Talk:Park ranger

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This article is very US-centric, and geared towards that country's National Parks. I can't imagine, for example, that the Epping Forest Keepers carry a "backpack, sleeping bag and tent", given that no part of Epping Forest is more than about half an hour's walk from a busy road (to say nothing of the incongruity of wandering round the English countryside with a high-powered rifle with optical sights, pump-action shotgun and a pistol). --OpenToppedBus - Talk to the driver 12:46, 9 February 2006 (UTC)

What's your point?


The role of the park ranger in many countries is still an evolving profession. Skills required range from public information, fire fighting, boundary security, rescue, law enforcement, budget management, employee training, supervision, research skills, history, resource restoration and so forth. It would be difficult to lump all the skills and knowledge required into a simple format that would be indicative of any specific country. However, it might be worth a try. Perhaps park rangers from other countries could contribute information regarding their general scope of duties.


A retired park ranger in the USA

This article does seem to be about US park rangers, and has little relevence to rangers in, say, the UK. It might be a bit unnecessary to rewrite it. I think there may be some merit in renaming this article to demonstrate its US origins, as it is not too bad as it is and it would be a bit of a fudge to try and make it apply to all rangers everywhere. Then anyone who felt the urge could write an different article about rangers in another country. Naturenet | Talk 10:58, 11 June 2006 (UTC) (former UK ranger)


[edit] US National Park Ranger Split

This article does seem to cover the US National Park Rangers in best detail, while not really fully exploring the history and modern roles of US Rangers. I propose that a separate article be created for US National Park Rangers, which covers the history and broad tasks these folks do, and allow this article to be cleaned to more completely cover park rangers internationally. Ryeguy 23:03, 24 August 2006 (UTC)

Sounds like a good plan. Are you volunteering? ;) Naturenet | Talk 07:57, 25 August 2006 (UTC)
I can take on the creation of a new article on US Park Rangers, but I would like to pass along the "internationalizing" of the Park ranger article. Any takers? Ryeguy 00:43, 28 August 2006 (UTC)
I wonder whether we need a generic park ranger article at all. Is there enough, beyond a dictdef, which wouldn't be better covered in individual articles? Maybe all we need is a disambiguation page, saying something along the lines of "Park rangers are (usually) public employees who have responsibility for safety and security in parks and forests. For more on their roles and responsibilities in different countries, see
How about that? --OpenToppedBus - Talk to the driver 13:56, 30 August 2006 (UTC)
That seems to make the most sense. I will move Park ranger to US National Park Rangers, and fine tune the article with a NPS focus there.--Ryeguy 21:10, 30 August 2006 (UTC)
The broad definition of Park Ranger is still too US specific, there is a world wide profession of Rangers (in conservation) and an organisation representing these. The International Ranger Federation [1] is an umbrella group covering conservation based Rangers generally.
Many countries have organisations that come under this group and represent their individual members for example The Australian Ranger Federation [2] and the Queensland Ranger Association (Australia)
There definitely needs to be provision under the broad definition of Park Ranger to cater to the International groups
If it is not to late I suggest keeping the generic Park ranger and using that broader definition (from oxford or macquarie dictionary), to link to the different international descriptions eg Australian Park rangers and US National Park Rangers which can focus more on the specifics, I have done some work on the Australian Ranger Federation On this point there is also considerable difference in Australia on the work roles of Park rangers -- Geoffwin 00:58, 2 November 2006 (UTC)
Sorry, but I am left very disatisfied withthe definition ""Park rangers are (usually) public employees who have responsibility for safety and security in parks and forests." I think the article makes very plain that, at least in the US, rangers are more than cops-off-pavemet (hey, the anagrma is COP - I just made that up!! :-D ). Anyway, to get back to serious business, if anything the most general definition should be for the term "ranger" as there is a difference among park rangers, forsest rangers, etc. In addition, the emphaisis on law enforcement and public safety should go, and the much more universal trait of resource protection and mangement should be emphasized.Shoreranger 20:43, 27 June 2007 (UTC)
You're right, but I think it's well acknowledged (see above discussion ) that this page is actually not about park rangers worldwide but about US National Park Rangers - and that aside it's quite good. It would be a shame to dilute this article down to make it generally applicable - better that somebody should make a general Park Ranger page and then the content presently on this one could be moved to a new US National Park Ranger page. Trouble is, nobody has volunteered to do it yet. Naturenet | Talk 20:51, 27 June 2007 (UTC)
As a start to straightening this article out, an version edited for relevance to the United States now resides at US National Park Rangers. The next step should be to "internationalize" this article. Ryan.mco (talk) 17:46, 5 March 2008 (UTC)

[edit] Famous Park Rangers

Someone with more info and knowhow than I should do some digging and create a section for famous Park Rangers - writers, activists, first ranger ever, etc. To be added (I believe) is Ranger James Randall Morgenson who went missing in Seqouia Kings Canyon National Park. There is a book written about the ordeal and the leading-up-to his disappearance; The Last Season, by Eric Blehm. (A great book FYI)