December National Park News

December's National Park News will be located here:

James

Big Bend National Park News:
Wintery conditions may impact visitors to Big Bend National Park this week
Over the next few days, visitors to Big Bend National Park can expect park-wide cold, rainy, and wet conditions.
http://www.examiner.com/x-4661-National-...-Park-this-week
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Denali National Park News:
Anchorage film festival spotlights the outdoors
Imagine climbing to the summit of Wolverine Peak, which looms an impressive 4,196 feet above Anchorage in the front range of the Chugach Mountains.
http://www.adn.com/3549/story/1035000.html
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Grand Canyon National Park News:
Over the edge in Grand Canyon: B. Holt Vaughn, 62 – Update with name
B. Holt Vaughn, 62, was killed after falling about 400 feet off the South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park on Nov. 28, according to a news release from the National Park Service.
http://tucsoncitizen.com/dead/2009/12/01/over-the-edge-in-grand-canyon-man/

Broomfield man killed in Grand Canyon fall described as humble, caring
Friends of the Broomfield man who fell to his death Saturday in the Grand Canyon remember him as a humble, caring man who was always willing to take on jobs no one else wanted.
http://www.broomfieldenterprise.com/ci_13901877
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Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
Yellowstone approves plan for development
Developments, including more parking and new toilets, could be allowed at Tower-Roosevelt in Yellowstone National Park under a first-of-its-kind comprehensive plan approved earlier this month.
http://www.sltrib.com/nationworld/ci_13899570
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Yosemite National Park News:
Tioga Pass-Glacier Pt. Rd. CLOSED For Winter Months
Yosemite National Park, CA -- Effective immediately Tioga Pass (9,945 ft.) and Glacier Pt. Rd. within the Park are closed for the winter months.
http://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/678446/Tioga-PassGlacier-Pt-Rd-CLOSED-For-Winter-Months.html
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Deluge of detoured I-40 drivers creates snarls for Smokies
The Interstate 40 rock slide has sent drivers in search of the shortest route to North Carolina. Many who find their way to U.S. 441 through the Smokies have found more snarls than speed.
http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=106580&provider=gnews
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Misc. National Park News:
Ranger wants national parks to draw more minorities
When Shelton Johnson looked up at the Roosevelt Arch at Yellowstone National Park, he was awed by its inscription, "For the benefit and enjoyment of the people." And perplexed.
http://www.recordnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091202/A_SPORTS03/912020326

Coltsville Not Currently Eligible for National Park Status
The Coltsville Historic District is not currently eligible to be a national park, according to a study by the service that runs the system.
http://www.courant.com/news/breaking/hc-coltsville-national-park-status-1201,0,2130835.story
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Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
$25,000 Gift Made To Grand Teton National Park
Christmas has arrived a bit early for Grand Teton National Park, which has been given $25,000 to help support the park's search-and-rescue program.
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2009/12/25000-gift-made-grand-teton-national-park5016

TELEVISION SHOW HIGHLIGHTS YELLOWSTONE BISON CONTROVERSY
On Saturday, December 5 at 10pm EST, Discovery Channel's Planet Green will air Buffalo Battle, a one-hour television documentary on the plight of America's only continuously wild bison population and the work of Buffalo Field Campaign.
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/12/01/18631119.php

Yellowstone To Open This Season – Legal Action Filed By State Of Wyoming
With another winter fast approaching, the Wyoming Attorney General filed a new Yellowstone winter management legal action in Cheyenne, Wyoming, on November 20, 2009. The suit challenges the Park Service’s interim rule that would allow 318 snowmobiles and 78 snow coaches per day for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 seasons while the Park Service comes up with a permanent plan.
http://utvweekly.com/index.php/2009/12/y...ate-of-wyoming/
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Grand Canyon National Park News:
Grand Canyon fall ruled accident
The National Park Service today ruled the death of B. Holt Vaughn an accident.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_13920221
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Alexander, Duncan ask Blount to consider 'stealth' cell towers
Federal lawmakers Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Congressman John "Jimmy" Duncan Jr. (R-2nd) are encouraging the Blount County Board of Zoning Appeals to consider approving so-called "stealth" cell phone towers instead of traditional towers that some say would damage the scenery of the Great Smoky Mountains. One of the entrances to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is in Townsend in Blount County, where cell phone towers may soon be placed.
http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/78351197.html
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Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
Around Montana: Rendezvous Ski Trails at West Yellowstone open and groomed
The Rendezvous Ski Trail system, located on the Gallatin National Forest near West Yellowstone is now being groomed for classic and skate skiing. The Rendezvous ski system includes between 35 and 50 kilometers of professionally groomed trails.
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2009/12/03/sports/10am.txt

