by Kris Simmons
Oh the love of the great outdoors. To be able to wake up to birds signing and the sound of a soft wave breaking upon the lake shore. As many will agree, breakfast cooked over an open campfire is the best you will ever taste. Nothing can compare to how much nature can awaken and restore some of the simplest things in life.
To be a Ranger for Texas Parks and Wildlife is the most rewarding adventures of my life. You never know what can happen in a park.
I can recall a cool fall morning as I was having a much needed cup of coffee, I saw a bag in the parking lot. I knew that it was the infamous Reba the Raccoon. She had been keeping us rather busy most mornings from her midnight feast of the delicious morsels of food visitors leave in the trash can at the Headquarters building.
To no surprise Reba was not done with her breakfast of champions. She made her way from her hiding spot to take back her claim. I had my trash grabbers in hand picking up the remaining ketchup packet to which she yanked away from the grabbers and retreated back to her humble abode.
The Memoirs of a Ranger are vast to say the least. In 2004 Texas Parks and Wildlife moved in line with other state parks as well as National Parks to Keep Wildlife Wild. This rule helps protect the amazing animals of Texas as well visitors to Texas parks. Not feeding wildlife in the parks helps to prevent wildlife from losing the fear of humans. Feeding could possibly increase animal populations which have to be kept under manageable levels for their safety and for ours.
It is a dirty job sometimes but I wouldn’t change a thing about it. Whether the Rangers help out a small box turtle across the road or show a young angler how to fish for the first time we always have the mission of Texas Parks and Wildlife at heart: To manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.
As always Happy Camping!
