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Cracks Caused By Earthquake Closes Washington Monument

Aug 25th - 00:12am | Loaded

Yes, there are cracks in our National Heritage.  What a loaded statement that is, Bruce!

Aug 24th - 21:23pm | Bruce

Earthquake impressions on two levels: 1) Human.  No lives were lost, no injuries that I read about.  Sobering to think how much more powerful than this one the earthquake in Japan was, let alone the devastating tsunami that resulted.

Aug 24th - 17:53pm | RangerLady

Grrrr...I'm heading there in 2 months. I so hope the damage isn't too bad.

How Many Bison in Yellowstone National Park?

Aug 24th - 22:38pm | jsmacdonald

One number missing from this article that ultimately accounts for the lower numbers is that 211 (by Buffalo Field Campaign's count - and I witnessed dozens of the deaths and gut piles myself) bison were killed between Montana's and the hunts of the treaty tribes (mostly by Salish-Kootenai and Nez Perce but some also by the Umatilla - the Shoshone-Bannock also have treaty rights but did not hunt

Reader Participation Day: Are you a VIP (Volunteer in the Parks)?

Aug 24th - 21:23pm | Bill Atwill

I worked with Honors students from 8 different colleges and universities doing trail maintenance in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in May 2011. This was part of thecooperative Partners in the Parks project between the National Collegiate Honors Council and National Park Service.  NPS Volunteer Trails coordinator, Christine Hoyer is the best! 

Aug 24th - 19:33pm | Keeper

Very cool, Rick!  I've had very similar experiences with the youth and adults of this country and others on Mule Rides into the Grand Canyon.  It really fills you up to help facilitate experiences that mean so much to individuals.  Of course, the Canyon is the real star here!  I'm just smart enough to stay out of the way:).   Rock On, Rick, Keeper

Aug 24th - 15:59pm | Rick B.

When were you there, Rick? I believe I met you at the Museum of the National Park Ranger on our last trip through.

Aug 24th - 15:22pm | Rick Smith

Danny--After a 31-year career as an employee of the NPS, I returned for two summers to serve as a VIP at the Museum of the National Park Ranger at Norris Junction in Yellowstone. The museum,at the height of the season, has about 300 visitors a day. The VIP actually has time to talk to the visitors and discuss the issues facing Yellowstone or the NPS.

Aug 24th - 12:01pm | Gary Byler

While single I volunteered at Joshua Tree NP, Devils Tower and Canyon de Chelly NMs recently.  I think it was fantastic.  I had to quit and beg out of another VIP at Great Basin when I had an eye problem and required surgery.  Now it seems that is not going to be a problem and I am hoping that my new wife and I can get back to being VIPs someplace soon, perhaps next year.  VIP is the best kept

Aug 24th - 10:23am | Laurel

Danny: I was a VIP in Yosemite National Park to week-long natural resource restoration trips in four separate years, and I was a VIP "Grafitti Buster" in Mesa Verde National Park to remove grafitti scratched into rocks along park trails and scenic overlooks.

Aug 24th - 09:26am | Connie

We volunteered at Lake Ranger Station (Yellowstone NP) in 2002....best experience of our lives.  The rangers were awesome.  My husband and I were afforded opportunities we would never have had as a regular visitor to the park.  I got to go out on a private tour of the lake with "Ranger Rick" and other volunteers.  My husband, a fly-fisherman, got to go out on the boat to help with the netting o

California Woman Dies In Fall From Half Dome Cables In Yosemite National Park

Aug 24th - 19:46pm | Anonymous

That is ridiculous! remove the cables, why because someone died. One person to ruin it the experience for everyone else. When you go to half dome you realize the danger. You could die! if you dont want to put yourself in that situation dont do it. I have a better chance of dieing in my car on the way to half dome. Should we make the world carless so no one dies?

Cape Hatteras National Seashore Preparing To Hurricane Irene

Aug 24th - 17:44pm | Erik

Great. Leaving for these parks two weeks from today. i hope they are still there when it's all over.

Junior Ranger Discovers Important Saber Tooth Fossil at Badlands National Park

Aug 24th - 17:28pm | Abigail

She's goes to my school!

Proposed Backcountry Fee At Great Smoky Mountains National Park Would Be A First For Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers

Aug 24th - 15:08pm | Tom Thomas

I wouldn't mind paying, In fact I want to do my fair share for this Park - but have questions and concerns:  Will my senior pass be honored?  How do you plan to supervise these campsites and shelters to make sure folks that have no reservations will not be a continuing problem?

