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Reader Participation Day: Do National Parks Provide Ample Wildlife Warnings to Visitors?

Jul 14th - 10:38am | Canyon fossil

Rangerlady mentioned the person who wanted to hike to Phantom Ranch and back in a day and didn't start until noon.  I was at a ranger program on the North Rim and a young man announced that he was planning to hike to Phantom and back on the morrow.  The ranger menioned that it was 28 miles round trip and the kid said, "Outstanding!".  The ranger then invited him to come to the next night's prog

Jul 13th - 20:00pm | Leland22

I agree with most of the above. I just happened to be in Olympic last October hours after the unfortunate man was gored by the mountain goat. A tragic accident by anyone's imagination. I believe the parks should post something on a trail of known dangers or to investigate reports of known agressive animals and take action, if warranted and I firmly believe they do their best.

Jul 13th - 15:51pm | Ranger

I pretty much disagree with many of the comments above.

Jul 13th - 14:56pm | RangerLady

Anon @12:48 mentioned a list of incidents at Banff National Park and I've seen some parks that do go for the 'shock factor' to try and educate visitors on what can happen. My fiance works at Grand Canyon and he was telling me about this one visitor who was going to hike down to Phantom Ranch and back in one day and wasn't starting until noon.

Jul 13th - 14:50pm | Anonymous

I agree with everyone - no matter what you do or say, a lot of people don't listen.  Anyone who hikes in the remote areas should talk to a ranger first and then they'd know to make noise or talk loudly whenever they're out.  They would have alerted any wildlife to their presence and avoided scaring them an causing an attack.  But again, a lot of people don't listen.

Jul 13th - 13:48pm | Anonymous

I agree with the comment that visitors need to be responsible for their own actions / and educate themselves.  How often do we get the brochures at the gate and read them when we get home from our trip. Most visitors have no concept of wildlife's ability to protect themselves and thier young.

Jul 13th - 13:41pm | Dottie

I agree with everyone; the Parks' budgets cannot babysit every visitor.  Can you imagine Six Flags Over Whatever handing out a brochure to every rider of every ride saying you might get a heart attack on this? 

House Interior Appropriations Budget Carries Ill Winds for National Park System

Jul 14th - 08:45am | ecbuck

I am arguing on behalf of the American economic system and see no reason profits of the oil companies should be any different.  There is nothing obscene about the American economic system nor oil profits.  In fact, the largest oil company - Exxon\Mobil had an average return on investment in 2010 and well below average in 2009.

Jul 14th - 08:42am | ecbuck

Once again you miss the basic economic point.  Whether there are larger influences is immaterial.  Taxes are an influence and will impact the price of oil. It may not be the largest influence but it has an influence just like every other cost the oil companies incure. 

Jul 14th - 02:44am | Rick B.

I just can't believe that folks are actually arguing on behalf of the oil companies profits.  Obscene.

Jul 13th - 22:39pm | justinh

ecbuck, You'd have a point if the previous sentence did not exist: ".... THAT THE PRICE OF OIL HINGED ON MANY OTHER, LARGER CONSIDERATIONS."  The other, larger considerations are what the price of oil hinges on.

Jul 13th - 21:22pm | ecbuck

" And I'm guessing that $300 billion in assets wasn't purchased in 2010, but over the long run." Of course - who whould invest $300 billion annually for a $30 billion annual return?  I'm sure you don't put the full value of your portfolio in anew every year but rather earn on the cummulative account.

Jul 13th - 21:02pm | ecbuck

"First you said Exxon made $30 million in '10, when in fact they made $30 BILLION." If I said "million" it was obviously a misstatement.  It has always been "Billion" and I always meant "billion". "I bet the stockholders were pleased." And that is bad? "And let's not overlook that none of those years you cite showed a loss for the company."

Jul 13th - 20:43pm | Kurt Repanshek

Fine Ec, you win. But let's recap: First you said Exxon made $30 million in '10, when in fact they made $30 BILLION. When that was pointed out you moved the yardsticks and said "$30 billion .... is hardly a windfall." I bet the stockholders were pleased.

