Outdoors Is Just Part of the Office for Park Ranger

In Vicky Zinner’s office in the outdoors, she will often see her share of birds, fish and even a few armadillos.
Every once in a while, an alligator or snake might cross her path. But they’re all part of the nature Ms. Zinner loves – and that beats the time spent in her indoor office any day.
But being the manager of Chattahoochee State Park requires spending time in both offices, as well as being able to perform a wide range of duties.
“I am the clerk, bookkeeper, receptionist, groundskeeper or whatever the need may be,” she said. “I do all the necessary work for the Montgomery office, as well as some outside work, although I do have some very good help (maintenance worker Trey Meyers) for the outside grounds keeping.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have the pleasure here of having an employee for every job like the bigger parks. Here, we try to do it all and do the best we can with what we’ve got. So the duties vary drastically from law enforcement to being ready for anything.”
Ms. Zinner, who has been manager of the park in the southeast corner of Houston County since January, came to Chattahoochee State Park from Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores.
In 1989, she became the first woman to take on the position of park ranger.
Although part of the park ranger’s job is enforcing the law in the park, Ms. Zinner said her first priority is educating the lawbreaker. So far, that aspect of her job has been quiet at Houston County’s only state park, but she expects that to change during hunting season.
“Although here at Chattahoochee, I don’t use my law enforcement abilities as much because the need out there as with the bigger parks,” Ms. Zinner said. “I still have to be alert and ready at all times for lawbreakers, whether it is someone illegally hunting, fishing without a license, speeding, or not stopping to pay at the honor box ($1),” she said.
“Unlike law enforcement with the city and county, it’s not a cuff ‘em and stuff ‘em situation. A park ranger should first try to educate the public and let them know what they have done wrong and how it can hurt the environment.
“However, if this does not work, then you cuff ‘em and stuff ‘em, but only as a last resort. A park ranger should always try to be a good role model, as most of the time they are associated with Smokey the Bear and Ranger Rick.”
The park, located on the Florida state line 25 miles southeast of Dothan off Highway 84 East, was originally the site of a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp and is still called the CCC park by the area’s older residents.
Last year, almost 4,000 people visited the park’s 596 wooded acres and its 15-acre lake stocked with bass, bream, shell cracker and pike.
There are also a number of hiking trails, and deer sightings are common. There are also raccoons, opossums, squirrels, fox, coyotes, wild turkeys and turtles.
During her time at Gulf State Park, Ms. Zinner spent much more of her time handling DUIs and answering medical calls by saving swimmers who had ventured too far in the gulf.
Chattahoochee State Park is a smaller park, and the park manager likes it that way.
“I like being a ranger here at Chattahoochee State Park because it is a small park, and the people in the community have been wonderful,” she said.
“Most of the people who use the park are locals and come to relax and catch some fish. (At Gulf State Park), you were always living other people’s vacations. Here, people are more relaxed and just glad it’s their weekend.”