May National Park News

May 02, 2011


Denali National Park News:
Guides provide a helping hand on Mount McKinley at a hefty price
May 1 is the traditional opening for climbing season on Mount McKinley, North America’s highest peak. Thousands of climbers from around the world will com to Alaska to take a stab at setting foot on its summit. Each man or woman who tries will have a different experience, and each will come away with a unique story. In this piece, we examine the costs of guiding services
http://mobile.newsminer.com/bookmark/130...t-a-hefty-price
**********


Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Storms prompt Smokies hiking trail closures
Two popular hiking trails in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park remain closed after extensive damage from Wednesday night's storms.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/may/01/storms-trails-closed/

Behaviors of birds, bees, ants, fish hint at climate change
Each December a hardy flock of birdwatchers scatters across Wake County for the National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count, which has tracked bird movements for a century.
http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/05/01/1166791/behaviors-of-birds-bees-ants-fish.html
**********


Glacier National Park News:
Another snowstorm thwarts snowplow crews at Glacier National Park
Snowplow crews trying to open roads in Glacier National Park have been stymied again by another winter storm.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/9875ae40082d4033817e8d36281eba0d/MT--Glacier-Park-Plowing/
**********


Misc. National Park News:
Corporate Relations And The National Parks: Good Deal?
While corporate support can be vital to the health of national parks, whether to accept that support can be a challenging question, particularly in these times of financial stress and overall declines in charitable giving.
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/2011/05/corporate-relations-and-national-parks-good-deal8032
**********


Shenandoah National Park News:
Prescribed Burn Planned in Shenandoah National Park
Shenandoah National Park Fire Managers plan to burn 500 acres May 1 and 2, weather permitting.
http://www.whsv.com/news/headlines/Presc..._120975209.html
**********


Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
Crews work to clear Yellowstone NP roads
Yellowstone National Park has more accumulated snow than at any time in more than a decade, but crews are working to get park roads open.
http://www.kpax.com/news/crews-work-to-clear-yellowstone-np-roads/

Roads open in Grand Teton, facilities on tap
Teton Park Road and Moose-Wilson Road in Grand Teton National Park opened Sunday, and other campgrounds and facilities are due to open in the coming weeks, according to a park press release.
http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=7251

Wisconsin resident spot offenders in wildlife park on web cam
A Wisconsin resident, who was watching one of the webcams installed at Yellowstone National Park, spotted four people standing on the cone of Yellowstone's famous Old Faithful Geyser off the prescribed path.
http://newstonight.net/content/wisconsin-resident-spot-offenders-wildlife-park-web-cam

Researchers to begin count of Yellowstone raptors
Researchers this spring will begin counting the number of raptors in Yellowstone National Park.
http://www.victoriaadvocate.com/news/2011/may/01/bc-mt-yellowstone-raptors/?features&travel
**********

Denali National Park News:
Climbers battle the weather on Mount McKinley every season
May 1 is the traditional opening for climbing season on Mount McKinley, North America’s highest peak. Thousands of climbers from around the world will com to Alaska to take a stab at setting foot on its summit. Each man or woman who tries will have a different experience, and each will come away with a unique story. In part two of this four-part series, we look at the challenges of simply getting to the mountain.
http://mobile.newsminer.com/bookmark/130...ey-every-season
**********


Great Smoky National Park News:
storm damage closes trails
Great Smoky Mountains National Park managers report that the Abrams Falls Trail and the Beard Cane Trail near Cades Cove are closed due to extensive damage from the wind and rain during last Wednesday evening’s storms.
http://seymourherald.com/news/2011/may/02/storm-damage-closes-trails/
**********


Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
Grand Teton Park announces openings
The National Park Service has announced the official 2011 opening dates for facilities in Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway.
http://www.wyomingbusinessreport.com/article.asp?id=57430

West Yellowstone celebrates Earth Day all weekend long
The events, sponsored by the West Yellowstone Chamber of Commerce, Kids ‘N' Snow, businesses and a dedicated group of volunteers and organizers were free and open to the public with both locals and visitors encouraged to attend.
http://www.westyellowstonenews.com/news/article_723f56da-743a-11e0-be90-001cc4c002e0.html

Alberta National Park News:
Canada sends wood bison to Russia to help herd grow
Gift of 30 animals from Alberta national park is part of a unique intercontinental plan that aims to boost the survival of the species
http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/Canada+sends+wood+bison+Russia+help+herd+grow/4730315/story.html
**********


Lassen Volcanic National Park News:
Lassen Volcanic National Park road opens
The 2011 spring road opening has begun at Lassen Volcanic National Park announced Park Superintendent, Darlene M. Koontz. A 10-mile section of the scenic road was opened recently to vehicle traffic on the Manzanita Lake side of the park.
http://www.redbluffdailynews.com/ci_17991278
**********


Grand Canyon National Park News:
The Grand Canyon’s Uranium Question
As The Battle Continues Over Uranium Mining At The Grand Canyon, Most Arizonans Are Unaware That A Big Decision Is Looming
http://www.moderntimesmagazine.com/page16/AL_GrandCanyon_050411/AL_GrandCanyon_050411.php

Swiss daredevil to attempt Grand Canyon stunt
A Swiss adventurer who has flown his jet-propelled wingsuit over the Swiss Alps and across the English Channel hopes to fulfill a dream by flying through the Grand Canyon.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/arti...93d0b197a0b4829
**********


Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Native cougars no longer grace these mountains
Have you ever seen a mountain lion here in the Smokies region? I haven’t. In fact, the only one I’ve ever viewed outside of a zoo was somewhere near Crystal River, Fla., back in the early 1990s. It bounded out of the scrub in front of my truck and passed quickly across the highway. Even now, I can vividly recall the combined grace and power of that animal.
http://www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/3900-native-cougars-no-longer-grace-these-mountains
**********


Misc. National Park News:
Wolf protections lifted in most of Northern Rockies
The Interior Department again declares wolves fully recovered in Idaho and Montana, opening the door for hunts in the fall. They remain classified as an endangered species in Wyoming for now.
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-wolves-20110505,0,302469.story
**********


Rocky Mountain National Park News:
Estes Park 'Escape` campaign edifies LMD stakeholders
LMD executive director Peggy Campbell told the crowd attending the second annual LMD stakeholders` breakfast meeting last Wednesday at the YMCA of the Rockies that a solid strategy, great agency partners, great stakeholders and an amazing product -- Estes Park -- will combine to bring visitors escaping here for a cool mountain experience.
http://www.eptrail.com/ci_17983438
**********


Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
Yellowstone Park to recycle bear spray canisters
Yellowstone National Park is set to unveil a device that allows bear spray canisters to be safely emptied and recycled.
http://www.kulr8.com/news/wyoming/121308723.html

Captured Yellowstone Bison to be Released Into Park
There will be no more slaughter of Yellowstone National Park bison this spring, as National Park Service (NPS) officials say the 770-plus bison penned at the Stephens Creek and Corwin Springs facilities will be released back into the Park.
http://www.yellowstoneinsider.com/201105...d-into-park.php

Yellowstone East Entrance Opens for Season Friday
The East Entrance to Yellowstone National Park opens to automobiles at 8 a.m. on Friday.
http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wireStory?id=13527216

Plans made to replace Grand Teton sewage system
Plans are being made to replace a more than 50-year-old wastewater treatment facility at the headquarters of Grand Teton National Park.
http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_1020aba7-8664-56a5-a7ea-e6576836155c.html
**********

Glacier National Park News:
Glacier Park's public affairs officer retiring
It was the Shoshone fire that first made the news the summer of 1988 in Yellowstone National Park.
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20110506/NEWS01/105060320
**********


Grand Canyon National Park News
Arizonans Call for Canyon Mining Moratorium
Hundreds of thousands of Americans, including 36 Arizona groups, have weighed in to support a federal proposal for a 20-year ban on new uranium mining claims on 1 million acres near Grand Canyon National Park. A public comment period has just ended. The Obama administration is expected to decide the issue in the next few weeks.
http://www.publicnewsservice.org/index.php?/content/article/19909-1
**********


Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Smokies took hit from storms
Trees toppled; damage forces some trails to close
A National Park Service trail crewman surveys damage on the Hatcher Mountain Trail in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park recently. Last week’s storms forced the full or partial closure of eight backcountry trails, including the Hatcher Mountain Trail. Officials on Thursday confirmed that an EF4 tornado struck the northwest corner of the park April 27.
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2011/may/05/smokies-national-park-took-hit-from-storms/
**********


Guadalupe Mountains National Park News:
Nature Conservancy Expands National Park in Texas
The Nature Conservancy has donated its 177-acre Gypsum Dunes Preserve in the famed Texas panhandle to the National Park Service. The preserve, which is part of the second largest dune field in the continental United States and possibly in all of North America, will be incorporated into the Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
http://dallas.citybizlist.com/16/2011/5/5/Nature-Conservancy-Expands-National-Park-in-Texas.aspx
**********


Rocky Mountain National Park News:
New fire management plan in works for Rocky Mountain National Park
Rocky Mountain National Park is beginning work on an update to its fire management plan, and park officials are looking for public input.
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20110505/UPDATES01/110505014/New-fire-management-plan-works-Rocky-Mountain-National-Park?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|FRONTPAGE
**********


Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
Snowmobiles and snowcoaches to keep access to Yellowstone National Park under proposed winter use plan
After more than a decade of striving to come up with a long-term winter use plan for Yellowstone National Park, officials announced Thursday that their latest effort -- another draft plan -- has been released for public comment and review.
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/article_3ee2345a-776f-11e0-9a0d-001cc4c03286.html


Cooke City Plowing Could Boost Yellowstone Wintertime Access
A proposal to plow U.S. Hwy. 212 between Cooke City and Pilot Creek would open Yellowstone National Park to the east -- providing alternative access from Cody and Billings -- but snowmobilers oppose the move.
http://www.yellowstoneinsider.com/201105...time-access.php

Bison 'managers' kill calf (Note - I almost did not publish this one but decided that it was definitely newsworthy)
A wild American buffalo calf born Monday was found dead Thursday - a result of being repeatedly forced from winter range in Hebgen basin by agents with the Montana Department of Livestock and Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, say Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) volunteers who witnessed the death. Yellowstone National Park rangers and Gallatin County Sheriff's office were part of the repeated "hazing" operations that entail forcing buffalo from winter range under the controversial Interagency Bison Management Plan.
http://www.islandparknews.net/atf.php?sid=9898&current_edition=2011-05-05

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park News:
Volunteers needed to remove invasive plants at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is recruiting volunteers to help remove invasive plants from forests inside the Big Island park next weekend.
http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/f83f8992ed7f49038074525822bd7d68/HI--Park-Volunteers/
**********


