The Ranger Desk

Wild Living

Live your one wild and precious life: get outside, explore the natural world, be true to yourself, learn new things.

Completely unique, Reelfoot Lake State Park has bizarre origins, shallow waters, odd-looking trees, and some spectacular eagle viewing.

One man had a dream: the civil rights journey may be ongoing, but the Lorraine Motel is today a signpost, reminding us how far we’ve come.

"You're so brave!" is a common phrase said to women who camp or travel alone. It says more about the people saying it than it does about us.

The book that taught me to fly: though we lived very different lives, my grandmother introduced me to books that sparked my imagination.

Take time for your mental health. When we wake up and are not okay, we should all have the right to take a Karen Day.

"They are monsters": these words showed me one side of the Israeli people. A message of hope and a shared love of birds showed me another.

Discover 10 wild facts about Everglades National Park, including the best time to visit and how to breakfast with manatees.

Ever wonder how to stay safe in bear country? Here are seven safety tips and several bear stories from a former national park ranger.

Discover the best hidden gems on the Olympic Peninsula. Explore unique scenery and heritage in two (or more) can't miss stops.

To embrace the inevitable chaos of travel, accept that something will always go wrong. And learn to roll with the changes.

When you need help, tell people. When I was injured and limping on trail, I asked strangers for help. What happened next surprised us both.

Butterflies, children, and guns. How a terrified child's question about butterflies changed the way I thought about migration and borders.