You are here

All Recent Comments

The Nature Conservancy Has Secured Preservation Of 8,000 Acres In Alabama's Mobile-Tensaw Watershed

Feb 16th - 10:26am | Jim Gramann

I was at an international conference in Mobile several years ago, and some of the local people I met were pushing NPS status for this area. The late E. O. Wilson supported it, too. Thanks for stepping up, Nature Conservancy!

National Parks Traveler Podcast Episode 260 | California Mountain Lions

Feb 16th - 05:43am | Mary Hannigan

There have been so many thousands of acres of forested land that have burned in the last ten years that the lions are running out of places to live. And how many have lost their lives in the fires? Not a winning situation for the animals or people. 

National Park Service Continues To Languish In "Best Places To Work" Survey

Feb 15th - 21:46pm | RW

NPS needs a complete makeover. The agency is top heavy with superintendents that pull three figure salaries but lack leadership skills to organize and retain good employees. I saw this first hand which is now being handled by EEOC. Smaller parks are not only understaffed but managers and superintendents rely heavily on volunteers and contractors to maintain some parks.

Sierra Club Chapter Launches Petition Drive Over Padre Island Sea Turtle Program

Feb 15th - 19:12pm | Craig Nazor

Human nest robbing is not the only threat to Kemp's ridley sea turtle. Kemp's ridley populations in the Gulf of Mexico increased until 2010 and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill, but have since stagnated. The three-year-late USFW Service five-year report (just released) says they have not yet recovered.

Feb 15th - 17:25pm | Robert Algeo

In fact, more than a total of $2mil went to the sea turtle program at PAIS, in 2019, 20, 21 and 22, according to the NPS review, even though only 1% of Kemp's ridley nests are found in Texas (nearly all are found in Mexico).  That's over $10,000 per nest found annually in PAIS.  According to Larry McKinney (Senior Director of the Harte Marine Reasearch Institute in Corpus Christi, Texas) Viagra

Feb 15th - 13:53pm | BCKenner

People should also be aware that the sea turtle program brings thousands of visitors to the park for the hatchling releases. The program supports interpretive programs about the turtles. Most of all Padre Island has become a key factor in recovery for multiple endangered turtle species, particularly Kemp's ridley.

Feb 15th - 13:40pm | BCKenner

$1.9 million may be a lot, but the park received multiple base funding increases specifically for the sea turtle program and the program director hustled to get soft (short term) funds to supplement. The program should continue to get the base funding and the director should be supported in efforts to continue to get soft funding via competitive proposals. It should be up to her.

Feb 15th - 09:45am | Charles W. Cail...

Reintroduction of Kemp's ridley to Padre Island National Seashore was part of the U.S.-Mexico Kemp's Ridley Restoration and Enhancement Program initiated in 1978. See:  Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle (Lepidochelys kempii) Head-Start and Reintroduction to Padre Island National Seashore, Texas

Feb 14th - 20:10pm | Nick W.

I'm all for helping to protect sea turtles but $1.9 million annually seems insane for a single species. Per the article the main resource management division gets less the $250k annually.

Heading To Cape Cod National Seashore? Download The Sharktivity App

Feb 15th - 16:38pm | david s kreuzer

Nice app

Lewis Temple And His Impact on 19th Century Whaling

Feb 15th - 14:47pm | SDB

I understand that he sued the city of New Bedford and won a judgement of $2000. He was never given the money. I wonder if ithe town of New Bedford ever made good and paid his decendants with interest?

PEER: Point Reyes National Seashore Cattle Deals Cost Taxpayers

Feb 15th - 09:17am | A. Johnson

 isn't it worth assuming that since they have lawyers on staff, some of the salaries went for legal work? And some likely went to outside attorneys?   Now you're the one asssuming that PEER is using their "salaries" for legal assistance and resources for whistleblowers.  

Feb 15th - 09:12am | A. Johnson

When the messenger has an obviously  biased agenda, and has a vested interest in promoting that agenda, yes it's legitimate and NECESSARY to an informed discussion to point that out.  

Feb 14th - 16:34pm | Kurt Repanshek

Well, according to that 990, while salaries and benefits totaled $1.05 million for tax year 2021, expenses totaled $1.77 million and Program Service expenses totaled $1.5 million. Without discussing the 990 with PEER, isn't it worth assuming that since they have lawyers on staff, some of the salaries went for legal work? And some likely went to outside attorneys?

