Whether it was a car accident on the Grand Loop Road, a medical emergency or a search and rescue for an overdue hiker, I learned early on that Rangers were caring, dedicated, and highly trained first responders.
In the early 1990s, Yellowstone Rangers who worked in the Lake, Canyon, and Grant Districts started carrying some extra equipment in their patrol cars.
We all agreed it might be a good idea to start carrying teddy bears in the trunks of our patrol cars to provide an emotional band-aid for kids in crisis.
Thanks to Hamilton Stores, who donated dozens of teddy bears, every patrol car had a white canvass bag stuffed with teddy bears in the trunk.
I started keeping a journal of teddy bears we were able to provide to kids.
A 2-year-old boy who was flown to an Idaho Falls hospital because of severe seizures.
A 6-year-old boy who was traumatized by seeing his father with second degree burns because of a camping accident.
A 11-year-old girl who clutched her teddy bear all the way back to her home in Kalamazoo, Michigan – where her older brother had been murdered and a call back from the family thanking us for caring.
When the press picked up on these stories, we became known as the Teddy Bear Rangers of Yellowstone.
A Ranger's Journal 