Misc. National Park News:
Volunteers make big gains in national park cleanup
The smell of linseed oil wafted over State Pier on Saturday as eager volunteers coated the heavy gaffs and booms of the schooner Ernestina. Others caulked and painted the ship's dories.
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20110508/NEWS/105080333/-1/news

Public Lands and Waters Crucial for Bird Conservation, Federal Report Finds
Public lands and waters are crucial for birds, according to the 2011 State of the Birds report. The report, a collaboration between federal agencies and environmental organizations, assessed bird distribution on some 850 million acres of public land and 3.5 million square miles of ocean.
http://magblog.audubon.org/public-lands-and-waters-crucial-bird-conservation-federal-report-finds
**********


Outside the US/Canadian Park System:
Construction boom hurting Nairobi National Park
The ongoing construction boom could destroy Nairobi National Park, the only place in the world where lions hunt in the shadows of skyscrapers, a wildlife official said.
http://m.standardmedia.co.ke/business.php?id=2000034733
**********


Shenandoah National Park News:
75 Ways To Help Celebrate Shenandoah National Park's 75th Birthday
With spring sprouting across the mountains that hold up Shenandoah National Park, officials are rolling out a game to help educate visitors to the park's 75th birthday.
http://www.nationalparkstraveler.com/201...th-birthday8066
**********


Yellowstone National Park News:
State, feds plan to drive bison into Yellowstone
State and federal officials say they plan to start pushing hundreds of bison back into Yellowstone National Park this week to make way for cattle that graze
http://www.idahostatejournal.com/news/national/article_a658ac0a-7a52-11e0-aa46-001cc4c03286.html
**********


Yosemite National Park News:
Delay In Yosemite Road Opening
Heavy winter snow combined with a wet spring will likely delay the opening of a major road into Yosemite National Park.
http://www.mymotherlode.com/news/local/1285861/Delay-In-Yosemite-Road--Opening-.html
**********

Acadia National Park News:
Bar Harbor named top travel spot
One of Maine's best known coastal towns is getting a bit more national recognition.
http://www.wlbz2.com/news/article/158915/3/Bar-Harbor-named-top-travel-spot
**********


Glacier National Park News:
Lingering snow delays opening of some Glacier National Park facilities
An unseasonably large and lingering snowpack has forced Glacier National Park officials to push the opening dates of some eastside campgrounds past Memorial Day weekend.
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-an...f3871f80ad.html
**********


Shenandoah National Park News:
Shenandoah National Park celebrates 75 years with a trivia contest
Quick: The nation's densest population of what large mammal lives here? What U.S. president had a summer White House here? Where's the one spot in Virginia that sells legal moonshine?
http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/...ontest/169523/1
**********


Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
Did NPR go off the deep end over Yellowstone Park’s bears? (Editorial)
NPR is wondering out loud about an interview suggesting that climate change may be depleting the natural food supply for bears at Yellowstone National Park, causing them to attack and kill people.
http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2011/05/11/did-npr-go-off-the-deep-end-over-yellowstone-parks-bears/

Floods 'likely' if rain persists
Officials are concerned now with small streams and creeks, but massive snowpack looms.
A federal agency on Tuesday said flood flows in the Snake River are likely if the weather doesn’t improve.
http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=7285

Study: Snowmobiles emit more than cars
New winter-use requirements for Yellowstone could alleviate concerns.
Snowmobiles and snow coaches contribute to high levels of nitrogen oxide pollutants in Yellowstone National Park during the winter, according to a science advisory team studying the use of the machines in Yellowstone National Park.
http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=7287

...cannot believe that I missed this.

Grand Canyon National Park News:
'Jetman' Yves Rossy takes wing over Grand Canyon--at 190 mph
Yves "Jetman" Rossy has experienced a Grand Canyon tour as only someone who calls himself Jetman can: with a rocket-powered winged suit fastened to his back -- at speeds up to 190 mph.
http://www.grindtv.com/outdoor/blog/2676...on--at+190+mph/

Denali National Park News:
Climber dies on Alaska's Mount McKinley, 1 Rescued
A member of a climbing team that fell below the summit of Alaska's Mount McKinley has been rescued, but another member was found dead on the 20,320-foot mountain, officials said.
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/12/3623453/2-climbers-need-rescue-from-mount.html#ixzz1MH1SSqxc
**********


Glacier National Park News:
Glacier National Park Marks 101 Years
Words can hardly match the natural spectacles of the mountainous Montana wonderland. But the words used to label places in the park often reveal its fascinating and sometimes humorous history.
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2011/May/Glacier-National-Park-Marks-101-Years-/
**********


Grand Canyon National Park News:
Grand Canyon shuttle service resumes
The seasonal shuttle service between Tusayan and Grand Canyon National Park will resume this weekend.
http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/NowDeparting/128077
**********


Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
Wilderness group puts state, feds on notice over bison
The Helena-based Alliance for the Wild Rockies announced Thursday it will sue the state and federal government if they continue to use helicopters to haze bison back into Yellowstone National Park, a practice the environmental group believes is harmful to grizzly bears, and a Park County judge temporarily halted the procedure.
http://helenair.com/news/article_be1f519a-7d27-11e0-b7ff-001cc4c002e0.html

Hunt would put 220 wolves in the crosshairs
Montana wildlife officials tentatively approved a plan Thursday to allow hunters to kill as many as 220 wolves this fall, marking the state's first wolf management decision since Congress lifted endangered species protections.
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20110513/NEWS01/105130315/Hunt-would-put-220-wolves-crosshairs?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Frontpage