New comp plan in Yellowstone a first
A new comprehensive plan for a lodging area in Yellowstone could set a precedent for the way the park manages infrastructure.
http://www.planetjh.com/news/A_105604.aspx
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Yosemite National Park News:
Winter Weather Update for Yosemite
For those interested in touring Yosemite this winter the snow pack outlook is very promising. For those interested in skiing, Badger Pass Ski Area is scheduled to open December 18th, 2009.
http://www.extranomical.com/NEWS/YOSEMITE_NEWS/winter_weather_update_for_yosemite_443.html

Everglades National Park News:
Tamiami Trail bridge will be milestone for Everglades restoration
After 20 years of legal and bureaucratic battles, the Army Corps of Engineers is ready to break ground on a Tamiami Trail overhaul considered a milestone in broader Everglades restoration efforts.
http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/1364934.html
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Snow possible in Smokies
Winter storm watch issued for area
The first measurable snow of the season could fall in the Smoky Mountains on Saturday as the National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for the area.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/dec/04/snow-possible-in-smokies/
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Outside the US/Canadian Park System:
Orphaned Mountain Gorilla Babies Return Home to Congo National Park
More than two years after being evacuated following the 2007 killings of their mothers, mountain gorilla babies Ndakasi and Ndeze have returned home to the Democratic Republic of Congo, moving into a new custom-built forest sanctuary.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091203163146.htm

One-horned rhinos find safe haven in Uttar Pradesh's Dudhwa National Park
The Dudhwa National Park, which is located in the foothills of Himalayas in Uttar Pradesh, has become an ideal home to the famed one horned rhinoceros that is listed among the endangered species.
http://sify.com/news/One-horned-rhinos-f...mds4fcaaca.html
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Yellowstone National Park News:
County Wants More Snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park
A Wyoming county wants more snowmobiles in Yellowstone National Park. The Park County Board of Commissioner challenged the Interior Department's rule that allows only 318 snowmobiles a day in the nation's oldest National Park.
http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/12/04...tional_Park.htm

Yellowstone hosts first BioBlitz
Over 1079 species were recorded in 24 hours during this past August's BioBlitz.
http://www.westyellowstonenews.com/articles/2009/12/03/news/news3.txt

Acadia National Park News:
Winter Camping at Acadia National Park
While most view Acadia National Park as the perfect summer destination, folks have been known to head there in the winter months. With that in mind, the park keeps the Blackwoods Campground open on a limited basis for the hardy who want to experience a different season in Acadia.
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2009/12/winter-camping-acadia-national-park5013
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Efforts to curtail insect in Smokies showing progress
The wool-like protective ovisacs of hemlock woolly adelgids are on an infected tree near Townsend in March 2008.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/dec/05/efforts-to-curtail-insect-in-smokies-showing/

$873,000 grant awarded to trail improvements
This week the National Park Service announced that grants have been awarded for 17 trails projects across the National Park System.
http://hikinginthesmokys.blogspot.com/2009/12/873000-grant-awarded-to-trail.html
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Misc. National Park News:
Updated: NPS Director Jarvis Ends "Core Ops" Budgeting Across The National Park System
In a brief, four-paragraph memorandum, National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis has brought to an end a budgeting process that stripped arguably key positions from parks. Dubbed "core ops" for its approach to analyzing a park's core operations, the process failed to produce wise budgeting decisions, the director said in a letter to his regional directors.
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/200...park-system5041
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Outside the US/Canadian Park System:
Endangered Gorillas, Ugandan Village Learn to Coexist
Years of protecting the mountain gorillas of Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in southwest Uganda nearly unraveled four years ago when gorillas began to destroy farm crops outside the reserve.
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/010843.html
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Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
Feds kill 7 wolves in Stanley Basin
For one Idaho wolf pack, there wasn’t much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving.
http://www.magicvalley.com/news/local/article_f413d14d-3a26-5f1d-8728-2760eccecbc8.html
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Acadia National Park News:
Acadia National Park is holding their annual park pass sale, selling passes for half price.
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=111686&catid=2
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Big Bend National Park News
Camping at Big Bend Ranch State Park? Bring two spare tires
State's most remote park offers acres of rugged terrain to explore. (Note 2 hours to Big Bend NP)
I'm trying to decide which is more spectacular: the backdrop of canyons and mesas visible when the sun was up, or this night sky, which looks like someone draped a black sheet overhead, poked a bunch of pin holes in it, then lighted a flickering candle behind it.
http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/stories/travel/2009/12/06/1206fiesta.html
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Western North Carolina dodges bulk of snowstorm
A snowstorm forecasted to cover most of the mountains missed much of Western North Carolina, leaving less than an inch of snow in many places.
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20091206/NEWS01/912060355
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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park News:
Land of Lava
Hawaii's volatile volcanoes leave their mark on the big island's landscape
Daylight fades as we descend into the abyss of Kilauea Iki crater. The rugged trail zigzags through dense Hawaiian jungle of snaking vines and unfurling palm fronds. It is cloyingly humid. Our eyes and lungs burn from the sulfur dioxide and other volcanic gases, or "vog," that envelope most of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
http://www.thestar.com/travel/article/730103--land-of-lava
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Misc. National Park News:
There are Many Colourful Characters Associated with the National Parks in the United States
National parks throughout the United States have at least one single thing in common: someone interesting had a hand in making that park what it is today.
http://www.travelvideo.tv/news/united-st...e-united-states