Jul 13th - 20:23pm | ecbuck

'Any effect due to changes in the tax treatment of the oil industry would be hard to separate from the changes due to other factors.'" (emphasis mine)"

Jul 13th - 20:18pm | ecbuck

Once again Kurt, nothing in those statements are contrary to what I said.  Exxon earned $30.5 billion up 57% from 2009.  But 2009 was down 58% from 2008.  And if you do the math you will realise that 57% up doesn't recover from 58% down - not even close. Profit 2010 30.5 billon 2009 19.3 2008 45.2 2007 40.6 2006 39.5 2005 36.1 2004 25.3

Jul 13th - 20:14pm | justinh

"In a review of the five specific tax changes being advocated by Democrats, the research service also said that tightening the tax code would make A VERY SMALL DENT IN THE HUGE REVENUES of the industry and that THE PRICE OF OIL HINGED ON MANY OTHER, LARGER CONSIDERATIONS.

Jul 13th - 19:13pm | Kurt Repanshek

EC, I think your Exxon figures are off. Here's what the company's chairman, Rex Tillerson, had to say in discussing year-end 2010 revenue figures:

Jul 13th - 19:06pm | ecbuck

"The two articles I linked above explain pretty clearly how that "magic" would happen" No they don't.  If pretax profit is x and taxes are y then net income is z.  x-y=z  If Y goes up (higher taxes) than either z (net profit) goes down or the company will have to raise prices (or other lower costs) to make pretax profit go up.  Simple accounting.

Jul 13th - 18:59pm | ecbuck

Kurt,

Jul 13th - 18:30pm | Kurt Repanshek

Ron, I should know better than to wade in to the Cape Hatteras situation, but I don't think anyone is being asked to "give up a culture."

Jul 13th - 18:25pm | justinh

Last sentence: I meant, of course, impact "on" gas prices.

Jul 13th - 18:24pm | justinh

ecbuck,

Jul 13th - 18:22pm | Kurt Repanshek

EC, I gotta admit reading the CRS report very possibly would clear some of the confusion up. Here are a coupla snippets:

Jul 13th - 18:16pm | Ron Saunders

   Well, I learned a lot on this one. I learned that I don't have a clue as to who is right and who is wrong. Sorta reminds me of the " Best available Science " we have been battling at Cape Hatteras.

Jul 13th - 18:09pm | ecbuck

"have all said publicly that oil subsidies are not necessary and should be discontinued." Not as a stand alone action but as part of an total overhall of the tax system as well as reigning in of the budget.  You seem to have left that "fact" out.  You give me what Boehner and Ryan want for taxes and the budget and I'll give you the "oil subsidies".

Jul 13th - 18:00pm | ecbuck

"Try googling "oil industry record profits."" Try reading the actual financial reports.  Why is it you keep saying to google but don't actually provide any "facts". "Again, see the Congressional Research Service (CRS) report's finding that ending taxpayer subsidies will 1) not raise gas prices at the pump and 2) will not cut into oil company profits."

Jul 13th - 17:54pm | justinh

Reality Check, Famous liberals such as George W. Bush, John Boehner, Paul Ryan, and even John Hofmeister (ex-CEO of Shell Oil) have all said publicly that oil subsidies are not necessary and should be discontinued.  We just can't talk facts with these folks!

Jul 13th - 17:47pm | justinh

ecbuck, Try googling "oil industry record profits."  Again, see the Congressional Research Service (CRS) report's finding that ending taxpayer subsidies will 1) not raise gas prices at the pump and 2) will not cut into oil company profits.  If you can ignore this report, I'm not sure what would count as evidence for you.

Jul 13th - 17:23pm | Reality Check

Re: ecbuck "Not to anyone that understands capitalism and the US economic system. You add to their taxes, they will increase the price - it is as simple as that."

Jul 13th - 16:49pm | ecbuck

"Taxpayer subsidies obviously do not consitute (or make possible) 50--60 % of oil industry profits-" No but taxes do - which is what I was citing.  Is that not enough for you? " I'm not sure why you're equating the elimination of taxpayers subsidies with confiscating their profits." Because taxes are a "confiscation".

Jul 13th - 15:00pm | justinh

ecbuck wrote, "I see 50-60%+ of their income isn't enough? Well then lets just confiscate all their profits. Then you can walk to your favorite park."

Jul 13th - 14:49pm | Rick B.

And I'd be willing to give up bombing a stone-age country further back into the stone age, in order to be able to protect and preserve our own country's wilderness and heritege.

