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Reader Participation Day: Should Pets Be Given More Leeway in National Parks?

Apr 16th - 08:25am | Lee Dalton

Lots of good comments on all sides.  The worst dog bite I ever had out of three was inflicted on my left ankle by an on leash yappy little poodle-type thing on the board walk between Old Faithful and Beehive geyser when I started to ask the well dressed lady owner to take it back to her car.  She threw a flying canniption fit when we started asking her for proof of vaccination for the pooch.  S

Apr 15th - 17:15pm | Anonymous

I take my dog in the wilderness and we meet a lot of horses but never had a problem (btw will those horse owners clean after their horses? Why it's different for them?). Granted, I had to step off trail on our first "encounters" until he got used to horses, but now it's easy going. Same was with cliffs.

Arlington House, Home of Robert E. Lee

Apr 16th - 01:48am | Cornell

When the Southen States ratified the constitution, thereby, joining the the Unites States of America, they did it with full belief that they could withdraw from the USA becaue they had been independent nations before joining. Without this belief, most -- perhaps all -- of the southern states would not have become part of the United States.

Apr 15th - 21:15pm | Bruce

Some people still disparage Lee as a traitor to his country.  Others lionize him as a great patriot of his state and his short-lived confederacy.  One thing is sure; he was a man of great conscience.  The decision to finally resign his commission and follow his state out of the union must have been an agonizing one, and deserves commemoration no matter how you feel about his ultimate choice.

Reader Participation Day: Is April A Good Time To Mark National Park Week?

Apr 16th - 01:21am | Cornell

The real problem is not National Park Week (NPW) is celebrated in April; rather, that it is celebrated throughout the national park system during the same week. Just as it can be too cold to enjoy some units of the national park system, it can be to hot to enjoy the more southern units in June.

Apr 14th - 10:16am | Chief of Interp...

Its a horrible time for some northern parks-We are supposed to schedule both Junior Ranger and Volunteer Appreciation events-but with uncertain April weather (It is snowing heavily as i write this), we can't get anyone to come to these events-sometime between Memorial Day and mid September would be much better-

Apr 13th - 18:06pm | Susan

I would move it to late May if I was asked.

Apr 13th - 10:31am | volknitter

I have no issue with leaving NP week as it is. Most everyone lives within a short drive of a NPS park and can choose to make at least a weekend visit any time of the year. In the summer our parks are already overtaxed with visitors, esp. the big name parks like Yellowstone, Yosemite, Acadia, and the Grand Canyon.

Apr 13th - 09:45am | Anonymous

The first question should be, what are you trying to achieve with National Park Week?  Then determine when you should celebrate it. If the goal is to have the National Park Service do something across the country that relates to Earth Day, than fits where it is.

Apr 13th - 09:36am | Laurel

If the goal is to boost awareness for families who are planning summer vacations, or to increase visitation during what is for many parks the shoulder season, then NP Week is timed appropriately.

Apr 13th - 09:10am | Jenny

Even middle-to-late May would be preferable...before "peak" visitation season begins, but when it is a little warmer. However, I can see a mid-April time frame as being a potential marketing tool for people still planning summer trips. I'll visit any time of year, regardless of when National Park Week falls.

Apr 13th - 08:52am | Deb

I would perfer National Park Week be held in the summer.  Even here on the east coast it is often very chilly so I'd rather it be in the summer.

Plans To Shut Down Coal-Fired Power Plants Should Help Clear Air Over Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Apr 15th - 19:52pm | Kurt Repanshek

TVA is looking at a variety of alternatives, including nuclear and natural gas. This is not going to happen overnight. TVA officials say the shutdowns won't be complete until the end of 2017. Here's how they put it:

Apr 15th - 19:34pm | B. Grant

So how do they plan on getting power to the residents of the area?  Sorry, but solar and wind do not cut it.  We need nuclear to meet the energy demands of a growing population without the fossil fuel pollutants.

Apr 15th - 09:22am | Lee Dalton

"Additionally, the TVA officials agreed to install modern pollution controls at another 36 units." So why hadn't that already been done? Bush/Cheney?

