| Page 1069 | National Parks Traveler

When a bear attacks/kills a human that is not carrying bear spray, not in a group and the specifics are basically unknown, the bear should get the benefit of the doubt since the park is their habitat, not humans. I agree with the comment that this may be a political move. Humans must be held accountable when they visit our parks, not the animals.

Sep 4th - 11:33am | Lee Dalton

That's quite a charge, Anonymous. Are you saying we should hold a national election to select park superintendents? It would be very interesting to learn more about your background and qualifications to write such a thing.

Sep 4th - 03:52am | Anonymous

The NPS needs to protect rare wildlife in their several small refuges and place warning signs at trailheads so visitors enter at their own risk. This fascist NPS ranger command & control against predators in the national parks needs to stop; afterall, it is being funded by scarce taxpayer dollars. Hey, The US Justice System treats serial human murderers better than the NPS does predators.

Sep 3rd - 10:21am | Dave Smith

Is the NPS hunting a man-eating grizzly bear ? Did a grizzly prey on Michigan hiker John Wallace? It's customary for the NPS and other agencies to kill a bear that preys on people, or even a grizzly that scavenges on the body of a human it didn't kill. The NPS hasn't said a grizzly fed on Wallace's body, so what's the explanation for the massive bear hunt?

Sep 3rd - 09:19am | Kurt Repanshek

RDunn, Good catch. You're right, of course, that the article should have specified that it was the second fatal attack this year, and we'll correct it to that.

Sep 3rd - 08:10am | RDunn

The article indicates this as only the second fatal attack in park history. This is the second fatal attack this year. Prior to this year, I know there was at least one other fatal attack in 1986. I agree with the previous comment. When we were there in July, we saw a sow with cubs on multiple days in the general vicinity of this trail.

Sep 3rd - 07:38am | Bob Janiskee

I wonder how park officials can be so sure that Yellowstone's most recent death-by-grizzly incident was not the result of a sow defending her cubs.

Greening the Parks: A Former Brownfield is Converted to a Lakefront Gem at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Sep 6th - 10:58am | Jill

Just this past weekend, my partner and I made a trek to the Dunes area for some much needed rest and relaxation. We had NO idea how amazing the beach and the Riverwalk would be in Portage and quite honestly, we just happened to stumble upon the area that is tucked away in what seems to be an industrial area. What an amazing experience and I am so impressed with the beachfront and the water wa

At Long Last, Glacier National Park's Inside North Fork Road is Open to Travel. Kind of.

Sep 5th - 23:49pm | GUYBOB

Absolutely wonderful news. I've been traveling "glacier 7" the inside northfork road since 1972. Glad to see it open for our vacation mid September....

Limited Access, Activities At Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras National Seashores

Sep 5th - 20:50pm | The Young Family

We are so sad about the damage done the full length of Hwy 12 communities in the OBX. We four from California were there in May (stayed in Kill Devil Hills) and couldn't have been happier with the accommodations, the weather, the friendly staff where ever we went sightseeing and the beauty of the dunes, light houses and all. We hope for a speedy recovery.

Many National Parks Get The Indian Story Wrong

Sep 5th - 17:12pm | Meg

I ran across a fair amount of this sort of bias when I was researching my novel Repeating History, set in Yellowstone and partly based on the tourists kidnapped by the Nez Perce in 1877. It's a historical fantasy, and I have worked with several other historical incidents in it as well, but I was very strongly aware of how I portrayed the Nez Perce as they appeared in my novel. It

Sep 5th - 11:04am | Peterson

Many stories tend to blurred over time or not enough evidence to conclude that each is valid or not.

Sep 4th - 21:26pm | Anonymous

We believe critical to this conversation about misinformation provided to the visiting publics is realizing it is not restricted to Native American Stories. Sadly, there are managers promoted to supervisory interpretive positions who clearly do not value a factual story; their apathy toward telling a factual,

Sep 4th - 21:06pm | Tay

Thanks for the info in this article. It's good to see these changes occurring.

Sep 4th - 11:28am | Lee Dalton

Is it perhaps a feeling of lingering shame that prevents Anglos from opening interpretation of some of our less magnificent moments? Or could it be a lingering feeling of something else? Something even more disturbing than shame?