Sylvan Pass Closed Indefinitely; Snow Causes Other Damage in Yellowstone
The Sylvan Pass will remained closed indefinitely as Yellowstone National Park road crews work to clear four significant snow slides and more than 20 feet of snow; meanwhile, officials are also finding the heavy snowpack caused more damage in Park buildings as well.
http://www.yellowstoneinsider.com/201105...yellowstone.php

National parks to use hybrid vehicles
Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks are getting an assortment of hybrid vehicles to help promote clean transportation alternatives through a program sponsored by Yellowstone Teton Clean Energy Coalition (YTCEC).
http://www.wyomingbusinessreport.com/article.asp?id=57572

Judge halts changes to bison plan that would have let animals roam free in more of Montana
A Park County judge granted temporary restraining orders Wednesday to halt state agencies from allowing bison to roam into parts of Montana from Yellowstone National Park.
http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/f8ac896558bb4e2b93f1440f0d98ee7d/MT--Buffalo-Roam/
**********

Cuyahoga National Park News:
Park urges visitors to heed warnings after another fatal fall
The area at the top of Brandywine Falls where a Canal Fulton man fell to his death May 9 is not off limits, but the National Park Service reminds visitors it is guarded by barriers and warning signs encouraging visitors to stay on a designated path.
http://www.stowsentry.com/news/article/5034062
*********


Denali National Park News:
Denali National Park closed to snowmachines
The 1980 additions to Denali National Park and Preserve on both sides of the Alaska Range are now closed to snowmachines because of the deterioration of the snowpack.
http://newsminer.com/view/full_story/132...ow_left_bullets
*********


Misc. National Park News:
Feds looking to dispose of idle property
Everything from buildings in Yellowstone National Park to Forest Service bridges west of Red Lodge are included in a list of items for possible disposal under federal legislation looking to cut the number of government-owned properties across the United States.
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-an...89fc90177e.html
*********


Mount Rainier National Park News:
Cost of gas spur Mount Rainier visits
Weather, local gas prices and events across the Pacific Ocean will affect the number of visitors this season at Mount Rainier National Park.
http://www.theolympian.com/2011/05/16/1652796/cost-of-gas-spur-mount-rainier.html
*********


Shenandoah National Park News:
Brush up on family fun, Shenandoah's got game
Planners for Shenandoah's 75th anniversary add family-oriented answer game to the mix
As the group charged with planning Shenandoah National Park's 75th anniversary delved into its task, coordinator Donna Bedwell was tickled by the ideas springing forth.
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/052011/05162011/625948
*********


Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
Warning issued: Hungry bears foraging for food
Wildlife officials are telling those who visit Yellowstone National Park and surrounding areas to be aware that bears have emerged from their dens and are looking for food.
http://www.observer-reporter.com/or/localsports/05-15-2011-Outdoor-notebook

Gateway communities would suffer under proposed winter use plan, officials say
After a proposed winter use plan for Yellowstone National Park was released last week, county officials in Montana, Idaho and Wyoming said they're concerned for their gateway communities.
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/article_8b21b468-7f66-11e0-8ede-001cc4c03286.html

Pronghorn study observes threats to historic migration
Over the past six years, biologists studying a herd of pronghorn known for its arduous fall migration have tracked the herd’s population and where the animals are spending their winter.
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-an...52ffe770da.html

Officials trying to get rid of nonnative bullfrogs from Yellowstone River in Billings
Officials with the U.S. Geological Survey and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks are trying to eradicate nonnative American bullfrogs from the Yellowstone River in Billings in an effort to protect native species.
http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/b093d0a95fdc4d838b5f0ff2d3d26e90/MT--Bullfrog-Battle/

Yellowstone's grizzly bears face rapid changes: what are the cumulative impacts? (Editorial)
After the recent meeting of Yellowstone’s grizzly bear managers in Jackson, Wyoming, a manager asked me: “so what are the cumulative effects of the loss of Yellowstone cutthroat trout, whitebark pine, as well as the effects of climate change and wolves on Yellowstone grizzly bears?
http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/lwillcox/yellowstones_grizzly_bears_fac.html

Grand Canyon National Park News:
Swiss 'Jetman' Yves Rossy soars over Grand Canyon at 190 mph
With a pair of rockets strapped to his back, Swiss adventurer "JetMan" Yves Rossy soared over the Grand Canyon over the weekend, marking the flying man's first U.S. flight.
http://www.whatsonxiamen.com/ent2906.html
*********


Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
Yellowstone Wolves Worth $35 Million a Year
A study was conducted by University of Montana researchers which found the presence of wolves in Yellowstone contributes many millions of dollars each year to the local economy, from tourists who visit the park to see wildlife.
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/yellowstone-wolves-worth-35-million-a-year.html#ixzz1MdqITTUZ

Another winter entrance to Yellowstone National Park?
In recent years, much of the local talk about winter access to Yellowstone National Park has focused on the park’s East Entrance. But on Friday, the discussion will shift to the Northeast Entrance, as commissioners and transportation officials from Wyoming and Montana, Yellowstone, Shoshone and Gallatin National Forest officials, Cooke City, Mont., residents and snowmobiling advocates gather to talk about the logistics of potentially plowing U.S. Highway 212 from the Pilot Creek parking lot to Cooke City.
http://www.powelltribune.com/news/item/8307-another-winter-entrance-to-yellowstone-national-park