Congress Slashes $101 Million From National Park Service Budget. More To Come?

Apr 15th - 17:17pm | justinh

Hey dukecola, Better yet, why don't we have on our tax form a checklist for things we don't support?  The more items we check off, the bigger our return.  Funding Problem solved. 

Apr 15th - 14:52pm | dukecola

Rather than taxpayer money going to support the parks and maintenence, wouldn't it be better and more fair if the parks simply charged a entry fee to those who use them?  I've been to just one NP in my life.  Why should my taxes be used to support something I don't use.  If I want to visit one, I'll pay the fee.  Funding Problem solved.  if not enough is made from fees, then park should be clos

Did Heavy Snow Tamp Down Yellowstone National Park's Winter Visitation?

Apr 15th - 16:16pm | Ed123

Did a snowmobile trip in Jan...it was amazing

Apr 14th - 08:48am | Jan C.

It could very well be because of the state of the economy, unemployment and gas prices.

Yellowstone National Park Bison Gain Winter Access to 75,000 Acres in Montana

Apr 15th - 09:16am | Aaron Lund

This agreement still doesn't address the fact that the cattle industry (which bears substantial responsibility for the buffalo's functional extinction) is being allowed to dictate rules that prevent the last wild bison from re-establishing their range on PUBLIC LAND.  The area being opened to temporary access to the buffalo is very small, really only open during times when buffalo will be hunte

Apr 15th - 08:44am | jsmacdonald

What is not being shared, as I understand it - the source of this information is from a BFC call with FWP's Pat Flowers - is that this tolerance is from January until May 1.  That is not being reported.  Thus, this is not year-round habitat; it's mostly wintering habitat.  Thus, there will still be a haze into the park.

Apr 15th - 08:23am | Gal Yellowstone

I think this is worth a try, but this is a corridor that already has wildlife - primarily mule deer - all over the road at night (and of course, during the day sometimes too). People are going to have to take warnings to **slow down!!** a little more seriously with bison potentially on the road as well.

Stripping ESA Protections From Northern Rockies Wolf Packs Could Harm Yellowstone National Park Wolves

Apr 14th - 22:32pm | nr_buckeye

If this is going to happen the wolves should be protected on ALL federal land.  If my memory is correct there are a couple of National Forests around Yellowstone NP which would create a decent buffer zone.  The Endangered Species Act is going to need some protection.

Apr 13th - 13:31pm | justinh

So THIS is how Tester reacts to his latest re-election numbers.  I once had high hopes for the State Senator from Big Sandy.

Apr 13th - 12:16pm | samsdad1

Agreed on the word Controversial! I will say from personal experience the word BUFFER with no reference to distance scares the he77 out of me. He also mentions "This idea of social tolerance increasing by a regulated hunting season is where I think we need to go. It’s a very modern position, but I think we really need to be modern."

Apr 13th - 11:24am | Kurt Repanshek

Samsdad1, I think it's safe to say that there are several concerns at play in this situation. One is that Congress has opened the door to letting politics, not science, decide which species should get ESA protection and which shouldn't.

Apr 13th - 11:16am | samsdad1

Could this congressman be using the information from the person heading up the parks wolf program. Refer the wolf article written on 4/7/2011 about yellowstone wolves. He is in favor of hunting.

Apr 13th - 11:13am | samsdad1

This is from the attached article for the NPT /2011/04/latest-studies-yellowstone-national-parks-wolf-packs-shows-stable-population7900 Quoting Douglas: Smith, who has been studying wolves for more than 30 years and who currently leads the wolf project in Yellowstone National Park. "What’s your opinion on listing the wolf as an endangered species?

Apr 13th - 09:58am | Spirit Coyote

The NRA called someone else an extremist?  Interesting, but that's a whole nother (off topic) debate where my own feelings aren't really very clear.  I also didn't realize the NRA involved themselves in conservation issues, although i'm not surprised.