Sep 4th - 09:00am | Anonymous

At Crater Lake NP, the common story still told is that the Native Peoples of the Klamath Tribes were fearful of "The Mountain with a Hole in the Top" and therefore, did not visit Deep Blue Lake. Actually, Crater Lake was very Sacred Ground and visited during Vision Quests with stories of the

Sep 4th - 06:58am | Barky

Good article. Thanks, Bob.

Sep 4th - 03:57am | Randy Thomas

As usual the blackman or woman gets all the attention when they think they had it rough but they dont think what our native-americans had to go through when us white people took their land & their ways of living away from them cause if it wasnt for them this nation wouldnt be like it is!!!

Canadian Charged With Spray Painting Names Over Famous Rock Outcrop In Grand Canyon National Park

Sep 5th - 15:12pm | Kilroy Washere

Okay, it is "bigoted" to call a French-Canadian a "frog", not "racist".

Sep 4th - 10:30am | Anonymous

Just vandalism and refuse disposal charges? The attorney generalʻs office isnʻt trying hard enough. Terrorism is a possibility.

Sep 3rd - 09:59am | Anonymous

You must be about 6 years old to have the "it's no big deal" attitude. This moron defaced a part of our AMERICAN heritage. But then, "Oh boy, I'm going to go down in history for this. Pat me on the back KIDS" .papHe's one sick puppy!!!

Sep 3rd - 07:38am | Anonymous

Comments about the utter obsurdity and criminal nature of the act are neither racist or anti canadian. Just comments about a thoughtless and selfish individual who could have hailed from most any place on the planet. We need to keep up our outrage against such ignorant and/or stupid folk. It is OUR world. Borders are just lines on a map. and, what is a frog, anyway??

Sep 2nd - 23:18pm | CayugaLake

If you looked up the word STUPID in the dictionary, this idiot's picture would be there.

Sep 2nd - 22:34pm | Connie Hopkins

Kim YOU are a class act!

Sep 2nd - 21:52pm | Scott In Canada

First off, on behalf of other Canucks, apologies. This is most definately not a Canadian thing to do. The punishment, as has been stated, is far too lenient if it is nothing more than a simple fine. Also, referring to this person as a frog is unfair to other people of frog decent like myself.

Sep 2nd - 21:43pm | Keeper

Hey Kim, we both have our jerks and that's not anything to do with nationalities. Piss poor behavior is what it is. Until we both recognize it for what it is we're all screwed (in the broader sense)! Half my relatives are in BC so I am aware:)!

Sep 2nd - 20:30pm | gizmo

Your "piece of limestone" is a national treasure not the paving on your driveway.

Sep 2nd - 20:19pm | Kim in Canada

As a Canadian who has visited the Grand Canyon and was humbled by the experience may I suggest that the punishment is WAY too light? To my American cousins a thousand apologies. Most of us are not that ignorant.

Sep 2nd - 19:02pm | Meg

The idiot is being charged for the removal, right? Not to mention another extra large amount on general principles? Plus being banned for his lifetime from our national parks? Plus never being allowed to buy another can of spray paint in his lifetime? We can only wish...

Sep 2nd - 18:44pm | Anonymous

He should be forced to remove the paint, he would not find it so funny.

Sep 2nd - 18:05pm | John

You jest, of course. But you can always claim that Kilrow was here, and leave your mark without doing much harm. What do you really think? I think 99% of Canadian would cheer for a very stiff punishment.

Sep 2nd - 17:14pm | Keeper

Yes, RangerLady, where have the real men gone:).

Sep 2nd - 16:19pm | RangerLady

Actually if I had been in this man's shoes, Kilroy, I wouldn't have done the same thing. I would rather leave a beautiful, unspoiled national treasure for my children to visit in 20 years. I would want my kids to remember me as someone who cared for the beautiful places our country has to offer, not someone who wants to damage them.

Sep 2nd - 15:20pm | Kilroy Washere

Come on, you guys! Lighten up already. This poor Canuck didn't do nothing that any of us wouldn't have done if we'd been in his shoes. At least he didn't try to hide it. And he confessed to the trooper right awya. I would want my kids to have something to remember me by so I can sort of see where he was coming from. Next time though, he should use that spray-paint that comes off by itself

Sep 2nd - 14:05pm | Grammy

What a shame!

