Spread Too Thin
Law enforcement staffing hasn't kept pace with the growth of the National Park Service, which took off in 1978 when 33 parks were added. Today, each ranger is responsible for about 61,000 acres.
| Rangers | Acres | Visits | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 1,168 | 31.3 million | 283 million |
| 2003 | 1,465 | 84.2 million | 421 million |
| Increase | 25% | 169% | 49% |
Source: National Park Sevice
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