The issue of access on Cape Hatteras National Seashore is among the most contentious in the National Park System. The presence of species that are recognized as threatened by both the federal government as well as the state of North Carolina requires the National Park Service to manage the seashore in such a way that protects and benefits these species.
Unfortunately, that management approach has not been welcomed or supported by all. There have been reports of harassment of seashore personnel, vandalism on the seashore, economic hardship, and long-time beach-goers who are finding it more and more difficult to reach long-treasured spots on the cape.
Traveler's attempt on April Fool's Day to take a pause from the heated atmosphere that has swirled about the seashore fell flat with some readers, including those at the Park Service. Recognizing those concerns and objections, the story has been taken down.
While the intent was not to further aggravate the situation, it regrettably appears to have done just that in some corners.
Traveler has long served as an open forum for the exchange of information and opinions about this controversy, and will continue to do so.
Comments
See how easy it was to slip the rest of the way? Now there's even more outside pressure, so you're afraid to even present both sides opinions. Not only do you give "bloggers" a bad name, you further reinforce the public opinion that bloggers can't be capable objective journalists. And in your case, it looks like they're right.
Who needs that pesky "freedom of speech" anyway, right?
--Mark
Boy all you all need to lighten up some! Part of what is wrong with this country is that folks have lost their sense of humor. All OVER the country folks have lost their jobs and have lost their homes, not just on this piece of sand. The National Park Traveler is a very valuable resource for my family and even though the April Fool's joke fell flat that doesn't change how I feel about Kurt and all the folks at Traveler and the information they provide.
Hey Colorado Cowgirl,
Thanks for providing some much needed perspective here.
I'd bet those who are say "lighten up a little"
haven't visited the area, and haven't been shoehorned into the beaches that are
open for recreation – which by the way, shrink with each passing year, and are
closed earlier and earlier each year. Everyone needs to understand it's not just
the ORV community that's impacted by these draconian closures. Beachcombers,
surfers, kayakers - EVERYONE is negatively impacted by these unnecessary
and asinine measures. There’s not been 1 documented death or injury caused to
these birds by pedestrian or ORVers – not 1. Pro-access groups have repeatedly
requested scientific data that substantiates the need for the beach closures. What
has the NPS provided; studies from 3,000 miles away and data provided by the
Audubon society. Are you kidding? Know the facts before you ignorantly say “take
it with a grain of salt.”
Kurt, you and your staff do a very good service to the public, administrators of our public treasures and to the treasures, I believe. We all are certainly capable of going down the wrong roads at times in the atmosphere that pervades today. It's when things diminish into mostly PR wars absent of the grounding of those least likely to fall into one camp or the other that things really run amuck, I believe. I didn't catch the April Fools Post but am guessing it may have had a grain of truth to it. Most all humor does...and the humorless doesn't, LOL!
She nailed it. How self-involved those few whiners on Hatteras are that they can't see that the threat to businesses isn't the temporary closure of beaches for shorebirds, but the effect of a historic economic collapse on a place that's out of the way and pretty expensive to visit.
It's not for nothing that the area around Kitty Hawk and Nag's Head is still drawing tourists. It's easier to get to.
The DOI and National Park Service have lost their frickin minds!! The people of this or any land in this United States had bette wake up and realize that one of yours and my rights is to provide for my family, the right to freedom of speech and the right to access public funded lands. I plan on being in Haqtteras in 1 month and screw the birds. When my brother lost his legs in Iraq he thought he had lost his ability to get on the beach. I'll be damned if a fricking bird will keem me from DRIVING him out on the beach and getting his set up to enjoy the sand and catch fish. 10 birds, get the hell over it!!
We all know someone at this point who has lost their job, has lost their home or their business due to the economy. One thing you may not realize is that these Island Whiners have lost their jobs, homes and businesses due to 10 birds (avg) and the Bird huggers that counted them(disregarding the ones on the outlying dredge islands).
The "temporary" beach closures are during the time of the year that the economy sustains these whiners for the entire year. Not so hypothetical situation: YOU are employed year round. You make 3/4 of your annual income in 6 months. You budget and save to make sure you are covered for the lean 6 month period. The main source of your customer base is your location. Now, someone with political clout decides that, during the 6 months you make the majority of your annual salary, there are a few birds nesting(that may POSSIBLY have chicks) along the only road to your place of employment and they close the road to anything but "local traffic". You have now lost your customer base, therefor a majority of your income. Would you appreciate being called a whiner when your business closes or you get laid off because you now have no draw to your customers? After all it is beyond your control...