Rangering--Not for the Faint of Heart

I was Opening Ranger this morning with a hike time of 7:00 a.m. leading the first tour of the day at 8:40 a.m. Beautiful trail, great weather, beautiful day, and very quiet for a holiday morning. When I reached the grotto, I unlocked the door to the ranger room, flipped on the lights, and disarmed the cave. And then I found this...




Casualty number one discovered on the floor just as you enter the ranger room.



Another victim found right next to the treat box. Yummy.



And number three half-way under the microwave. The microwave that rangers use day in and day out. Try not to look at the eyes.


Ranger Nancy "did the honors" while I opened the cave. And then I heard her singing over the radio to our boss, "Three dead mice, three dead mice...they all ran into the ranger room..." Our ranger duties indeed include "light maintenance."


Just so this post isn't ALL about death and destruction, I'm including some New Babies! I just love to see all the new baby bright green pine needles joining their darker green ancestors in the spring. Ah, the glorious greens!