[slight breeze in trees]
[squirrel chirps]
[no audio]
(Tourist) Oh, look at that fuzzy brown squirrel!
He's so cute!
(Tourist) He seems so tame.
I bet I could get a good photo
If I coax him over here with this chip.
[no audio]
[magical whooshing air]
(Inner Ranger) Whoa there Snow White!
(Tourist) Excuse me!
Who are you, and where did you come from?
[pause, no audio]
(Inner Ranger) I'm your inner ranger
Which basically means I'm just a mini version of you
in a ranger uniform.
I sit right here on your shoulder
and make sure you understand how to be a responsible park visitor
so that you can have a safe and enjoyable trip
at your national park.
Let me guess,
you were about to feed that squirrel?
(Tourist) Yeah, he looked hungry
and he seemed pretty friendly.
(Tourist) Look at him sitting up on his hind legs, and
and begging with his little paws!
(Inner Ranger) I can tell you are excited to connect with wildlife,
but despite the fairytale like cuteness of that squirrel
I promise you, the results of feeding it
are not going to get you
[startling chime] the happily ever after ending
that you're hoping for.
(Tourist) Oh, that looks terrible!
I've never seen a Disney Princess with a
bloody and stitched hand!
A little guy like that did all that damage?
(Inner Ranger) [chuckling] Indeed.
While that squirrel may seem friendly,
you should keep your distance.
Not only is it illegal to feed or approach wildlife
in a national park,
but it could also be unsafe for you, the squirrel,
and that nice new hiking pack next to you.
(Tourist) My backpack?
(Inner Ranger) [chuckling] You've seen what a
a squirrel can do to your hand.
Imagine the damage it can inflict
on that nice, new pack of yours.
You know,
rodents have continuously growing teeth.
(Tourist) Oh, yikes!
[nervous chuckle] he doesn't look so friendly anymore,
coming at me with those [pause] fangs!
(Tourist) Not to mention, this backpack wasn't cheap!
(Inner Ranger) [chuckling] I know!
As far as wildlife goes
sharing isn't caring.
Keep your hands and pack safe
by following the rules of this diagram.
[startling chime]
It tells us that when possible, we should stay
we should stay 50 feet, or 15 meters away
from small wildlife like that squirrel,
and 100 feet, or 30 meters away from larger wildlife
like deer and elk.
We don't want you to get hurt, and
we don't want wildlife to depend on people for food.
Besides, chips really shouldn't be part of a squirrel's diet anyway.
(Tourist) Whoops! [embarrassed laugh]
I never really thought about it that way.
If I stay here I can still get a good picture of a squirrel, and
you know, future visitors can enjoy wildlife safely.
[no audio]
Not feeding wildlife is one of many ways you can
embrace your inner ranger.
If you would like to learn more about animals at
Grand Canyon National Park
visit our website.
[no audio]
[slight breeze in trees] [snuffling squirrel sound]
[upbeat instrumental acoustic guitar]