National Park Lodging Rates, On Average, Stay Ahead of Inflation
Regular guests of national park lodges have undoubtedly noticed persistent increases in room rates.
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/200...d-inflation5031
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Outside the US/Canadian Park System:
Orphaned baby gorillas get lush new jungle home
Two baby mountain gorillas, who survived a 2007 attack on a national park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) which left them orphaned, have been settling into their new home at the Senkwekwe Centre in Virunga National Park.
http://www.necn.com/Boston/World/2009/12/05/Orphaned-baby-gorillas-get/1260021892.html

It’s our sea to save, in all its still living color
This is a plunge into both wonder and worry. I have snorkeled and gone scuba diving in the waters of Virgin Islands National Park off and on for nearly 30 years.
http://www.boston.com/travel/getaways/ca...l_living_color/
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Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
Climate change studied in Yellowstone (in photos)
Yellowstone's 2.2 million carefully managed acres are among the few places left in North America to retain a virtually intact ecosystem, in a landscape where the hand of man remains light. The park's strict federal protections have maintained a refugium, where the plants and animals are largely unmolested by localized industrial pollution. That makes Yellowstone an ideal place to study the effects of climate change.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-yellowstone-html,0,1526277.htmlstory

Two small quakes reported in SW corner of MT
It's been an active earthquake week in the mountains in the southwest corner of Montana, although the remote locations probably means they went unnoticed.
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=11626944

Alaska National Parks (Misc)
Applications Open for 2010 Research Fellowships at Alaska National Parks
Two research fellowships are seeking applicants wishing to conduct research in Denali National Park and Preserve and other national parks in Alaska. The Discover Denali Research Fellowship is for research in or near Denali, while the Murie Science and Learning Center Fellowship is for research taking place in Denali or other Alaska national parks.
http://usparks.about.com/b/2009/12/08/ap...ional-parks.htm
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Everglades National Park News:
Construction Begins on Bridge For Everglades Water Restoration
An $81 million project to restore fresh water flows to the Everglades - the largest construction project in the history of the National Park Service - a project that has been 20 years in the making - was started Friday on the Tamiami Trail.
http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/dec2009/2009-12-07-095.asp
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Grand Canyon National Park News:
Grand Canyon National Park: road conditions update after winter storm
Officials at Grand Canyon National Park issued an update on Tuesday, December 8, 2009. A major winter storm has just passed through the area. It is estimated that over a foot of snow fell last night. This is in addition to the snow that fell yesterday.
http://www.examiner.com/x-4661-National-...er-winter-storm

Grand Canyon travel impacts from winter storm, with live view of the Peaks from Flagstaff
After starting about 6 a.m. this morning, snow has been falling steadily in the Flagstaff, Arizona, area. Travelers to the Grand Canyon, passing through Flagstaff can expect heavy snow today and blizzard conditions this evening, with a blizzard warning in effect through noon on Tuesday.
http://www.examiner.com/x-4661-National-...-from-Flagstaff
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Hemlock spraying in Cades Cove Thursday
Great Smoky Mountains National Park officials have rescheduled the hemlock tree spraying operation in Cades Cove to occur on Thursday, December 10. During that time, a partial closure of the 11-mile Cades Cove Loop Road will be imposed while Park forestry technicians finish treating the adelgid-infested hemlock trees. Previously, vegetation management crews had to suspend the second day of its scheduled operation because of inclement weather.
http://www.volunteertv.com/blount/headlines/78709742.html

GSMNP hosts 34th-annual "Festival of Christmas Past"
Great Smoky Mountains National Park has announced the 34th-annual Festival of Christmas Past celebration scheduled Saturday, Dec. 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Sugarlands Visitor Center.
http://www.blounttoday.com/events/2009/dec/12/138/
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Seguaro National Park News:
Rainfall from Tucson storm lower than expected
Rainfall totals from the winter storm that rolled through Southern Arizona overnight are coming in lower than expected, according to the National Weather Service.
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/hourlyupdate/320552.php
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Utah (Misc) National Parks News:
Did you know there are more than a dozen sites run by the National Parks Service just waiting for you to discover in Utah? If you love RV camping as well as the beauty of America's National Parks, a trip to Utah should be on your "To-Do List." Hope this brief list whets your appetite for an RV road trip to Utah soon.
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/131711

Master painter of Southwest leaves house, works to SUU
Jim Jones, a painter whose work became synonymous with the natural beauty of southern Utah, died early Saturday at his home in Springdale. He was 76 years old, and struggling with emphysema when he passed away.
http://www.sltrib.com/utah/ci_13946546