Bison management considered by government agencies
State and federal agencies will consider the next steps in managing Yellowstone National Park's wild bison herd after a judge blocked a move to open new habitat to the animals.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/news/2011/...s#ixzz1MdqT5Yiz

Snow in Sylvan halts park passage for now
Sylvan Pass in Yellowstone National Park remains closed and will remain so at least for now as crews wrestle with tons of snow and avalanche conditions.
http://www.powelltribune.com/news/item/8305-snow-in-sylvan-halts-park-passage-for-now

Yellowstone Recycles Bear Pepper Spray Cans
Visitors to Yellowstone National Park are encouraged to carry bear-deterrent pepper spray on their hikes, but with no recycling options, the spray cans from the park’s millions of annual visitors were ending up in landfills.
http://earth911.com/news/2011/05/16/yellowstone-recycles-bear-pepper-spray-cans/

Bear that attacked 2 will not be killed or relocated
Wildlife authorities say the bear that attacked two hikers in the Gallatin National Forest will not be killed or relocated.
http://www.sacbee.com/2011/05/16/3632103/bear-that-attacked-2-wont-be-killed.html#ixzz1MdqqtUjj

Yellowstone to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day
International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD), an annual event to celebrate and support migratory bird conservation, will be celebrated Saturday May 21 in Yellowstone Park and West Yellowstone.
http://www.westyellowstonenews.com/community_notes/article_f0b58e4a-7f6a-11e0-b041-001cc4c03286.html
**********


Yosemite National Park News:
At Yosemite National Park, 2 die after falling
The first accidental deaths of the year at Yosemite National Park occurred Friday when two people died after falling in separate incidents.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/16/BAQ41JGQI4.DTL#ixzz1MdqhosjD

Big Snow Melt Creating Spectacular Views of Yosemite’s Waterfalls
An above normal spring runoff from winter's heavy snow pack is creating spectacular views of Yosemite National Park's waterfalls, and rangers said waterfalls should last well into summer.
http://www.oldwestnewwest.com/2011051652...waterfalls.html
*********

Glacier National Park News:
West side park plow crews avoiding avalanche dangers
More roads opened in Glacier National Park last week, but crews on the west side of the Going-to-the-Sun Road didn’t plow at the higher elevations because of severe avalanche danger. Plows are about halfway between the Loop and Haystack Creek. On the east side, crews have plowed beyond Dead Horse Point.
http://www.flatheadnewsgroup.com/hungryhorsenews/article_d61feb04-80c1-11e0-ab2f-001cc4c03286.html
**********


Rocky Mountain National Park News:
Shooting Vs. Birth Control to Keep Elk in Check at Rocky Mountain National Park
The voracious ungulates have taken a huge toll on their habitat inside the park, and no wonder: The optimum population is between 600 and 800. Between 1997 and 2001, there were 2,800 and 3,500 elk within the boundaries. What to do? Read on
http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/sho...l_park/C41/L41/

Search for structures targeted on Obama's budget-saving list leads to park toilets, empty spaces (Note- could be in 'misc' but most of this effects Rocky Mountain, by the look of it).
The Obama administration is eyeing thousands of underused federally-owned properties for disposal – toilets, privies and park informational kiosks included – as a way to cut billions of dollars in unnecessary federal costs, including 239 properties in Colorado and about 36 in Larimer County.
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20110516/UPDATES01/110516021/Search-structures-targeted-Obama-s-budget-saving-list-leads-park-toilets-empty-spaces?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|News
**********


Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
2010-P Yellowstone 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin Released
The United States Mint released the 2010-P Yellowstone National Park 5 Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin today, May 17, at 12 noon Eastern Time for $279.95.
http://www.silvercoinstoday.com/2010-p-yellowstone-5-ounce-silver-uncirculated-coin-released/104197/

Yellowstone Park Goes Green
Heavy snow and sketchy cellphone service did not keep local architects from Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday. Billings based CTA architects showcased the Old Faithful Visitors' Center to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC during the afternoon. The building was the first visitors' center to receive a gold rating because of its sustainable construction and operational standards. Architects said the center is the best example to show off Montana's energy saving ingenuity.
http://www.kulr8.com/news/state/Yellowstone-Park-Goes-Green-122073379.html

Agencies, tribes hash out bison management at Bozeman meeting
A crowd of state, federal and tribal officials filled a room at the C'Mon Inn Tuesday, and all were gathered to talk about one hotly contested subject: Yellowstone National Park bison.
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/article_6723c8bc-80e7-11e0-a98d-001cc4c03286.html

19 projects approved for Shoshone National Forest
Accessing Yellowstone National Park by trail over Jones Creek Pass could become easier thanks to $37,000 in funding and a unique agreement between the Forest Service, the Montana Conservation Corps and the Shoshone Backcountry Horsemen.
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-an...8fbfd84c24.html
**********

Acadia National Park News:
Cruise ship rescue drill staged on Mount Desert Island
The barricades, boats and ambulances were real, but the “wounded” were only volunteers playing the role of injured cruise ship tender passengers.
http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/05/1...and/?ref=latest
**********


Denali National Park News:
Lucky escape for Athlone's Tony in dramatic mountain climb
Athlone man Tony Diskin had a lucky escape last week during a climb of Mount McKinley (Denali) in Alaska, one of the world's most treacherous mountains, when weather conditions changed as the climbers approached the summit.
http://www.westmeathindependent.ie/news/...mountain-climb/
**********


