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Of Geologists, Paleontologists, And Science in the National Park System

Mar 3rd - 11:59am | Tom

It's really too bad that some people (like anonymous above) will not identify themselves but post ignorant comments with absolutely no facts to back them up! FACT: The 2 positions in question contribute 54 years of combined professional experience to the program! FACT: Outsourcing, interns and seasonal help cannot replace 54 years of experience and excellence!

Mar 3rd - 08:35am | pete Reser

What's overlooked in abolishing the two palontology positions at DINO is the fact that these positions are then gone forever and the Service cannot restore them. And these are the very positions that allow the Monument to perform its core legislative responsibility which is to conserve and protect its fossil material.

Park History: Mount Rainier National Park

Mar 3rd - 08:53am | Snowbird

Snowbird06 Chance, your story inspires me to conquer Mt. Rainier this summer. Good job and keep writing for: "the pen is mightier then the sword".

Would a Change in Gun Laws Be a Threat to National Park Bears?

Mar 2nd - 20:08pm | Philip Sanfilippo

No Guns Should Be allowed in our national parks PLAIN AND SIMPLE NONE AT ALL.

Mar 2nd - 13:58pm | wildvisions

That's simply not true. Two people were killed on the Hula Hula River a couple years ago, and they had a firearm. They were killed in their tent, by a bear that was likely food conditioned by litter at local fish camps. Statistically speaking, you are safer with pepper spray than gun.

Mar 2nd - 13:55pm | wildvisions

Obviously you do not live here in Alaska. Thousands of people frequently come in close proximity with bears here, and there is no problem. I for one spend countless hours in the field with both wolves and bears. If you are that afraid, perhaps you should not be hunting, and certainly not in Alaska.

Feb 29th - 23:46pm | Dave O

Julie Helgeson and Michelle Koons would probably still alive today if just one person in their party or a nearby party had a firearm available. In fact, many of the persons listed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_bear_attacks_in_North_America...

Feb 29th - 11:50am | RICHARD HETRICK

i would love to travel to alaska to hunt and fish but traveling thru the states with a weapon , i would not be able to go thru a national park is absurd. nobody in there right mind should get that close to a bear. with or without a gun.

Western National Parks Contaminated By Airborne Heavy Metals, Pesticides

Mar 2nd - 15:27pm | Snowbird

Snowbird06

Mar 2nd - 13:15pm | Rex

Snowbird, "Dr." Jensen is one small voice and he sees $$ and job security by perpetuating the myth. Ya know, the less people on the planet equals one less "carbon footprint" and it will help to ease "global warming"....

Mar 1st - 10:54am | Snowbird

Snowbird06

Feb 29th - 11:37am | Gerald

Another example of junk science to justify more $$$ for scientists versus hiring more rangers that the public really desires. Global warming? LOL...how about Global COOLING instead: Snow cover over North America and much of Siberia, Mongolia and China is greater than at any time since 1966.

Feb 29th - 09:15am | Snowbird

Snowbird06 This is extremely alarming and with global warming on top of it. Let's face it folks, we have huge problems ahead. Do you really think the EPA cares enough to make it a national policy to put strict controls on these harmful contaminants that are harming the National Parks.

Carrying Guns in the National Parks -- Is This Being Fast-Tracked?

Mar 1st - 14:43pm | Fred Miller

"Carrying Guns in the National Parks -- Is This Being Fast-Tracked?" Actually, this is a excellent example of how good the government is at dragging it's feet. This link will let you read the whole story. It also has additional links to other sources about this issue in case you would rather not take the NRA's word for it.

Feb 29th - 22:15pm | rangertyler

Guns in Parks? Do We Need Them? If the antecedent of "we" is "National Park Service", then I'd say you've posed a very intriguing question.

NPS Retirees Oppose Carrying Guns in National Parks

Mar 1st - 07:59am | PEACEinPARKS

If you don't want loaded guns in national parks, use the following link to send an e-mail saying so to your reps. in Washington. http://ga1.org/campaign/Coburn_Amendment?qp_source=adv%5fhme

Feb 29th - 12:28pm | Prophet

Finally...an actual reasonable response to the topic instead of "guns are bad" and those who believe in the second amendment are somehow kooks. Barky, you do well by illustrating a good point that I had heretofore not thought of with regards to the loss of, as you put it, fear of wildlife(perhaps healthy respect may be better).