Acadia National Park News:
Maine Bill Calls for Less Sulfur in Heating Oil
State legislators in Maine began discussing a new bill yesterday that would limit the amount of sulfur contained in residential and industrial heating fuel, the Bangor Daily News has reported.
http://www.heatingoil.com/blog/maine-bill-calls-for-less-sulfur-in-heating-oil1209/
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Glacier National Park News:
Canadian company claims rich gold find north of Glacier National Park, raising concerns
A Canadian mining company, digging for gold just north of Glacier National Park, has discovered a significant deposit, and that has Montana interests worried about upstream development.
http://www.missoulian.com/news/local/article_3b052802-e543-11de-b73c-001cc4c002e0.html
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Misc. National Park News:
National Park Service Air Expert Receives Conservation Award for Protecting Clean Air in Our National Parks
This morning the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) awarded Denver-based Don Shepherd, an environmental engineer with the Air Resources Division of the National Park Service, the Stephen T. Mather Award for his distinguished efforts to protect America's national parks and wildlife from the threat of air pollution.
http://www.commondreams.org/newswire/2009/12/09-12
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Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
National Forest closes Horse Butte grazing
The Gallatin National Forest has shut down grazing on the Horse Butte Peninsula, saying the valuable habitat for grizzly bears, wolves and western toads would be hurt if cattle returned to the area.
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2009/12/10/news/200horsebutte.txt

Park awards contracts for floating and fishing
The National Park Service has awarded a dozen floating, fishing and horseback concession contracts in Grand Teton National Park.
http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=5391
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Everglades National Park News:
Wading birds' breeding rebounded over past decade -- good news for Everglades
After the third strong breeding year since 2002, there is increasing optimism that wading birds are rebounding from decades of decline in the Everglades.
http://www.miamiherald.com/573/story/1376556.html
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Glacier National Park News:
Gold Strike Just North of Glacier National Park Another Concern for Park's Environmental Health
A gold strike in the rugged mountains of British Columbia just across the U.S.-Canadian border from Glacier National Park is yet one more concern for the park's environmental health, which already is being threatened by another mining project eyed in the same general area.
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/200...ntal-health5068
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hosts Holiday Homecoming
Great Smoky Mountains National Park will host a Holiday Homecoming at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center and the Mountain Farm Museum on Saturday, December 19. Enjoy historical demonstrations, hot cider and cookies!
http://usparks.about.com/b/2009/12/10/gr...-homecoming.htm
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Rocky Mountain National Park News:
Cameron Pass, Rocky Mountain National Park avalanche risks heighten
Avalanche potential for the northern mountains, including Cameron Pass and Rocky Mountain National Park, has been rated as considerable today by the Colorado Avalanche Information Center.
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/200912...+risks+heighten

Denali National Park News:
All of Denali National Park open to snowmachines
Recent snowfalls have allowed the opening Friday of the entire area of Denali State Park to the use of snowmachines.
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=11666048
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Glacier National Park News:
More snow on the way
A winter storm warning is in effect for Flathead County, West Glacier and the Bob Marshall region until Monday.
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_4d5a5b4e-e7a0-11de-92fc-001cc4c002e0.html

There's Gold In Them Thar Glacier
Canadian mining company discovers a potentially rich gold vein near Glacier National Park, raising pollution concerns
Glacier National Park is known for vast natural resources, but they're usually of the wild and scenic kind. But a recent gold discovery just ten miles north of the park threatens to have miners salivating and nature lovers frothing at the mouth.
http://www.backpacker.com/canadian_mining_company_strikes_it_ritch_/blogs/daily_dirt/1517
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Misc. National Park News:
Where to Find Your Christmas Feast in the National Park ‘Tis the season for quiet and peace, snowy woods, frosty starry nights, time with loved ones, festive activities, and eating way too much food. What better way to accomplish all that than to spend the holidays at a national park?
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/200...park-system5074

Parks step up permit game, so be ready
The solution to the people-crush at America's most-loved parks is a combination of lotteries, advance registration and quotas. Now is the time to get the system wired for 2010.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/13/SP4N1B2L9I.DTL

New Coalition Brings Groups Together to Push for Water Stewardhip in Great Lakes, Chesapeake Bay, Everglades, and Puget Sound
There was a news event earlier this week that seemed to sail under the radar, but it's something to keep an eye on. A large coalition of groups has come together to lobby for the waters that flow through Everglades National Park, the parks and lakeshores that dot the Great Lakes and touch the Chesapeake Bay, as well as many other watery ecosystems across the country.
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/200...rglades-and5063
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Yellowstone National Park News:
Scientists Map Yellowstone Magma Plume
Information from a vast seismograph network confirms a magma plume extends at least 500 miles below Yellowstone National Park, scientists say.
http://www.usnews.com/science/articles/2009/12/12/scientists-map-yellowstone-magma-plume.html

Town in transition
It is no breakfast of champions — a bag of cheese puffs and a large soda — but it’s enough to charge Quincy Quintero’s battery as he works assembling a snowmobile on a chilly November morning.
http://www.helenair.com/news/local/state...1cc4c002e0.html

