The BLM's law enforcement program is responsible for protecting public safety and resources across the nation's 264 million acres of BLM-managed public land, which it does in partnership with state and local law enforcement agencies. The BLM has approximately 200 BLM law enforcement officers, some of whom patrol an area as large as1.8 million acres. Rangers patrol the public lands in a manner similar to that of park rangers and fish and game wardens. They offer a variety of services to the public, such as providing security at recreation sites and helping visitors with disabled vehicles. Rangers also assist special agents on specific investigations and carry out their enforcement duties by issuing warnings and citations and, if necessary, by making arrests.
Special agents are analogous to detectives on local police forces.
They normally conduct complex investigations of criminal activities on public land. Special agents also investigate one-time crimes and assist other Federal law enforcement groups as appropriate. In addition, local law enforcement officers, such as county sheriff deputies, assist the BLM in patrolling popular recreation sites. They provide radio dispatch and other services that help protect the public and the land's natural and cultural resources. Stolen vehicles are often dumped on the public lands.