2007 National Park Visitation Shows 3 Million Visitor Increase

Feb 29th - 17:56pm | repanshek

Bill, I've long been suspect of these visitation numbers. You cite an extremely good example. How many folks traveling U.S. 209 between East Stroudsburg and Port Jervis are park visitors and how many are folks on their way to or from work?

Feb 29th - 15:43pm | editor1

So, how is a "visitor" defined for the park service's purposes? There seems to be a correlation between high numbers and "major roadway." Bill Watson Pocono Record (Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area -- 4.8 million visitors)

Critics: Changing Gun Laws in National Parks Would Open a "Pandora's Box" of Problems

Feb 29th - 11:11am | Scot M.

Mr. Fletcher James,

Feb 29th - 00:41am | Fletcher James

As a Park Ranger I would think that you would understand that criminals are going to carry guns anyway whether you like it or not. These same people have no respect for you and your government position. There are people out there that do support you and as a fellow Law Enforcement Officer I find it comforting to know that there are law abiding citizens out there that will stand up for you.

Feb 26th - 18:13pm | Fred Miller

Scott - Thanks for the information. I do hope that you are right and I am wrong. I can't speak for every CCW holder, but in my case if I go to a National Park NO ONE will know I have a weapon except my wife, and anybody who tries to hurt her. Otherwise it will remain totally out of sight at all times.

Feb 26th - 15:36pm | Scot M.

Mr. Fred Miller,

Feb 26th - 14:56pm | Fred Miller

Jim - I'm told that there is no way that an active enforcement of any concealed weapon ban could take place. How would that be done? There would have to be "wands" and metal detectors EVERYWHERE you go in a National Park!

Bison Slaughter In Yellowstone National Park Draws Protest Against Park Service

Feb 29th - 09:49am | MPB

On 11/17/97, I spoke with Cheryl Mathews, of YNP - she was a PR officer, I believe, and she told me that the Yellowstone bison slaughter started in 1984, 24 years ago. Here's the earlier total, from Cheryl Mathews; year 2000 and beyond are from BFC:

Feb 28th - 17:30pm | jsmacdonald

Mack, Then, we are closer than we are farther apart. And, I hope that despite our disagreements over tactics (and Rockefeller), that we will continue to work in solidarity on behalf of Yellowstone's beleagured buffalo - now there have been 760 killed by the combined slaughters of DOL and NPS and the Montana hunts, as well as the Salish Kootenai and Nez Perce hunts.

Feb 28th - 15:40pm | MPB

"Do you think that members of the Park Service should be doing more to stop the slaughter of Yellowstone buffalo - at the various levels of the bureaucracy?" Yep. Hard to do so in today's political climate, thanks to Bush, Inc. "Is the IBMP completely independent from the partner agencies who manage and enforce the IBMP?"

Feb 26th - 23:52pm | jsmacdonald

Mack, Do you think that members of the Park Service should be doing more to stop the slaughter of Yellowstone buffalo - at the various levels of the bureaucracy? Is the IBMP completely independent from the partner agencies who manage and enforce the IBMP? Should the National Park Service be doing more to change the IBMP?

Feb 26th - 21:59pm | MPB

"If it is not easy for rangers to get out of their situation, then they do deserve our sympathy (which I have already said and which you seem to conveniently ignore)..."

Feb 26th - 19:50pm | jsmacdonald

If it is not easy for rangers to get out of their situation, then they do deserve our sympathy (which I have already said and which you seem to conveniently ignore), and everyone involved - rangers and non-rangers - need to work to make it possible for rangers stuck in this situation to be able to speak out or get out of their situation.

Feb 26th - 15:11pm | MPB

Jim wrote: "When workers do things simply because that's what they were told to do or because there is material pressure for them to do this, then our sympathy should be with them to the extent that they can't get out of the situation."

Park History: Grand Teton National Park

Feb 28th - 17:25pm | jsmacdonald

Mack, I'm a pacifist so that should tell you about what I think about war. You have to show the contradiction of ends and means in the grim reaper notion of the NPS related to protesting their slaughter of Yellowstone buffalo because I don't see it. As for the accidental killing of someone from delivering a loaf of bread, how is that even an ends and means question?

Feb 28th - 15:38pm | MPB

"I don't believe that ends ever justify the means; the ends and the means are inextricably linked."

Feb 27th - 21:05pm | Matt M.

Jim, I appreciate your economical use of words to make your point.

