Gusty winds have pushed the Lone Star Fire in Yellowstone National Park to more than 800 acres, leading crews to test a sprinkler system atop the Old Faithful Inn and continue work on a plan to protect the facilities surrounding the inn.

Visits to America’s national parks (our single best source of current and historic outdoor recreation statistics) are down nearly 19% year to date and are unlikely to increase in the immediate future. But what might happen next year or beyond as the coronavirus comes under control? What guideposts might we follow? To gain a glimpse into the future of our nation’s wild lands we need only look to our recent past because, as Mark Twain allegedly quipped, “history may not repeat itself, but it often rhymes.”

An analysis of credit card data shows that while a pandemic might be sweeping the country, national parks are seen as safe havens, and their surrounding lodging and restaurant businesses are, by and large, benefiting handsomely.

An invader has managed to reach somewhat deep into New York state by swimming up the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River, where it poses a threat to native fish.