You are here

Home » National Parks Traveler

It's Tarantula Season At Bandelier National Monument

It's about this time of year, every year, that tarantulas start making themselves known in Bandelier National Monument and other parts of New Mexico. Every autumn, mature male tarantulas start out on their quest to find a mate. This exposes them to many dangers, from hawks and skunks, which want to eat them, to fast-moving cars, to people who just find them creepy and may think they should be squashed.

Washington Monument To Reopen To The Public On October 1

The Washington Monument is expected to reopen to the public on October 1 at 9 a.m. after a six-month closure. The monument will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a new set of safety and cleaning procedures to keep staff and visitors safe from the spread of infectious diseases. Tickets will be available online starting September 30.

Study Examines Recreational Impacts On Wildlife

A Canadian study into how different forms of recreation affect wildlife indicates that animals avoid mountain bikers more than hikers, equestrians, and even motorized travel. That said, the researchers also noted that they're not sure how far wildlife will go out of its way to avoid these recreational users, as their monitoring was restricted to established trails in South Chilcotin Mountains Provincial Park in southwestern British Columbia.

Fat Bear Week At Katmai National Park And Preserve Starts This Week

No capes are needed for these furry superheroes. They may not be faster than a speeding bullet, but despite the weight they are carrying, these burly beasts can still run faster than most humans. These brown bears’ power of packing on the pounds gets them through the winter and able to live to compete another year. With or without the lasso of truth around us, our story remains the same: fat bears = healthy bears.