Step up for Nature: Supporting Our Parks in a Summer of Strain
Grand Teton National Park
As summer unfolds and millions of Americans flock to our nation’s parks for hiking, camping, and reconnecting with nature, there's an unseen crisis quietly developing behind the trees and trails. A wave of ranger layoffs is leaving these treasured landscapes with fewer guardians than ever before. From Yellowstone to the Smoky Mountains, staff reductions mean fewer people to manage crowds, maintain trails and protect wildlife. At the same time, park attendance is surging, a perfect storm that threatens the health and beauty of our public lands. Without adequate staff to manage the influx of visitors, the integrity of our parks is at risk.
National parks have long operated under tight budgets, but recent funding cuts have deepened an already chronic staff shortage. Many parks are now operating with only a fraction of their usual ranger staff, leading to reduced trail maintenance, slower emergency response times, and less oversight to enforce rules and protect wildlife. These challenges come at a time when park visitation is surging. Post-pandemic travel trends continue to push more people toward outdoor destinations, with many parks reporting record numbers of visitors. More people means more foot traffic, more waste, more wear and tear on fragile ecosystems, and fewer trained professionals to manage it all. Without sufficient ranger presence, the responsibility of preserving these natural treasures is shifting more and more to the public.
What You Can Do: Becoming Stewards of the Parks
While the current state of our parks is concerning, it also presents an opportunity for visitors to become active stewards of the very lands they love. Here’s how you can help keep our parks beautiful this summer:
1. Pack Out What You Pack In
One of the simplest but most powerful actions visitors can take to help protect national parks is to follow the Pack it in, pack it out principle, and in a summer where staffing shortages are leaving trash bins emptied and maintenance delayed, this rule is more important than ever. In practice, this principle goes beyond just tossing a wrapper in your backpack. It's about shifting our mindset to see ourselves not just as guests in these natural spaces, but as caretakers. To do your part, start by packing your food and supplies in reusable containers. Reduce the need for disposable wrappers, plasti bags, or single use drink bottles that often become litter before leaving your picnic area or campsite, take a moment to sweep the ground for microtrash – small pieces of waste like bottle caps, twist ties, or bits of foil that are easy to miss but harmful to the environment. Also, visitors should not rely on park-provided waste bins to be available or usable. Many are now overflowing, locked, or removed entirely due to understaffing. Be prepared to carry your trash all the way home, and plan accordingly by bringing a dedicated trash bag or sealable container that won’t leak or smell in your backpack or car. This simple habit might not feel like a grand gesture, but when thousands of visitors commit to it, the collective impact is profound. It keeps trails lean, wildlife safe, and rangers from being overwhelmed. In a summer where our national parks are short on staff but heavy with visitors, small acts of responsibility can go a very long way.
Yellowstone National Park
2. Stick to the Trails
The importance of staying on marked trails isn’t just a guideline, it is a principle rooted in dedicated conservation science. When land management agencies design trails, they do so with ecological sensitivity in mind, balancing human access with the preservation of natural habitats. Trails are often routed to avoid fragile plant communities, nesting sights, watershed, and geologically unstable terrain. These paths represent the safest and most sustainable way for people to enjoy the parks without causing undue harm. The effects of staying off trail aren’t always visible in the moment, which makes the damage all the more insidious. What looks like a small, harmless shortcut can quickly become a social trial – a new, unofficial path that others begin to follow. Over time these social trails fragment habitats, widen erosion zones, and create a patchwork of degraded areas that rangers don’t have the resources to restore, especially not this summer when crews are underfunded and short-staffed. To reduce your impact, avoid shortcuts and stay on marked routes even when they appear crowded. If the trail is wet or washed out, turn back rather than blazing a new path, encourage others to do the same, and explain why it matters if they ask. Every footprint tells a story, and this summer we have the opportunity to write one of collective respect and preservation.
3. Respect Wildlife From a Distance
One of the greatest joys of visiting a national park is the chance to see wild animals in their natural habitat. A bear lumbering across a field, a herd of elk grazing at sunrise, or a bald eagle soaring overhead. These moments can be magical, but they also come with serious responsibility. With fewer rangers available this summer to monitor wildlife interaction and educate the public, it’s more important than ever for visitors to understand one core principle: wildlife is wild, and it should stay that way. Getting too close to the animals, even with good intentions, put both humans and wildlife at risk. Animals that become accustomed to people may lose their natural fear, approach roads and campsites, or even begin seeking food from visitors. This behavior, often encouraged by just a few careless interactions, leads to more frequent wildlife encounters. Once an animal becomes a threat to the public, park staff are often left with few options. Too many times that means relocating or euthanizing animals that were simply doing what they’ve learned from repeated exposure to people. Respecting wildlife starts with keeping your distance, which is a much farther distance than most people realize is safe. A good rule of thumb is to stay at least 25 yards from most animals and at least 100 yards from bears, wolves, or mountain lions. Use binoculars or zoom lenses if you want a closer look, and never attempt to approach or feed wildlife for a better photo or social media post. A single selfie isn’t worth a lifetime of damage to an animal's behavior, or your own safety. Keeping your distance also protects ecosystems, chasing or startling animals can cause them to abandon nest, burn precious energy during critical feeding periods, ro alter migrations and mating patterns. In spring and early summer, many species are raising young, which is a time when disturbance can be especially harmful. In a season when fewer staff are on hand to protect our parks and their creatures, we all have a role to play. Respecting wildlife from a distance helps keep the “wild” in wildlife and ensures that the animals we admire today will still be thriving tomorrow.
4. Be a Responsible Camper
Camping is one of the most immersive ways to experience a national park. Waking up to the sound of birds, cooking under the stars, and falling asleep to the hush of the forest. But with more visitors heading to campgrounds this summer and fewer park rangers available to supervise or assist, how we camp will have an outsized impact on the health of our parks. Responsible camping is not just about following the rules, it’s about being a good neighbor to nature and to everyone who comes after you. One of the most pressing concerns during camping season is fire safety. Wildfires have become increasingly frequent and destructive, and many parks are operating with limited fire crews and enforcement staff this year. It’s crucial to check for fire bans before your trip and obey them strictly, even if the conditions seem safe. If campfires are permitted, build them only in designated fire rings, keep them small, never leave them unattended, and make sure they are completely extinguished before leaving the sight or going to sleep. Setting up your tent on durable surfaces, like gravel, rock, or well established pads, also helps protect the surrounding environment. Avoid pitching tents on vegetation or creating new clearings, even if an area looks undisturbed. Responsible campers understand that every action has a ripple effect. When you treat your campsite with care you're helping preserve that place for everyone else. In a season when every camper’s choices matter more than ever, being thoughtful, prepared, and respectful isn’t just good etiquette. It is an act of stewardship that helps ensure our parks remain wild, beautiful, and welcoming for generations to come.
Yosemite National Park
As America’s parks face a summer of unprecedented strain, the responsibility to protect them now lies more than ever with the people who love and use them. Ranger shortages, budget cuts, and skyrocketing visitation have created a tipping point, one where the choices we make as individuals can either contribute to the problem or become part of the solution. Whether it's packing out every scrap of trash, staying on designated trails, keeping a respectful distance from wildlife, or camping with care, small acts of responsibility add up. Our national parks were created to be shared, but they were also entrusted to us not just to enjoy, but preserve. This summer, stewardship is not optional, it is essential. If each of us chooses to act with care and intention, we can ensure these wild, breathtaking places not only withstand the pressures of today, but remain protected and thriving for those who follow.