Lack of snow threatens Yellowstone winter-season opening
The lack of snow on the western side of Yellowstone National Park has officials scrambling to come up with a game plan for transporting visitors within the Park when the winter season opens Tuesday.
http://www.yellowstoneinsider.com/200912...son-opening.php

Schweitzer tells livestock group that lobbyists have stalled help
Gov. Brian Schweitzer told members of a conservative livestock association Friday that he has pushed an agenda favorable to their industry but repeatedly run into opposition from the group's lobbyists.
http://www.missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_1a7df62c-e6a1-11de-a7f3-001cc4c002e0.html
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Great Smoky Mountains National Park News:
November visits to Smokies up 8.7 percent
Visits to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park increased by 8.7 percent in November.
http://www.reflector.com/news/state/november-visits-to-smokies-up-87-percent-1015309.html
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Misc. National Park News:
'Tis The Season For Birding Across the National Park System
Birds are usually the last thing on people’s minds during the Christmas holiday season. Between traveling, get-togethers, presents and New Years, who has time to think about wildlife?
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2009/12/tis-season-birding-across-national-park-system5058
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Yellowstone National Park News:
Yellowstone's Plumbing Reveals Plume of Hot and Molten Rock 410 Miles Deep
The most detailed seismic images yet published of the plumbing that feeds the Yellowstone supervolcano shows a plume of hot and molten rock rising at an angle from the northwest at a depth of at least 410 miles, contradicting claims that there is no deep plume, only shallow hot rock moving like slowly boiling soup.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091214075225.htm

Winter season at Yellowstone opens Tuesday
Yellowstone National Park's winter season begins this week.
http://www.fox12idaho.com/Global/story.asp?S=11671708

Everglades National Park News:
Where the alligators are abundant
The sign reads, "Always stay at least 15 feet away from alligators." That rule is difficult not to break when you go to the Shark Valley Visitor Center in the Florida Everglades.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TRAVEL/12/15/shark.valley.florida/

Not So Private Property?: Florida Man Takes Eminent Domain Case to High Court
When Congress ruled in 1989 to expand the Everglades National Park in Florida, Gilbert Fornatora's home stood in the way.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/...ase-high-court/
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Yellowstone National Park News:
Yellowstone's underground 'plumbing' comes into view
A vast "plume" of hot rock, which scientists say is responsible for Yellowstone's famous geysers and other geothermal features, is coming into sharper focus in research coordinated by University of Utah scientists that sheds new light on our planet's inner workings.
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_14004281?source=most_viewed

FWP seeks comment on Turner ranch proposal
The public has until Jan. 12 to comment on a controversial proposal by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to relocate 74 bison from a quarantine facility to Ted Turner’s Green Ranch west of Bozeman.
http://www.helenair.com/news/article_60a07780-ea0f-11de-b25f-001cc4c002e0.html

West Yellowstone sees need to diversify as snowmobile season opens
Doc Stewart was hopeful as he watched snow fall onto the town’s main drag through his storefront windows.
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2009/12/16/news/000open.txt

Wyoming wolf numbers rise outside Yellowstone
Population decline in the park was anticipated, biologist says.
Wyoming’s wolf population is thriving and growing in most of the state, despite continuing declines among Yellowstone National Park wolves, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist says.
http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=5414

Everglades National Park News:
Area of Everglades burned to deter wildfires
It's the dry season, when uncontrolled wildfires in South Florida can threaten man and nature. That's why fire crews spent Wednesday torching 1,500 acres of Everglades National Park.
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/80836.html
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Glacier National Park News:
Gold Discovery Stirs Fear About Effects to Glacier NP's Headwaters (Previously Reported)
A Canadian mining company's discovery last week of high-grade gold deposits north of Glacier National Park has raised alarm among environmentalists that development of the deposits could imperil Montana's Flathead River Valley and fragment North America's most prized grizzly habitat.
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/12/17/...-glac-4646.html

Sun Road work remains a priority says superintendent
With more than 550 structures, 725 miles of trails and one of America's most famous roads to maintain and rehabilitate, Glacier National Park Superintendent Chas Cartwirght must make some hard choices.
http://www.flatheadnewsgroup.com/articles/2009/12/17/hungryhorsenews/news/news_8739018949_01.txt
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Misc. National Park News:
Q&A: National Parks for Winter Visits
With the broadcast of the new PBS series “America’s National Parks,” I would like to know which are most accessible for winter vacations. Specifically are there national parks that are within a couple of hours’ drive of a major airport, and accessible with well-maintained roads so that the winter splendor can be appreciated?
http://intransit.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/qa-national-parks-for-winter-visits/