Feb 27th - 01:39am | MRC

Jim, you are rambling. The sellers sold their land to a buyer. For a price they accepted as fair. That's it. Nothing more, nothing less.

Feb 27th - 01:01am | jsmacdonald

Mack, I don't believe that ends ever justify the means; the ends and the means are inextricably linked. When someone says that a particular end justifies the means, they are denying this tight link. As long as a good end happens, according to this view, how we got there doesn't matter. So, if someone was given the problem: 3 + 4 X 2 = x

Feb 26th - 22:18pm | MPB

In some cases the ends DO justify the means.

Feb 26th - 21:49pm | prairiegirl

The ends did justify the means-without it this area would now be filled with even more mcmansions and you and I would not be allowed behind the gates. And it's not Yellowstone it's the park with big mountains!

Feb 26th - 21:48pm | JoeSF

Jim, I think Rockefeller and Albright both deserve recognition and thanks for Grand Teton Park. If you cannot feel good about it then there is something else wrong. Great Story. Who ever thought it would be controversial? Joe

Feb 26th - 19:32pm | jsmacdonald

I don't believe that ends justify means.

Feb 26th - 15:27pm | MPB

Jim, no offense, but to me, you're coming off as quite the hypocrite. Comparing Rockefeller and his supposed "scamming" which eventually gave us Grand Teton National Park with your defense of hanging a black puppet of Yellowstone National Park in effigy, are you saying the ends justify the means or not?

Glen Canyon NRA Releases EA on Castle Rock Cut Deepening

Feb 28th - 17:19pm | Mahfood6

Boaters are harming the lake more now that they have to travel an extra 12 miles to get up the lake from Wahweap. Cutting the short cut will allow boaters to access the rest of the lake without burning as much fuel to get there. So all in all the cut would help rather then hinder.

High SO2 Levels Force Road Closure at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Feb 28th - 00:11am | Claude GRANDPEY

Hi! Here is an excerpt of the observation report I sent to Jim Kauahikaua last summer about the observations I made concerning gases in the halema'uma'u area:

Former Park Service Director Dickenson Passes Away

Feb 27th - 18:53pm | Rick Smith

What was most impressive about Russ was how he protected the parks from the political influence of people like Secretary Watt, Assistant Secretary Arnett and the people who worked for them. He and his senior staff in the DC headquarters took the heat and kept it off park superintendents. For that, he will always be on my list of true NPS heroes. Rick Smith

Feb 27th - 15:06pm | Art Allen

Scott - Couldn't agree more. Russ sat in the chair when everyone above him was anti-NPS mission. President Reagan was no friend of the parks... "Seen one tree.. seen them all" But you know, that is what is happening riow and since 2001. The difference is in the resistance to the bad policies of the current administration.

Feb 27th - 12:20pm | Scot M.

Russell Dickenson was NPS Director when I entered on duty for my fist NPS job in 1982. Although I did not know much about the political underpinnings of the NPS then, I have come to realize that Director Dickenson did a marvelous job leading the NPS through tough political times and adversarial political appointees in the early 1980s.

Interior Secretary Opens Door for New Gun Regulations in National Parks

Feb 27th - 08:44am | Rick Smith

This is an issue that has been manufactured by the NRA flexing its election-year muscle. There is no overwhelming public outcry for guns in parks. They are among the safest places in America. If someone doesn't feel safe without his/her concealed weapon, go to the public lands in our nation where carrying is permitted.

Feb 27th - 02:13am | Undaunted

According to my state's records, most concealed carry license holders are older persons, with the most rapidly growing segment being the 50+ age group. These are mature responsible people who have a long life history without criminal behavior, and who've taken mandated courses in gun handling, responsibility and safety.

Dinosaur National Monument Cutting Paleontology Staff

Feb 27th - 01:26am | Diggergirl

First of all, I would like to say that it warms my heart to see such passion and fire in these blogs and posts regarding the atrocious problem at Dinosaur National Monument. In matters such as this, these educated comments and discussions are exactly what we need in addition to the letters and messages to those politicians.

Park History: Grand Canyon National Park

Feb 26th - 15:44pm | Bob Janiskee

There might be some confusion about just when Grand Canyon National Park became a national park, but it seems perfectly clear why the National Park Service considers 1919 to be the magic year. It was in 1919 that managerial responsibility for the park ("ownership," if you prefer) was transferred from the U.S.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

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So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.