Feb 14th - 16:28pm | Hugh A. Kuhn

Ah, so many willing to shoot the messenger vs contemplate the message. Sad state of the country these days. There are valid arguments on both sides of the PRNS leases, cattle, elk, etc. but certainly how PEER is funded, or the work they do, are not pertinent to the true matter at hand. Neither Ali's fear mongering about how those ranchers are going to save us all when an earthquake strikes.

Feb 14th - 16:08pm | A. Johnson

According to PEER's IRS Form 990 for 2021 (latest year available) Total Revenues:  $1,177,000 Salaries & benefits paid:  $1,055,000 So, that leaves $122,000 for  legal assistance and resources to whistleblowers.    Okay.

Feb 14th - 14:29pm | Judy Teichman

You report that PEER argues that "These purely commercial operations serve no park purpose," and that "barbed wire fences restrict park visitors from entering the leased dairy and ranch lands."  Are your readers and PEER aware that the Point Reyes National Seashore is on the Pacific Tectonic Plate?  That it is separated from the American Tectonic Plate by the San Andreas Fault

Feb 14th - 12:29pm | Kurt Repanshek

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) is a left-of-center organization that provides legal assistance and resources to whistleblowers who speak out about environmental issues in state and federal agencies. PEER is funded both by donations and payouts from lawsuits and settlements.

Feb 14th - 12:17pm | Anonymous

 "Taxpayers should not be obligated to subsidize these private businesses."   YEAH!  Taxpayers should be obligated to subsidized public employees like those members of PEER!   The hypocrisy of public employes whining about taxpayer funding of other entities lacks an amazing amount of self-awareness. 

Feb 14th - 08:18am | Sarah Rolph

I would have liked to see some reporting here beyond the press release. Why is PEER doing this? Why now? Has something changed? Do they have a relationship with the litigants working against the ranchers? Do they have a relationship with the Seashore? More importantly, does it make sense to compare these ranch agreements with private-sector leases?

Feb 13th - 17:00pm | Judy Austin

Make them pay like everyone else 

The Battle For The Skies Over National Parks Drags On

Feb 14th - 19:19pm | William Baehr

Great points. Drones can flyover Parks as long as they don't take off or land in the Park.

Feb 14th - 12:02pm | A. Johnson

"These sites are our relatives and as important to us as any church, synagogue, or temple to the outside world   #1.  Where's the archeological evidence that modern Navajos are descended from the builders or original occupants of the cliffdwellers?  

Walking with George

Feb 14th - 14:04pm | Bob Pahre

Thank you, A.J. When thinking about history, I like to check in on what contemporaries said. W.E.B. DuBois's essay on Booker T. Washington, some of which would also apply to George Washington Carver, is relevant for that kind of thinking.

Feb 9th - 10:18am | A. Johnson

Nice article.   History is so fascinating, and exasperating.   One must always view history through the lens of the times--not OUR times, but the times in which the events occurred.   Thanks for the story.  

The Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks

Feb 13th - 16:51pm | Kurt Repanshek

Sorry Bill, it's only available as an app.

Feb 13th - 16:42pm | Bill B

This link comes up as not available... any update on where to get this besides on my phone?

Get Your Free National Parks "Owner's Guide" From The National Park Foundation

Feb 13th - 12:46pm | Amber L Walton

Road trip

Operational Changes At Bent's Old Fort Draw Concerns

Feb 13th - 09:39am | Twinmom

I understand safety concerns, but what has been extremely frustrating is the complete lack of TRANSPARENCY in making the changes. It has only been AFTER changes were made and AFTER  the public outcry, that any statement was made by park administration.

Feb 6th - 16:36pm | Say What?

This is the exact mochismo mindset that alllows for serious accidents and what evidence do you have to show that your statments are true? Nooone hurt, animal injury-in the ammount of tie the site has been open I find it very unlikley.... 