Who Should Pay to Rescue Stranded Climbers?
What's the cost of a life—or really, what's the cost of saving one? When climbers, hikers, skiers, and rafters get caught in tight situations and need to be found and rescued, the answer can be a large number of taxpayer dollars.
http://news.malaysia.msn.com/newsweek/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=3752161
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Theodore Roosevelt National Park News:
Bring out the binoculars
Populations of fluttering feathery friends can change with the seasons and this area can see a few more species during winter months.
Populations of fluttering feathery friends can change with the seasons and this area can see a few more species during winter months. Bird watching, also known as birding, doesn’t require extensive training and Theodore Roosevelt National Park near Medora is looking for volunteers to participate in the world’s longest-running citizen science event.
http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/event/article/id/30479/
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Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
Two ways to look at wolf numbers
For the first time, Yellowstone National Park's wolf population has declined two years in a row and the decrease was not associated with disease.
http://www.trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_aed6652f-87e3-5ad8-903f-e060c6a222e3.html

Groups criticize Park Service profit-sharing plan
Five environmental groups are voicing concern about a soon-to-be-implemented National Park Service policy that would enable parks to share profits from research within their boundaries.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h_0URwyNDIRhWvVrkVJyiXi9TNEwD9CL3R000

Yellowstone Park wolf population drops for second year in row
Biologists say Yellowstone National Park's wolf population has declined two years in a row.
http://www.missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_b212f6de-eb17-11de-bbe2-001cc4c002e0.html
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Zion National Park News:
Men admit stealing seed pods from Utah nat'l park
Two men have pleaded guilty to trying to steal 600 pounds of wildflower seed pods in Utah's Zion National Park in hopes of a payday on the commercial market.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jLHQEK_LGpvPpNCE_owhZGBrtjbgD9CKISC80
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Acadia National Park News:
Cadillac tower proposal scrapped
After having considered the top of the tallest mountain in Maine’s only national park as the location for a new 80-foot-tall communications tower, a federal agency has changed its mind.
http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/133140.html

Acadia Gateway Center Will Improve Tourism
Looking for a more convenient way to visit Mount Desert Island or Acadia National Park? By the summer of 2011, visitors will be able to park their cars in Trenton and take a bus to get to the island.
http://usparks.about.com/b/2009/12/19/acadia-gateway-center-will-improve-tourism.htm
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Glacier National Park News:
Travel restrictions set for Glacier National Park
An official at Glacier National Park says winter travel restrictions have been put in place and work on Going-to-the-Sun road is finished for the season.
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2009/dec/19/bc-mt-travel-restrictions/?features&travel
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Olympic National Park News:
Third Year of Fisher Recovery Program Begins At Olympic National Park
They might not be the economic draw that wolves are to Yellowstone National Park, but fishers seem to be taking to Olympic National Park just about as favorably as the larger predators did to Yellowstone in their recovery program. This week a third batch of the cat-sized predators will be set free in Olympic to build on two successful years of a recovery program designed to repopulate the park with fishers.
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/200...tional-park5106
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Yellowstone National Park News:
Yellowstone gray wolf population in decline
The gray wolf population in Yellowstone National Park is declining, officials say.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/nation/1948612,CST-NWS-wolf20.article

Ranchers wary of group’s effort to create wildlife reserve bigger than Yellowstone
When the new West is won, will there be cowboys? In light of what her neighbors are up to, Double O Ranch owner Vicki Olson isn’t so sure.
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-an...1cc4c03286.html

Three Bear Lodge rises from the ashes
A year and a half after a natural gas explosion decimated a portion of the Three Bear Lodge, a new facility was reopened that pays respect to the old building.
http://www.helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/article_eda47032-ed2a-11de-bb34-001cc4c002e0.html

Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Snow closed several Smokies Park roads (Scroll to bottom)
Several roads in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are closed due to snow and ice, including Newfound Gap Road.
http://www.thedailytimes.com/article/20091222/NEWS/312229997
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Mojave Desert National Preserve (And Death Valley and Joshua Tree NPs)
Solar, wind power growth prompts new protection effort for Mojave Desert
A bill that its sponsor says would designate new lands in the Mojave Desert for conservation, enhance recreational opportunities, and streamline and improve the federal permitting process to advance large-scale wind and solar development on suitable lands has been introduced in Congress by U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.
http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=13937
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Yellowstone National Park News:
Yellowstone wolf numbers down second year; biologist expects drop to continue (Previously Reported)
For the first time, Yellowstone National Park's wolf population has declined two years in a row and the decrease was not associated with disease.
http://www.missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_fbe80b06-eea4-11de-a167-001cc4c03286.html

Yellowstone planning to open Sylvan Pass
Yellowstone National Park rangers continued avalanche control Monday on Sylvan Pass in an effort to open the park’s East Entrance to snowmobiles on schedule today.
http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=5431
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Yosemite National Park News:
Yosemite names new chief of education
Yosemite National Park has a new chief of interpretation and education. Tom Medema, who has been in the position in an acting capacity for more than a year, will officially begin his duties next month, the National Park Service said.
http://www.mercedsunstar.com/357/story/1240890.html
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Grand Canyon National Park News:
Grand Canyon Railway: Experience a ride rich in history and charm.
“All Aboard!” The conductor’s call to passengers will initiate the memorable New Year’s journey from Williams Depot to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Aboard a powerful locomotive adventurers looking for a unique way to bid adieu to the old year—and begin the journey into the new—ride north for a glimpse into the greatest chasm on earth.
http://www.ioanthem.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=450&Itemid=1

