Staff Spotlight, Jim Ellis
Park Ranger, Jim Ellis
Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park
In the 1960s, a little north of Chipley, Florida, in the town of Graceville, Ranger Jim Ellis began his passion for... the Real Florida. Jim is no stranger to woods and wildlife - as a child in rural North Florida, he had time and space to explore nature. In 1969, his father, a high school principal, moved the family to Lake City, which while larger than Graceville still held many wonders for Jim to explore and appreciate. His love of nature, wildlife and people has lasted all his life.
Before joining the Florida Park Service, Jim worked for 32 years for the U.S. Forest Service. Twenty-five of those years were in law enforcement, giving Jim the opportunity to protect the forests, their wildlife and the people who live and visit there. Jim has a special fondness for snakes of all kinds and enjoys traveling the world, from rainforests to deserts, observing snake and other wildlife species and nature’s beauty.
At Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park, Jim often sees rattlesnakes as well as Sherman’s fox squirrels, a protected species of special concern in Florida. It is part of what Jim likes most about his park. It is not just the critters that Jim cares about, however. He loves people. He enjoys seeing them smile and enjoying their day. Jim says, “Sometimes the little things we do for people can change their whole life.”
Next time you come to Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park, say hi to Jim. He will always make you smile, and you’ll leave a little more lighthearted.