Casino Proposed To Be Slotted Next To Gettsysburg National Military Park Denied Permit

Apr 14th - 20:48pm | y_p_w

Well - I do know of at least a couple of casinos that are near NPS sites. Neither I know of are right at an entrance though. The Chukchansi Gold Casino in Coarsegold does market its proximity to Yosemite NP. However - would a casino really be that different than the rampant commercialization seen in gateway communities like West Yellowstone or Tucsayan?

Apr 14th - 19:15pm | Bruce

Yay! However, I am a bit perturbed by this: "In 2005, citing public outcry, the Gaming Board likewise rejected a plan to construct a casino one mile from the edge of the national park, according to the Civil War Trust."

Apr 14th - 18:49pm | destroyerman

good news..

Apr 14th - 16:11pm | Lee Dalton

Wow!  Someone managed to beat the house and hit the jackpot.

Mammoth Cave National Park Officials Taking Added Precautions Against White-Nose Syndrome

Apr 14th - 15:03pm | Jon Sparks

How awesome would that job be?  Innoculating bats for a living.  Seriously though if this is going to completely wipe out bat populations, innoculation of just a few could at least let the colonies reinvent themselves. 

Apr 14th - 14:42pm | Kurt Repanshek

The disease was first spotted in New York state, but I'm not sure a definitive source has been identified. I believe a similar fungal disease has been identified in Europe. As for innoculating the bats, I'd guess that's out of the question due to the sheer numbers involved.

Apr 14th - 14:25pm | Anonymous

Do scientists have any idea why this fungus has showed up or where it came from?? Is there anyway to innoculate the bats against the disease?

Apr 14th - 12:36pm | Tom

There is no substatial proof that WNS is spread by humans. It is bat to bat. Most bat colonies have a 200 mile range for migration . Staying out of caves and decontamination is something we can do, but that won't stop it from spreading. Very bad for us.

Apr 14th - 10:53am | monica aletta

okay so even if you didnt decontaminat your shoes wouldnt what ever is on them just wipe off in the grass or something and instead of it being us humans couldnt it be the bugs they eat that could be causing them to die

Apr 14th - 09:25am | Kurt Repanshek

Good question. The answer is, if WNS did show up inside Mammoth Cave, this approach is thought to be one way to keep it from being spread beyond the cave by visitors taking it out with them.

Apr 14th - 09:14am | B. Grant

Glad they are being proactive but may I ask how decontaminating shoes when leaving the caves will help from bringing it in?

What's Real And What's Not Behind Reality TV's Nature Shows?

Apr 14th - 14:15pm | Anonymous

I guess I don't see the big deal? I think most people see these shows as representing a situation that could occur. If it gets people interested in conservation( which sometimes does involving killing an animal)then the overall good has been achieved.

National Park Mystery Spot 23: Cue Ball's Habitat

Apr 14th - 09:52am | Bob Janiskee

M.W.,  I assure you that your secret is safe with me. ;o)

Apr 14th - 09:49am | M.W.

He? You mean I've been cross-dressing my whole life? :)

Apr 13th - 17:47pm | Bob Janiskee

Richp39 got it right.

Apr 13th - 15:27pm | Kurt Repanshek

That is a pretty wild guess...but not the correct one;-)

Apr 13th - 15:07pm | Toni

I'm going to take a wild guess and say Devil's Tower.

Apr 13th - 14:19pm | Bob Janiskee

LB13 ID-ed the mystery spot too. That makes four so far.

Apr 13th - 10:56am | Bob Janiskee

M.W (10:38 am) checked in with the correct answer too, adding that he got it right away and probably would have been the winner if only he were a "morning person."   Hmmm. Sounds like weaselspeak to me. ;o)

Apr 13th - 08:52am | Kurt Repanshek

Nope, not Hayden Valley in Yellowstone, Yellowstone Ed....

Updated: Alaska 'Gunners' Wipe Out Wolf Pack From Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve

Apr 13th - 14:08pm | Anonymous

Wolves. weird creatures huh? They are omnivorous, like us. they hunt whent they need to, and even though some might not eat all the kill, or kill for fun, whats to say they aren't like us? We do so much of the same things. So wheres the difference? They need to eat, so they hunt. Is it their fault when they come near our pets and livestock? Nope.

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