Rim Country enjoys early White Christmas
Well-behaved winter storm delivers six inches, but may be gone before the big morning
Rim Country residents got an early white Christmas as a festive, but well-behaved storm blanketed Payson with six inches of snow — and not much more than that in Show Low and Flagstaff.
http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2009/dec/24/rim_country_enjoys_early_white_christmas/
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Local Hiker Dies in Tennessee
A Howard County neighborhood is in shock after the death of a woman in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee.
http://www.abc2news.com/news/local/story/Local-Hiker-Dies-in-Tennessee/UeurleeEm0aWSK9nmp0C2Q.cspx

Funding enables 10K jobs in state
$235,912 price tag for taxpayers not affordable, Alexander says
Tennessee ranks 15th among all states and U.S. territories receiving federal stimulus money, and nearly 10,000 jobs have been created or saved here by the emergency spending program, according to government figures reviewed by the News Sentinel.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/dec/24/funding-enables-10k-jobs-state/
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A slow news day. :P


Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
U.S. 64 closure in Tenn. to continue
The Tennessee Department of Transportation does not know when a slide blocking U.S. 64-74 about 12 miles west of the North Carolina-Tennessee state line will be cleared.
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20091224/NEWS01/91224057/1119

Official says traffic rate in Smokies takes a hike
Increase in park visits credited in part to I-40 rockslide in N.C.
Scenes such as visitors arriving in the middle of the night or behind the wheel of a loaded U-Haul truck have Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers convinced that the recent spike in traffic isn't entirely intentional.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2009/dec/24/officials-say-traffic-rate-in-smokies-takes-a/
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Yellowstone National Park News:
'Christmas in Yellowstone' on PBS is a Friday TV pick
A quiet alternative to the hustle and bustle of the holidays, this is a gorgeous hourlong look at the peaceful wintertime majesty of America's...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/television/2010587822_tvbriefs25.html

Assateague Island National Seashore News:
The National Park Service will pay for restoration of the parking lots at the Assateague Island National Seashore, in part because of the beach's economic benefit to the area.
http://www.delmarvanow.com/article/20091226/ESN01/912260303/-1/ESN
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Glacier National Park News:
Glacier's 100th Anniversary
The curator of the Montana Historical Society says people have incredible personal stories associated with Glacier National Park.
http://www.keci.com/Glacier-s-100th-Anniversary/5974181
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park NEws:
Detoured traffic from Interstate 40 rockslide still surging in Smokies
Scenes such as visitors arriving in the middle of the night or behind the wheel of a loaded U-Haul truck have Great Smoky Mountains National Park rangers convinced that the recent spike in traffic isn't entirely intentional.
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20091226/NEWS01/312260033/1009
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Lassen Volcanic National Park News:
Lassen Volcanic National Park project open for public comment
Lassen Volcanic National Park Superintendent Darlene M. Koontz announced recently that the Lassen Peak Trail Rehabilitation Environmental Assessment (EA) is available for public review and comment.
http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/news/ci_14069702
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Outside the US/Canadian Park System:
Cold kills two tiger cubs in Pench National Park
Two tiger cubs have died of cold in the Pench National Park in Madhya Pradesh, an official said Thursday.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/...how/5378423.cms
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Yellowstone National Park News:
Guest Opinion: Gallatin National Forest presents gift to Yellowstone bison
Yellowstone’s iconic wild bison received an early winter solstice gift from the Gallatin National Forest: permanent closure of the Horse Butte public grazing allotment.
http://billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/guest/article_a0b57ba4-f1d0-11de-9592-001cc4c03286.html

Everglades National Park News:
Gladesmen; The Real Everglades
Two miles down a gravel road along the C304Canal, away from the tourist traps of the Tamiami Trail, lies one of the few remaining bastions of old Florida.
http://jaxpoliticsonline.com/2009/12/27/gladsmen-the-hidden-everglades/
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Joshua Tree National Park News:
Park bird count part of worldwide effort
Birdwatchers will celebrate the first day of the new year by counting the national park’s feathered residents for the annual Christmas Bird Count.
http://www.hidesertstar.com/articles/2009/12/26/features/doc4b3667d08bbd7123194632.txt
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Outside the US/Canadian Park System:
Taiwan's 8th national park opens
The establishment of Taiwan's eighth national park, Taijiang National Park in Tainan, was described by Vice Premier Eric Liluan Chu at its opening Monday as an important landmark in Taiwan's environmental conservation efforts.
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_cont..._rss=TAIWAN_eng