Everglades National Park News:
Redfish thrive in large numbers in South Florida
Miami flats guide captain Benny Blanco was pleasantly surprised last fall to encounter large numbers of small red drum on the flats around Flamingo in Everglades National Park.
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/05/18/2019431/redfish-thrive-in-large-numbers.html
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/05/...l#ixzz1MpJdzWWa
**********


Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Smoky Mountain rangers help search for Cary man
Rangers at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Gatlinburg, Tenn., are helping with the search for a missing Cary man.
http://www.wral.com/news/news_briefs/story/9615963/
**********


Rocky Mountain National Park News:
Science behind the scenery: Bears
Rocky Mountain National Park Saturday evening programs continue
Rocky Mountain National Park is hosting the premier showing of "Science Behind The Scenery: Bears" produced by the park`s Continental Divide and Research Center staff and filmed in cooperation with Nick Molle Productions. The showing will be Saturday, May 21 at 7 p.m. in the Beaver Meadows Visitor Center. Following the video, bear experts will be on hand including park biologist, Mary Kay Watry along with volunteers from the Colorado Division of Wildlife "Bear Aware" program. These experts have many years of knowledge and experience to share on how to coexist in bear habitat and how to avoid conflict with bears.
http://www.eptrail.com/ci_18088792
**********


Rocky Mountain plow crews battling 20-foot snow drifts on Trail Ridge Road
Workers at Rocky Mountain National Park are battling above average snow depths and wintry spring weather in their efforts to open Trail Ridge Road.
http://www.dailycamera.com/state-west-news/ci_18086944#ixzz1MpRE0sSs
DailyCamera.com

Late storms add to historic flood worries in West
Late winter storms are packing a punch to the Rockies, piling snowpack on top of already record levels across the West where officials are concerned about historic flooding, avalanches and mudslides.
http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/late-storms-add-to-950316.html
**********


Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
Changes for bison weighed, but court order looms
The next steps in letting wild bison roam beyond Yellowstone National Park were laid out by government officials on Tuesday, after a tumultuous winter in which almost 900 of the animals were captured during their annual migration.
http://www.katu.com/outdoors/featured/122184539.html

Construction forces lower speeds in Grand Teton
Road construction and other work at Grand Teton National Park will result in lower speed limits and minor traffic delays for much of the summer tourist season.
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-an...1cc4c03286.html
**********

Denali National Park News:
Denali National Park and Preserve
Two Remaining Climbers Rescued From High Camp
Two remaining injured climbers were evacuated from the 17,200-foot high camp on Mt. McKinley in the afternoon of Friday, May 13. Both climbers, one a guide and the other a client, suffered from frostbite to the hands and feet after a night spent at high elevation in cold temperatures and gusty winds. The guide also reportedly sustained a broken rib.
http://www.nps.gov/dena/parknews/remainingclimbers.htm
**********


Grasslands National Park
Almost one year after negotiating a sale agreement with Parks Canada, Bruce Dixon still misses the Diamond T Ranch.
http://www.leaderpost.com/travel/Ranch+part+national+park/4814819/story.html
**********



Rocky Mountain National Park
Snow over Independence Pass is 25 feet deep in spots and the Colorado Department of Transportation is hoping to get it cleared in time to open May 26, but they're making no promises.
http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/5a255ea4fd5848ae88493be85c425df0/CO--Independence-Pass/
**********



Yellowstone National Park News:
Grizzly bear research resumes in Yellowstone for 38th year
For the 38th straight year, biologists with the Interagency Grizzly Bear Study Team (IGBST) will conduct scientific grizzly bear research operations in Yellowstone National Park this summer.
http://www.ktvq.com/news/grizzly-bear-research-resumes-in-yellowstone-for-38th-year/

Changes for bison weighed, but court order looms
The next steps in letting wild bison roam beyond Yellowstone National Park were laid out by government officials on Tuesday, after a tumultuous winter in which almost 900 of the animals were captured during their annual migration.
http://www.nativetimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5430:changes-for-bison-weighed-but-court-order-looms&catid=56&Itemid=32
**********


Yosemite National Park News:
Berkeley man died from heart attack, not fal
James Dunbar, a Berkeley resident who died on a trail below the Yosemite Falls last week in Yosemite National Park, died due to a heart attack and not from accidentally slipping and falling as initial reports suggested, park officials announced Wednesday.
http://www.dailycal.org/article/113182/berkeley_man_died_from_heart_attack_not_fall_

Acadia National Park News:
John Christie: Acadia carriage roads: Maine's gift to bicyclists (Editorial)
It was back in the early part of the 20th century that the great philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. began the construction of a carriage road system on Mount Desert Island that resulted in a unique biking paradise available to all of us.
http://www.pressherald.com/life/outdoors...2011-05-22.html
**********


Big Bend National Park News:
Partial Closure on Old Maverick Road
Big Bend National Park has issued a temporary closure of the center section of Old Maverick Road in Big Bend National Park.
http://www.nps.gov/bibe/parknews/maverickroad.htm
**********


Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Wildlife officers hunt elk poacher
Wildlife officers are investigating the poaching of an elk outside Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Haywood County.
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20110523/NEWS01/110523018/Wildlife-officers-hunt-elk-poacher?odyssey=nav|head

Bryson City Men Sentenced For Stealing Ginseng
Two Swain County men have been sentenced for taking valuable plants from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
http://www2.wnct.com/news/2011/may/23/bryson-city-men-sentenced-for-stealing-ginseng-ar-1057255/
**********


Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
West Yellowstone Foundation breaks ground for bus barn
After seven years of hard work by transportation committee members the West Yellowstone Foundation bus will have a parking space to call home.
http://www.westyellowstonenews.com/news/article_65bafe2c-84c1-11e0-ae1c-001cc4c03286.html

Yellowstone East Entrance Extends Hours For Travel
Yellowstone National Park's East Entrance road through Sylvan Pass will be open between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 a.m. Park avalanche forecasters extended the opening times based on a continuing trend of more stable snow conditions in Sylvan Pass. They have determined that the safest travel window across the pass is during the evening and early morning hours.
http://www.kpvi.com/story.php?id=43626&n=15206

Ranchers cheered by lifting of wolf protections
Ranchers in Western states said they're hopeful the removal of gray wolves from the federal endangered species list will make it easier to hunt the predators and stem losses of cattle and sheep.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/arti...f8a11fce36eb0fa
**********

Acadia National Park News:
Students contribute research on mercury levels
High school students from Bangor and Old Town are helping scientists research mercury levels in local watersheds, and got a chance to present their results today.
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article/160307/2/Students-contribute-research-on-mercury-levels
**********


Denali National Park News:
New Online Site for Denali Road Lottery Entries - Entry Period is June 1-30, 2011
The 2011 annual road lottery in Denali National Park and Preserve will take place on September 16, 17, 18, and 19 (Friday through Monday), weather permitting. Each day 400 vehicles may use their day-long permits, obtained through the lottery system, to travel the Denali Park Road. If weather permits, the road may be open for its entire 92-mile length, offering exceptional opportunities for experiencing the heart of the park.
http://www.nps.gov/dena/parknews/2011-road-lottery.htm
**********


Glacier National Park News:
Glacier National Park will require boat inspections in effort to prevent invasive species
Glacier National Park will now require boat inspections in an effort to keep aquatic invasive species out of the park's waters.
http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/bf8107e851fb4b3680ad02688554abb6/MT--Glacier-Boat-Inspection/

Wildlife managers keeping busy with bear reports
Fish, Wildlife and Parks bear managers have been attempting to trap and relocate two grizzly bear family groups that have been roaming in the Coram and Martin City areas, as well as a large male grizzly bear that has been around houses in the Blankenship area.
http://www.flatheadnewsgroup.com/hungryhorsenews/article_3351aed6-863d-11e0-964d-001cc4c03286.html
**********


Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Volunteers needed for Park Trail Rehab
Great Smoky Mountains National Park is currently recruiting for volunteers to assist a Trails Forever trail crew on reconstruction projects on the Forney Ridge Trail Friday-Monday from May 20 to Oct. 16.
http://www.nc-cherokee.com/theonefeather/2011/05/25/volunteers-needed-for-park-trail-rehab/

Wanted: Elk poacher; $5,000 reward offered
A $5,000 reward has been posted for anyone providing information leading to the arrest/convicti
http://www.shelbystar.com/news/elk-55512-information-poacher.html
**********


Misc. National Park News:
Who Should Pay For National Park Rescues? (Note, mentions GTNP, but in my opinion is really a bigger question)
A recent search for two lost skiers at Grand Teton National Park cost $115,000. Should people who take part in riskier outdoor sports help pay for rescue operations?
http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/who_should_pay_for_national_park_rescues/C41/L41/
**********


Rocky Mountain National Park News:
Rocky Mountain National Park's Trail Ridge Road won't open for Memorial Day
Trail Ridge Road will not open for Memorial Day weekend because heavy snow has hampered plowing efforts.
http://www.dailycamera.com/boulder-county-news/ci_18129240#ixzz1NOfZUtJc
DailyCamera.com

High Water in Colorado, With Ripples to Las Vegas
An above-average snowpack will likely lead to flooding and even mudslides, but it will ultimately replenish the region's water supplies.
http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/high_water_in_colorado_with_ripples_to_las_vegas/C35/L35/
**********


Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National park News:
Biologists track Grand Teton osprey migrating as far as southern Mexico, Cuba
Researchers have verified that osprey in Grand Teton National Park can migrate a long way — as far as southern Mexico and even Cuba.
http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/4f43ee4c1071448e8a1ec752613e4a20/WY--Osprey-Tracked/

Yellowstone Park delays opening of Beartooth Highway, Dunraven Pass
Wild spring weather has slowed plowing efforts on Beartooth Highway, prompting Yellowstone National Park to delay the road’s opening beyond the Memorial Day weekend for the first time in six years.
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-an...c085c14975.html

Grand Teton National Park concerned about wildlife-vehicle collisions
Officials at Grand Teton National Park say they're stepping up efforts to reduce the number of collisions between vehicles and wild animals.
http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/s...ife-Collisions/

Acadia National Park News:
Clean water for clams
If someone were to tell me a year ago that I would be dressed as a life-sized clam to educate the public about the significance of clean water to the soft-shelled clam, I would have called them crazy! However, as an AmeriCorps environmental educator with the Kennebec Estuary Land Trust and the Maine Conservation Corps, I am doing just that — donning a homemade clam get-up to promote “clean water for clams.”
http://www.timesrecord.com/articles/2011/05/26/opinion/commentaries/doc4dde953fbafff583908636.txt
**********


Denali National Park News:
Two climbers have died in an avalanche on Mount Frances.
http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/9880f725f76a4b10925ca0792bdddcea/AK--Avalanche-Deaths/
**********