New "Puppy Cam" Features Sled Dog Pups at Denali National Park and Preserve

Aug 24th - 14:16pm | Anonymous

@Anon 8/23  6:23pm  I can't live in the doom and gloom 24/7.  I've always got time for the puupycam!  It lifts my spirits :)

Aug 23rd - 21:08pm | Bill H

Hmmmm, I don't see a chain.  I see a rather nice kennel and dog house.

Aug 23rd - 19:23pm | Anonymous

Wow. All that's going on in our government and national park system, and we get puppy cams from NPT.

Aug 23rd - 10:30am | Anonymous

P.S. They are not living at the end of a chain.  It might be time to check out the webcam, Margery.

Aug 23rd - 10:11am | Margery Glickman

It's appalling that the rangers force the dogs to live at the end of a chain. Jurisdictions across the United States have banned or severely restricted chaining because it's cruel to dogs. For more facts, go to the Sled Dog Action Coalition web page: http://www.helpsleddogs.org/remarks-abuseinkennels.htm#chaining

What's "The Most Beautiful Place in America"? GMA Viewers Pick Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Aug 24th - 13:46pm | Anonymous

I wish somewhere the criteria for the ten finalists was published.  I live near the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore,  Sleeping Bear's southern cousin.  They are both gorgeous,  have dramatic diversity for the biologists, and I love them.  But none of the ten finalists were places like the Grand Canyon,  Yosemite,  Denali, the Tetons.  That just seems too strange.  And every time I have seen th

Aug 21st - 16:38pm | Anonymous

Katahdin from Pemadumcook Lake or Longs Peak in RMNP are preferable

Aug 21st - 10:06am | Anonymous

I have done some traveling, and all the places mentioned in these comments are beautiful, but for me, there is no more beautiful sight than Lake Michigan from the top of the dunes.

RV Accident in Great Smoky Mountains National Park Injures 6

Aug 24th - 09:02am | Jane

Gee, I hope you never get into an accident, apparently you have no idea the decisions that have to be made by rescue teams. I am grateful that the family is safe and no workers were injured in the recovery process.

Lightning Strike Kills Visitor at Bryce Canyon National Park

Aug 23rd - 20:31pm | Anonymous

I was at Bryce last month.  The rangers do a good job of warning visitors what to do when thunderstorms approach.  Visitors are told repeatedly NOT to stand under any lone tree near the rim.  Maybe this man didn't hear a ranger talk or maybe he paused for just a moment, just the wrong moment. 

Aug 22nd - 19:09pm | Barky

What a tragedy. Don't forget that lightning can actually travel great distances to hit you:  http://www.srh.noaa.gov/jetstream/lightning/lightning_faq.htm#8

Peeking Inside The Rangers Club At Yosemite National Park

Aug 23rd - 20:08pm | Henry Thompson

A wonderful atmosphere and the Ranger's I met are great! Thanks Ray for all your help! Hope to see you all next Summer.

Fans of Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore Being Asked to Contribute Ideas to Lakeshore's Future

Aug 23rd - 18:52pm | Johnny Odom

Perhaps im a little late finding and responding to this post but am glad i found it. I live in Indiana as like many others on this forum and i as well drive a thousand miles to new smyrna and haulover beach and spend about a thousand dollars,  so me and my family can visit the Nude Beaches.

Are Hunters Good Wildlife Stewards When It Comes To Wolves? Not According To This Study

Aug 23rd - 15:17pm | ILoveBears

Wow.  I'm more than a little shocked & saddened at  some of the comments.  As stated above, the label "hunters", covers a large spectrum of people.  Some of the hunters are exceptional & wonderful people.  Some hunters would fall into the scourge of the earth category (in my book).  Then there is a huge population of hunters that are trying to be the best they can be, with varying level

Aug 22nd - 18:33pm | Hunter/Gatherer :)

The elitist snob comments are really the most "unnatural" of postings that I see.  Hunter/gatherer stuff is a part of our DNA (not arguable).  Al be it replaced by many by a trip to Safeway or the like.  Like domesticated animals we're only one step removed from those realities that that seem so unseemly for some and completely at peace in the effort by others.

Aug 22nd - 17:46pm | Lee Dalton

I know.  But my last one wasn't.

Aug 22nd - 10:10am | JLA

Lee, The comment from Crotalus about You Tube being peer-reviewed was tongue in check.  

Aug 21st - 22:51pm | Lee Dalton

Oh?  By whom?  I sorta don't think the peers of most who post YouTube stuff are capable of reviewing much of anything excpet a beer in front of their tube.