Study Says Barely Half Of Americans Get Outside For Recreation

Feb 10th - 17:23pm | charles klein

a lot of what was said about working so many hours dose have a lot to do with outside our homes people get tired and when they get home they want to sit down and rest or even go to bed some times

National Park Service Raises Prospect Of Reopening Businesses Along Blue Ridge Parkway

Feb 9th - 17:09pm | Ben Thompson

I'm pretty sure there's no way an individual,  or corporation, could run any of these properties and see a profit at the end of the year. The cost of doing business within the rules and regulations of the nps, along with finding reliable employees within the remote areas of which they are located, would be near impossible nowadays. 

Feb 7th - 14:27pm | Ben of Virginia

I loved the Otter Creek Restaurant. It was next to a stream and campground. It was nice to go camping and have breakfast at the restaurant. I sure miss it.

Most Overlooked National Park System Units

Feb 9th - 15:54pm | Erik Greve, The...

Yes, a fascinating place!

Feb 9th - 15:53pm | Erik Greve, The...

Yes, a fascinating place!

National Park Service Proposes To Replace Aged Railroad Ballast Bridge At Grand Canyon

Feb 9th - 10:21am | A. Johnson

Not sure why we have to have all this paperwork just to replace a simply bridge.   Sure, ensure the histoical accuracy as best as possible while getting the job done, but it's just not a NATIONAL concern deserving of a EIS-type  review/treatment.

National Park Service Considering New North Entrance Road For Yellowstone

Feb 8th - 20:18pm | bob1492

Pancho, you're trying too hard.

Feb 7th - 12:20pm | A. Johnson

 National parks are supposed to be preserved unimpared for future generations.   No, that's never been the mission of the NPS.  It might be YOUR desired mission, but it is not OUR collective mission or vision for our nat'l pakrs.

Feb 7th - 10:20am | Parkie2008

Pancho,

Feb 7th - 09:58am | Kurt Repanshek

OK, we're moving on from this conversation over politics. I think the bases have been covered.

Feb 7th - 09:22am | John C Armstrong

When will one of these articels have a map showing the three I work at Roosevelt Lodge since 2015 and was there during the June 2022 Flood. Also wonder what is the plan to rebuild the Lost Lake Trail that started behind Roosevelt Lodge.  

Feb 7th - 09:06am | Pancho

"Sorry, Poncho, I was referring to YOUR neighborhood, wherever that is. How about a moratorium on road construction EVERYWHERE?  Would you be willing to live with that?" This is whataboutism and a reductio ad absurdum. Please stick to the topic, Mr. Dalton, and end your attempts to distract away from the subject: roads in national parks.

Feb 6th - 22:13pm | Mike B.

Well said, Lee.

Feb 6th - 19:27pm | Lee Dalton

Sorry, Poncho, I was referring to YOUR neighborhood, wherever that is.  How about a moratorium on road construction EVERYWHERE?  Would you be willing to live with that? You also posted :  (And even if cars are electric, building them and mining rare earth metals also emits CO2, and a sizable portion of the electricity they run on is generated by coal-fired powerplants.)

Feb 6th - 17:10pm | Pancho

"I bet that if the road from your house to your favorite grocery store or other places you need or want to travel to was closed instead of being properly maintained, you'd be singing a different song."

Feb 6th - 14:25pm | Vic

When in the history of earth has the climate NOT been in a constant state of change? 

Pruning the Parks: Millerton Lake Recreation Area, 1945-1957

Feb 7th - 22:25pm | Katie Squire

Carla Wittenburg-Porath,

The SWEAT Crew Keep the Appalachian National Scenic Trail in Shape Through Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Feb 7th - 18:42pm | Leland Barkell

I'd love to be a part of the crew. Experienced long distance hiker. I have carried 60lb + many times. I consider working as my vacation.

Fish And Wildlife Service Declines To Place Gray Wolves Under ESA, Opts For National Recovery Plan

Feb 6th - 22:09pm | Mike B.

Is this the same Wyoming wildlife department that fought tooth and nail to prevent the reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone?  And which classifies wolves in most of Wyoming as predators that can be shot at any time without a license?

Mammoth Cave Continues To Surprise With Fossilized Sharks

Feb 6th - 12:31pm | Mike Huggins

Follow-up to my earlier comment today. In case of any feedback to my comment, I forgot my email address: [email protected] My "bonafides" (as George Clooney said it in "Oh Brother Where Art Thou"): https://www.flickr.com/photos/79475348@N03/albums/72157644301124792/

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

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

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

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

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.