Glacier National Park News:
U.S. senators welcome plan to protect North Fork of Flathead during hearing (And Glacier NP)
A proposal to protect the North Fork of the Flathead River from mining got a friendly reception at a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday.
http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_766f9c6e-874b-11e0-8171-001cc4c002e0.html
***********


Misc. National Park News:
10 of the greenest parks in the U.S
These parks are taking steps to be the greenest spaces in America by protecting the environment and conserving resources for the future.
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/10-of-the-greenest-parks-in-the-us

US Mint Sales: Grant $1s; Yellowstone, Olympic 5 Oz Silver Coins Debut
Several products prominently appear for the first time in the latest weekly sales figures released by the United States Mint. Two of them share the same size, the collector Yellowstone National Park 5-Ounce Silver Uncirculated Coin and the investor Olympic National Park 5-Ounce Silver Bullion Coin.
http://www.coinnews.net/2011/05/26/us-mi...er-coins-debut/
***********


Rocky Mountain National Park News:
Colorado mountains in grip of winter-like conditions
Memorial Day weekend at the end of May is the unofficial start of the U.S. summer tourism season in the Colorado mountains, but this year visitors will encounter mid-winter snow conditions.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/25/us-weather-colorado-snow-idUSTRE74O4P520110525
************


Yellowstone National Park News:
Yellowstone: Watch out for bears
Watch out for bears in Yellowstone National Park: That's the message from park officials now that most black and grizzly bears are out of their dens and summer tourist season is near.
http://www.ajc.com/travel/yellowstone-watch-out-for-958275.html

Flood watch for Big Horn Basin, Yellowstone Park
Though not yet in peril of the catastrophic flooding that has hit other parts of the region, the Big Horn Basin is still feeling the effects of continuous soaking.
http://www.codyenterprise.com/news/local/article_15ef7542-8720-11e0-9c36-001cc4c03286.html

Yellowstone National Park completes plan of how to bring back native fish species
Restoration of native cutthroat trout is the main objective of a new plan that will guide fish conservation efforts at Yellowstone National Park over the next 20 years.
http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/3fb054947b4c46cead8b3c7ee79f78fc/WY--Yellowstone-Fish/

Moose-Wilson road in park closed for dusting
A brief travel closure will be in effect on the unpaved section of the Moose-Wilson Road in Grand Teton National Park beginning at 4 a.m. Wednesday for dust abatement work.
http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=7328
**********


Yosemite National Park News:
Yosemite's Glacier Point Road set to open Friday
One of Yosemite National Park's popular roadways will open in time for Memorial Day weekend, but another scenic road will remain closed.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_18142517?nclick_check=1
**********

Big Bend National Park News:
George W. Bush and Lance Armstrong honor wounded US soldiers
While joking that he’ll be eligible for Medicare next year, former US President George W. Bush took to the saddle to ride across Big Bend, Texas with 15 US soldiers who were seriously injured in Afghanistan or Iraq.
http://www.bikeradar.com/news/article/ge...soldiers--30391
**********


Great Smoky Mountain National Park News:
Tremont seeks volunteers for annual Bird Banding Program
The Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is offering its 2011 Bird Banding Program, and volunteers from the community are being asked to assist in this important research project. Similar projects are done at other national and state parks as well as private lands and universities across the country.
http://www.thedailytimes.com/Blount_Life...ogram_id_011836
**********


Joshua Tree National Park News:
Joshua Tree National Park Celebrates 75 Years of Inspiration
Joshua Tree National Park celebrates its 75th Anniversary as part of the national park system this year. First established as a national monument by President Franklin Roosevelt in 1936, the Park has selected R&W Creative Group as its Creative Agency and partner in developing a 75th Anniversary Campaign.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/...-122685688.html
**********


Rocky Mountain National Park News:
Salazar says feds will spend $350,000 to link metro refuges to Rocky Mountain National Park
The first three projects of President Barack Obama's national America's Great Outdoors Initiative will roll out in Colorado, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said this morning during a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new visitor's center at Rocky Mountain Arsenal.
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_18146237
**********


Yellowstone (and Grand Teton) National Park News:
Hundreds of bison released back into park
Nearly 700 bison have been released back into Yellowstone National Park after being held at the Stephens Creek Capture Facility, park officials said Thursday, capping a dramatic winter for the animals.
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/article_1eb975e8-87f6-11e0-ad21-001cc4c03286.html

Parks plans to net, poison nonnative fish
Yellowstone National Park unveiled a new plan Wednesday that will guide its fish conservation efforts for the next two decades.
http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/article_6a7403da-87f2-11e0-925f-001cc4c03286.html

Heavy snows spoil weekend holiday plans in West
Ski resorts are bustling with activity. A key highway into Yellowstone is closed because parts of the road have seen more than 25 feet of snow. And campgrounds are feverishly removing snow from campsites to clear the way for visitors.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/arti...5a16591f1f013cc
**********


Yosemite National Park News:
Yosemite National Park: Glacier Point Road opens Friday; chilly Memorial Day weekend predicted
It's been a big winter in Yosemite National Park and throughout the Sierra, and it isn't over yet.
http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-trb-yosemite-glacier-point-road-20110526,1,4640395.story

Crowds stream into Yosemite National Park
It's just past 8 on a Saturday morning in late April, and rush hour at the Curry Village coffee counter is in full swing.
http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/...Park/47693614/1