Sep 2nd - 14:01pm | Grammy

The cost of the cleanup should only be the BEGINNING of his fine. Once the graffiti is gone, then it would be time to discuss the fine. The fees should be significant, as a deterrent if for no other reason, or the NPS will be spending all of its time enforcing "Leave No Trace" 's philosophy.

Sep 2nd - 13:47pm | Anonymous

Actually, the graffiti battle is constant, particularly within an easy distance from the Rim and before many have received the real impact of the Canyon. There has always been an element of this sort of thing. My brother took particular exception :) to some individuals destroying a shelter in the back country of the Olympics in the '50's. I agree that a $1000 fine is not enough.

Sal Hollow Trail In Mammoth Cave National Park Closed To Mountain Bikers, Open To Horses

Sep 5th - 10:37am | disturbed

I cant' help but wonder why it is that almost everything for sale in our National Parks visitors centers are made in some other country. Great souvenir, a t-shirt or baseball hat "made in China" or some other foreign place. A post card I purchased in Ranier NP says that there "are more glaciers on Mt. Ranier than anyplace else in the United States, including Canada."

Reader Participation Day: How Many National Parks Do You Want To Visit In Your Lifetime?

Sep 5th - 01:06am | Danny

I was hoping to visit all of them in the southeast in my remaining lifetime. But since the southeast includes Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, I'm not so sure I will make it. But I'm trying. Danny

Sep 2nd - 16:27pm | richp39

So many great comments. And, just like the parks, a lot of diversity. I particularly agree with KC Traveler, reaching the goal is less important than having the goal. (BTW, does the KC refer to Kansas City perchance; my home base) Anyway, if your goal is to see them all, go for it. If you miss a few, so what? I'll bet you had a fantastic time at the ones you saw anyway.

Crater Lake, On Average, Is Deepest Lake in North America

Sep 4th - 21:50pm | Anonymous

There is not much anyone can do to encourage respect for learning factual information if that quality attribute is missing in your young background. Statistical descriptions have many applications in learning and comparing Earth's global freshwater lakes. Averages are useful in comparing many variables as is

Sep 4th - 19:20pm | Anonymous

I guess you can make up stastics about anything. I have had a great wall paper on my computer for years now showing the deepest lake in N america Slave lake. Does anyone know why its called that? Does anyony Really care about average depth. deep is deep

River Corridor, Facilities Closing At Delaware Water Gap NRA In Advance of Hurricane Irene

Sep 4th - 18:24pm | Anonymous

McDade trail still closed one week after Hurricane Irene hit (sunday-sunday)

Possible Wolf Spotted in Rocky Mountain National Park

Sep 4th - 15:40pm | Rusty Givens

I have photos of what I think is a wolf in Rocky Mt National Park ? Who could I send them to, too verify this? Rusty Givens

National Park Service Issues 5-Year "Call To Action" Plan For Moving Toward Its Second Century

Sep 4th - 11:40am | Lee Dalton

Anonymous, it certainly sounds as if you have some kind of agenda you're trying to grind. How about some transparency to help the rest of us understand who you are and why you're saying these things? Perhaps there is some validity to your comments, but without some background information to explain them, they seem otherwise to be nothing more than a pile of sour grapes.

Big Cypress National Preserve Officials Crafting Hunting Management Plan For Addition Lands

Sep 4th - 00:48am | Frank Denninger

I do not recollect saying that although, I don't doubt it has been happening since the eyes and ears of conservation minded hunters have been banned for over 20 years.

Yosemite National Park Officials Planning To Restore Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias

Sep 3rd - 00:40am | hikertom

I hiked all through this grove in early June and was impressed by how healthy the trees are. Prescribed fire has resulted in many sequoia seedlings. In the 1960's you could drive through the grove. Now you either walk or ride a tram. A six mile hike will take you through the upper and lower part of the grove.

Grandfather Accused Of Endangering Health And Welfare of Grandsons During Inner Gorge Hike In Grand Canyon National Park

Sep 2nd - 23:09pm | CayugaLake

I cannot post what I think of this despicable excuse of a human being is, and what should happen to him. Absolutely sick individual, and agree that he should not be allowed around children at all. Where were the parents?

Permanent Vacation: Twenty Writers on Work and Life in Our National Parks

Sep 2nd - 22:25pm | Patrice

Like Nathan I, too, worked summers at Paradise Inn in Mount Rainier National Park.

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