Jul 13th - 14:48pm | Kurt Repanshek

ec, re googling, you never provided a link to the oil companies' SEC reports. Should I assume you can't provide them?;-) As for gold miners, let's not forget that hardrock miners pay no royalties from federal land operations. And grazing fees for public lands are ridiculously low.

Jul 13th - 14:38pm | ecbuck

" This shouldn't be too hard to google" Which means you can't provide it. " I'd rather have my taxes go to protect and preserve the national parks than to oil companies that annually enjoy record-breaking profits." I see 50-60%+ of their income isn't enough?  Well then lets just confiscate all their profits.  Then you can walk to your favorite park.

Jul 13th - 14:15pm | justinh

ecbuck, "Recommending" and "formulating" aren't the same.  This shouldn't be too hard to google.  (You'll also find that there's plenty of public bipartisan support to end the subsidies.)

Jul 13th - 14:09pm | ecbuck

Well d-2 - maybe you can explain how companies that pay more in taxes then they have in net income are subsidized.  You may not believe that oil depletion is the equivalent to depreciation - on that we will disagree.  However, bottom line, they pay far more in taxes than they take home in net income - a situation that hardly constitutes a subsidy.

Jul 13th - 13:59pm | ecbuck

"even the SEC has recommended ending taxpayer subsidies to oil companies." They have?  Since when has the SEC been formulating tax policy?  Please site where the SEC has done that and then explain how a company that pays more in taxes than it has in net earnings is "subsidized".

Jul 13th - 12:58pm | d-2

No, ecbuck, the Oil Depletion Allowance is NOT like the depreciation write off that all other companies pay.

Jul 13th - 12:55pm | justinh

C'mon, ecbuck, even the SEC has recommended ending taxpayer subsidies to oil companies.

National Park Road Trip 2011: The Lodges Of Yellowstone National Park, Part 1

Jul 14th - 08:20am | Kurt Repanshek

Bryan, I do believe all the lodging at Canyon is operated by Xanterra. Their website indicates that they do offer the Frontier cabins. If you have other information as to who operates them, please pass it on.

Jul 14th - 00:57am | Bryan A.

I always enjoy the Scott's reports and learn new things about the different parks, even the ones that I am familiar with.  In this report there is a mention of the Xanterra and their current contract up for renewal.  Within the report, you mention a property at Canyon; "these look pretty grim on the outside and could use a little interior sprucing up."  It might be helpful, in this world of com

National Park Road Trip 2011: The Lodges of Grand Teton National Park, Part I

Jul 14th - 08:07am | Gal Yellowstone

I think Flagg Ranch is a poor choice for those who want to explore Yellowstone unless they drive a Prius and have many spare hours each day to get to, say, Lamar Valley or Mammoth Hot Springs and back. It's also not great for the Tetons, it doesn't even have any mountain views.

Natonal Park Mystery Photo 36 Revealed: It Has A Nice Pattern To It

Jul 14th - 05:36am | Lola Hilton

You are invited to the International Centennial Celebration of Orville Wright's 1911 World Record Glider Flight, October 21-24, 2011.  The celebration will be held at Wright Brothers National Memorial and Jockey's Ridge State Park.

Dr. Beach's List of Top-Rated Great Lakes Beaches Includes Two National Lakeshores

Jul 13th - 22:26pm | carole

Seems like we'd better check this out!  See you next week. carole

National Park Road Trip 2011: Prince of Wales Hotel and Glacier Park Lodge

Jul 13th - 20:25pm | Deb & Bill

Thanks, I was wondering and thought it would be more than an hour or so.  By the way, I'm using my name now. Didn't know I should. 

Time Magazine Reroutes Yellowstone River...Or Did It Move the National Park?

Jul 13th - 16:04pm | Mike Painter

Well, 1 out of 2 ain't bad ... ;-)

National Park Mystery Photo 36: Interesting Pattern, But Where Can You Spy It In the National Park System?

Jul 13th - 15:24pm | Kurt Repanshek

No, no spacecraft involved, R, though I like your thinking. It's been a while since we've had a correct answer. The last was by Lisa at 7:22 a.m. Mountain time....

Jul 13th - 15:06pm | R Stefancik

That's an odd roofing pattern.  Could that be a heat shield from a space craft?

Help Choose the Logo for 125th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty

Jul 13th - 15:17pm | Joan Cares

Sadly, not one of the logos presented is satisfactory. I hope you will go back to the drawing board. 

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