with campers to ensure they comply with park regulations. Rangers also check anglers for fishing licenses, fish for slot limits, and boaters for safety.

Winter duties include patrolling the miles of snowmobile trails in the park. The vast, white snow of the park often invites people to exceed the park’s 45 miles per hour speed limit. Park rangers have witnessed snowmobiles traveling up to 100 miles per hour, according to Grossheim.

“When we contact them, some feel we are trying to ruin their fun. But the reality is we are trying to save lives,” Grossheim said. “We protect some visitors from themselves. Speed limits are in place to protect visitors and wildlife.”

Grossheim added, “The ultimate reward in this job is helping those that need you the most and giving your best to try to make a difference. Rangers want to help people, to find them or fix the problem the best they can. But they also want to protect the environment and park resources at the same time.”

To read more about Voyageurs National Park rangers, read Kaczke’s full article in the Daily Journal.