Park Ranger

On Assateague Island, wild horses gallop over dunes, seals rest on beaches, and migrating shorebirds take refuge in salt marshes. This barrier island, made of sand deposited by waves, lies off the coasts of Maryland and Virginia. Each year, millions of people visit Assateague, which is home to a national wildlife refuge, a national seashore, and a state park. The island’s parks are just a few of the thousands of state and national parks, seashores, forests, and historic sites across the country. These areas provide visitors with places to explore nature and engage in many kinds of outdoor recreation.

Park rangers protect the natural beauty of these sites for all to enjoy. Managing them includes everything from helping campers to rescuing wildlife. Chris Gleason-Smuck has worked as a ranger in Maryland state parks, including on Assateague, for more than a decade. Currently, he’s a park ranger supervisor at Maryland’s North Point State Park and Hart-Miller Island State Park, where he oversees 2,419 acres near Chesapeake Bay. Gleason-Smuck spoke with Science World about what it’s like to care for public lands.

How did you become interested in working as a park ranger?

I grew up in Baltimore, Maryland, and went on camping trips with my parents. I also participated in Cub and Boy Scouts. Being outdoors was a significant part of my childhood. That sparked my interest in becoming a park ranger. So in 2009, after graduating from college, I joined a program called the Maryland Conservation Corps, sponsored by the Maryland Park Service. It provides training in managing natural resources. Afterward, I got a job as a park ranger at South Mountain State Park in Maryland.

What does a ranger’s job entail?

Park rangers protect both natural resources and visitors to the park by reminding people about trail safety and staying away from wild animals. We help with maintenance, like cutting grass, repairing buildings, and fixing park vehicles. We also assist with fighting wildfires, providing first aid, and search and rescue. Park rangers monitor wildlife and sometimes need to help animals that are hurt, with guidance from wildlife experts at other agencies. Some injured animals can’t be released back into the wild. Maryland rangers enlist these critters in environmental education presentations at local parks and schools through the state Park Service’s Scales & Tales program.

What was your role at Assateague Island?

I worked as a ranger station manager. I oversaw employee hiring, training, and supervising. I also patrolled the campground and beach areas and helped educate the public about the park’s unique wildlife. Keeping an eye on the horses was especially fun because people were always so excited seeing them. The island’s horses may have descended from horses brought to the area by settlers in the 17th century, or they may have arrived with Spanish explorers even earlier. Some of the park’s other animals include foxes, hawks, snakes, sharks, dolphins, and whales.