Seychelles creates another national park
Alongside the Copenhagen Climate Summit, the Seychellois President Michel signed into effect the creation of a new national park on Silhouette island, dedicated to "resilience to climate change from a biodiversity and sea level rise perspective," quoting official sources in the Seychelles.
http://www.eturbonews.com/13496/seychelles-creates-another-national-park

Need for power coal threatens Zimbabwe national park
Zimbabwe's already dim electricity supply faces a new threat, as the country's main power plant says it needs to dig for new coal reserves under a river inside a national park to keep running.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gsiSs-6MjRco2VOsCDjVdYaIqL4A

'Homesick' tiger to be kept under 24x7 surveillance
The 'homesick' tiger that strayed from Panna tiger reserve and was found in Tendukheda forest region of Madhya Pradesh's Damoh district will now be kept under round-the-clock surveillance, an official said Sunday.
http://sify.com/news/Homesick-tiger-to-be-kept-under-24x7-surveillance-news-jm1qkdbeihi.html

Two elephants shot dead in Karnataka national park
It's a grim year-end for Karnataka's wildlife: Two adult elephants were shot dead on Saturday in the Kaglipura range of Bannerghatta
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/...how/5383243.cms
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Rocky Mountain National Park News:
Man returns to hiking after devastating fall
Sterling Jordan planned to spend Christmas Day on the trails at Rocky Mountain National Park.
http://www.timescall.com/news_story.asp?ID=19972
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Yellowstone National Park News:
Turner’s persona adds new elements to bison debate
As the state mulls a plan to place 74 wild Yellowstone bison on Ted Turner’s ranch west of Bozeman, the media mogul’s celebrity, wealth and charity is adding a twist to an already emotional debate over the fate of bison in the West.
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2009/12/27/news/100turner.txt

Yellowstone to Become Best Monitored Hot Spots in World
The Yellowstone "supervolcano" will soon be among the best monitored hot spots in the world with the installation of new earthquake monitoring equipment.
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2009/12/2...+-+SciTech%2529
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Yosemite National Park News:
Yosemite's Nonprofits Joining Forces
Yosemite National parks two major nonprofit groups are looking to blaze a new trail together, as their memberships have voted to merge the organizations.
http://www.kcbs.com/Yosemite-s-Nonprofits-Joining-Forces/5978297
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Zion National Park News:
Utah's Zion forms sister relationship with national park in China
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09362/1021275-37.stm

Glacier National Park News:
Photographer records Glacier for centennial
One hundred days for one hundred years — that's what northwest Montana photographer Chris Peterson dedicated to Glacier National Park in 2009.
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article...+for+centennial
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Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Wildlife week celebrates Great Smoky Mountains with hikes, classes in Pigeon Forge
Outdoor enthusiasts looking to explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park will gather in Pigeon Forge next month for the annual Wilderness Wildlife Week.
http://www.whnt.com/news/sns-bc-tn--wildlifeweek,0,1110694.story
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Joshua Tree National Park News:
Annual Christmas Bird Count set Friday
Joshua Tree National Park will hold this year’s annual Christmas Bird Count on Friday, Jan. 1. The count is held each winter as part of the international Christmas Bird Count sponsored by the National Audubon Society.
http://www.hidesertstar.com/articles/200...22426268503.txt
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Outside the US/Canadian Park System:
Rising Waters Threaten Vietnam's National Park
Xuan Thuy National Park has been struggling with rising sea levels, which have been attributed to climate change, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsworld.php?id=465335
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Saguaro National Park News:
Explore park through special programs
Saguaro National Park is offering special programs this winter that explore the park's natural and cultural history. Interpretive programs are free, but park entrance fees apply. Program schedules are subject to change; call the visitor center for schedule updates or for reservations.
http://www.azstarnet.com/metro/323115
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Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
Elk hunt successful, Game and Fish says
Changes to hunting regulations and a hunt on the south end of the National Elk Refuge helped protect vulnerable segments of the Jackson Elk Herd this year while targeting wapiti that have historically eluded hunters, wildlife managers said Tuesday.
http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=5459

Officials say hunting changes helped protect elk
State wildlife managers are praising a new set of hunting rules for helping protect vulnerable segments of an elk herd that roams near Jackson.
http://www.trib.com/news/state-and-local/article_13bba143-0fe6-5ec7-878b-7614efe85506.html

Turner ranch plan is the best way to save bison (Editorial)
The opposition of some conservationists to a plan to save Yellowstone bison by relocating them to Ted Turner's Montana ranch is baffling, to say the least.
http://www.trib.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_1c1f8837-9111-56c6-829c-d59c7964c422.html

Driggs to get ‘geotourism’ center
National Geographic involvement could boost profile.
A plan to build an unconventional visitor center in Driggs could boost tourism to the Teton Valley and throughout the tri-state area that makes up the Greater Yellowstone region.
http://www.planetjh.com/news/A_105687.aspx
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