Rangers learn new skills to protect wildlife

July 31, 2015

Blue Ridge Parkway Rangers are tasked with not just the safety of visitors, but also the protection of resources that make the park so special, including plants and animals. To combat poaching and natural resource theft, the Foundation funded forensic wildlife training for Parkway staff. This summer, 23 rangers, three biologists, and three Virginia wildlife officers learned techniques in forensic entomology, field ballistics analysis, GPS mapping for evidence, and writing affidavits to increase successful prosecutions. By bringing instructors to the Parkway to share their knowledge, more rangers were able to participate and learn. “It makes a huge difference in our ability to help each other apply the skills,” explained Chief Law Enforcement Ranger Neal Labrie. “Now we can function as a team.”

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