You are here

Around The Parks: Vandals, Occupiers And Cyclists

Share

As the government shutdown drags into its second week, there are increasing risks of vandalism in the National Park System and possibly even poaching, according to past National Park Service personnel.

And in some parks, visitors are simply ignoring "closed" signs and heading off into the landscape. That was the case at Acadia National Park this past weekend, and one of the park's visitors needed to be hauled out to safety on a litter after injuring herself.

The woman was one of crowds of visitors who entered the park despite the closure signs and barricades. Many pedaled off down the Carriage Paths, while this 69-year-old Portland, Maine, visitor fell while hiking on Flying Mountain. 

Ranger Ed Pontbriand, one of just four rangers on duty in Saturday, told the Bangor Daily News that trying to keep visitors out of Acadia was like "herding ants."

Out on the West Coast, meanwhile, vandals have hit Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, where they cut open locks to gates barring entry to the recreation area in California. Though seemingly innocuous, NRA officials were concerned that visitors unaware of the closure could find themselves deep in canyons where they could be trapped by wildfires. Southern California currently is at high risk of fires due to dry conditions and hurricane-force winds, according to Weather.com.

"October is notorious for California wildfires," says Weather.com meteorologist Jon Erdman. "The largest wildfires on record in the state was the Cedar Fire in San Diego County in October 2003, charring 273,000 acres, over 2800 structures, and claiming 14 lives."

Alternate Text
Photo by David Graves, NPCA.

Meanwhile, a Springdale, Utah, businessowner frustrated with the closure of Zion National Park organized an "Occupy Zion" protest to raise attention to the loss of business.

"Obviously, I’m not too happy about it," James Milligan, owner of Zion Outfitter, told the Salt Lake Tribune. "This shop is my livelihood here and I haven’t had a customer in a week. Rangers will get their backpay, but what will people in these communities get?"

Across the National Park System, the absence of rangers leave the parks targets for vandals, according to Alan O’Neill, who is retired now but was superintendent of Lake Mead National Recreation Area during the last government shutdown, in 1995-96.

"In the past, when we didn’t have eyes and ears out there and volunteers and others, we experienced tremendous vandalism. We experienced gang assembly in some of the areas closest to Los Vegas," he recounted during a phone call Friday. "The vandalism just increased incredibly during those times. Sometimes we don’t think about that, but people are not happy. And angry people do strange things. We found sledge hammers (taken) to the bathroom toilets, and the mess that we had to clean up after that. That’s what you’ve got to expect, and I expect that’s going to happen this time."

Dennis Schramm, who was superintendent of Mojave Desert National Preserve during the last shutdown, agreed.

“In the Mojave, the biggest concern is in the backcountry where you don’t have control of every road coming into the preserve, and you don’t have enough eyes and ears out there," he said. "There are cultural resources, natural resources. We’ve had cactus poaching in the past, deer poaching, so there’s a number of things that can go on and you don’t have enough eyes out there to keep an eye on it."

Alternate Text
Photo by Tim Stevens, NPCA.

While sportsmen's groups are concerned that the ongoing shutdown will imperil hunting seasons, there also are concerns that hunters on lands that are open and adjacent to national parks could stray into them, unknowingly or otherwise, and take park wildlife.

With park staffs reduced by furloughs, those units with elk, deer and other hunting prey lack the resources to adequately patrol boundaries during hunting season. While they do have boundary patrols occuring, those resources have been diminished by furoughs, one park ranger told the Traveler.

 

Comments

Well, beachdumb, it really bothers me that NPT is overrun with the apologists for the talking points of the right wing. Right wing talking points do not become 'fact' with repetition. Refusing to debate such "facts" with ec and others is not conceding anything. It is just trying to stay out of the mess.

No one I know of within the NPS sought this shutdown. When the right wing reps like Bachmann one day cackle with glee over the shutdown that they created, and the next day try to blame the administration for it, the reality disconnect is jarring.


I agree Rick B, it is disconcerting to see the comments that are such personal attacks on the agencies of government including the NPS, and or individuals associated with it. These comments seem quite resentful and negative to me and are based on what these people perceive to be the truth (I respect that part of it), but no thought is ever given that other persons may feel quite differently about the issues discussed. It should be noted that I have been informed that the Association of National Park Rangers had to close their facebook page due to the hate comments being posted on it. We can all agree to disagree, still have discussions on the issues and maintain friendships. But ideological points of view rammed down other peoples throats does seem to be beyond the pale. Thank you Kurt for this great website, I generally read most of the comments through, at times, I do profoundly disagree with the opinions expressed, however I do not feel negative or hateful thoughts just because someone disagrees with what I think the issue is. None of us would last very long on the job, with our spouses, offspring, friends, etc. if we brooked no compromise or respect for other interests or points of view, at least that has been my own life experience.


Rick B--You make the key point: the NPS did not shut the government down; the Congress did by failing to agree on national prioriities. I have to laugh at the House that thinks it can reopen those parts of the government that it wants open while keeping all the rest of it shuttered. As last week's Economist asked, "Is this any way to run a country?"

Rick


Lucky huh?

President’s Favorite Golf Course on Partially Shut-down Military Base Remains Open

By Alec Torres

October 7, 2013 2:24 PM

Comments

18

inShare

Print

Text

If President Obama decides to play his 36th round of golf this year, one of his favorite golf courses, at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, luckily remains open, despite the base’s being partially closed. As Bloomberg reports, though some amenities, such as the base’s grocery store, are closed, the golf course will remain open. The grocery store’s closure forces the troops to shop at local stores, which cost about 30 percent more, according to Lieutenant General Raymond Mason, the Army’s deputy chief of staff for logistics. Air Force captain Lindy Singleton, chief of public affairs for the Eleventh Wing, explained that the course remains open because it’s financed via user fees.

Via Breitbart.

It is simply a charade that the well publicized closures relate to a lack of funds due to the shutdown.... According to Drudge, 78% of the government is functioning.. the closures are designed to maximize the pain among the citizenry so that they will pressure their legislators.... parks, veterans affairs, food inspection. private businesses on Fed land, on and on and on....it's as simple as that.

I look forward to your investigation of this 'angle' tomorrow Kurt, but I won't hold my breath.


Mike, from the story itself:

The Andrews Air Force Base golf course is funded through user fees and that’s why it remains open, said Air Force Captain Lindy Singleton, chief of public affairs for the 11th Wing at Andrews.


I was a Navy brat. Golf Courses and PX/Exchanges operate without Congressional appropriations. Those facilities generate their own revenue to fund their operations. However, the Military Commisaries are closed because they need the appropriation from Congress in order to operate. It is Joint Base Andrews, btw, I wish the press would get the name correct.

NPS Operations, which account for the bulk of the NPS budget, require an annual appropriation from Congress. If the Operation of the NPS didn't require that appropriation the NPS wouldn't have to pare its operations to the bone.


FYI, the commisaries reopened today, unless today was their usual closed day, in which case they will open tomorrow.


I have to laugh at the House that thinks it can reopen those parts of the government that it wants open while keeping all the rest of it shuttered.

Why? It makes perfect sense that you would move forward on things upon which you agree and negotiate on the rest.


Add comment

CAPTCHA

This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

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.