Aug 21st - 18:34pm | Anonymous

Yurok Tribe Educates Hunters on Effects of Lead Bullets Dangers to humans and wildlife from spreading lead throughout our environment. http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_18727668

Aug 21st - 15:50pm | Anonymous

Then there are the folks that are neither hunters nor ranchers that are for wolf management. We are not "anti wolf" - we see the need to manage this predator to keep it wild. We are seeing habituated wolves hanging around our communities, losing their fear of humans. Hunting puts the wild back in the wolves - but I don't exepect folks that don't live with wolves to understand that.

Aug 21st - 15:11pm | NPS_Survivor

Wolves occupy an iconic---and highly negative---place in European society.  They are uniformly portrayed as both intelligent---almost as intelligent as humans---and dangerous to Europeans and Euro-Americans and the animals we domesticated and tend.

Aug 21st - 09:11am | SS1

Too bad I agree with all the  negative comment about hunters. Of the hunters I have observed the majority hunt so they can have: 1.  A live target to shoot at 2. Something to kill  

National Geographic Visits Portugal's First, and Only, National Park

Aug 23rd - 04:32am | Waypoint

Great article about our Pan Park. Thanks! :)

Where Can You Enjoy The Best Wildlife Experiences In the National Park System?

Aug 22nd - 22:14pm | LindaHanney

Several weeks ago we witnessed a brown bear and her cub fish for salmon at the Fish Creek Wildlife Observation Site operated by the US Forest Service near Hyder, Alaska. We also saw eagles and various other birds. We were returning from six weeks in Alaska and didn't think we could see another beautiful sight, but we certainly did.

Creature Feature: The Banana Slug is Living Proof that a Slimy Little Gastropod Mollusk Can be Loaded with Charisma

Aug 22nd - 22:13pm | Tracy

I love these great little creatures! From the first time I saw one in the Olympic National Forest I was totally enamoured. I even have a life size tattoo of one!

New Species Added to Park Lists During Bioblitz at Great Basin National Park

Aug 22nd - 19:05pm | Barky

What a neat way to teach kids about biology. :-)

Can, And Should, The Hetch Hetchy Valley in Yosemite National Park Be Restored?

Aug 22nd - 17:47pm | peter jacobs

I would like to see the valley restored. I have read most of the environmental defense's report on how it could be done and I find it very convincing. Mrs. Rosenkranz I think it would be great if you or someone else on you team would write a short essay on why the dam should be removed.

Statue Of Liberty To Be Closed For Year During Safety Improvements

Aug 22nd - 15:21pm | Anonymous

Really? $27.25 million??? Could we have an itemized break down of materials and labor?

Trains Of Discovery: Railroads and the Legacy of Our National Parks

Aug 22nd - 11:13am | Connie Hopkins

When Mr Buffett's B/H acquired us, our retirement funds (our stock options) perked up quite a bit so needless to say, we were/are happy campers! The railroad has been very good to us!

Aug 21st - 08:36am | Anonymous

  Go Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway bought $34,000,000,000 Value in Burlington Northern: Moves more freight and passengers on less Fossil Fuel than diesel big trucks.

The National Park to Park Highway

Aug 21st - 23:30pm | Chuck

Would like to take same trip around the park to park highway.

Dinosaur National Monument Officials Warning Floaters To Beware High Flows On Yampa River

Aug 21st - 16:08pm | Hans Miesler

My wife and I were on a commercialy guided trip on the Yampa on the 10th of June, 2011. Out of four  rafts, two of them were violently flipped and injuries sustained by the clients. My wife ended up with blunt force trauma and a hematoma on her left calf.  She is still limping and the healing can take months not to mention the blood clotting issue. She has been under doctors care since then.

Persistent Pedestrians: Black Bears in Big Bend National Park

Aug 21st - 15:46pm | Coolmons Blog

Interesting article, I thought the black bear population was gone as of the 20th century. I didnt know they made a comeback.

National Park Quiz 97: Ships

Aug 21st - 14:39pm | Dan Lenihan

The comment that most of the wrecks at Isle Royale are less than 70 feet deep is simply not correct. The Emperor, Congdon, Kamloops, Chisholm Engines, and portions of Cox, Glenlyon and Algoma and Cumberland range deeper than that, some much deeper.

Updated: Unenviable List: Ozark National Scenic Riverways Ranked Among 10 Most Endangered Rivers

Aug 21st - 11:42am | Anonymous

Carolyn Dyer's parents own the CROSS COUNTRY TRAIL RIDE which claims to be the worlds largest trail ride. They advertise that they have over 3000 stalls and the whole operation is in the Jacks Fork river floodplain. This huge operation has put the river on the 303 (D) list of impaired waterways as well as the ENDANGERED RIVERS LIST.

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