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Traveler's View | Bears Ears And Grand Staircase-Escalante Are Today's Hetch Hetchy

Early in the 20th century there was a fight over the fate of the Hetch Hetchy Valley at Yosemite National Park. Would it remain an amazing, waterfall-rimmed valley that so very well complemented the Yosemite Valley, or would it be given over to a reservoir to meet San Francisco's utilitarian needs? The battle for wildness, of course, was lost at Hetch Hetchy. Today the battle is being repeated in Utah, where wildness and sacredness at Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments are being tossed aside not so much for utilitarianism as for profiteering.

Path Of The Puma: The Remarkable Resilience Of The Mountain Lion

Bison, wolves, grizzly bears, and elk are all categorized as “charismatic megafauna.” These are animals that have popular appeal to many and are often used as symbols of wildness. Not so often mentioned under this category is the mountain lion, also known as the puma, the panther, and the cougar. And while these big cats often fly under the proverbial radar of wildlife advocates, not only are they out there, but their range is expanding and they’re showing up in some previously unlikely places.

See The Surf Scoter And Other Amazing Ducks At Gateway NRA

The Mandarin duck seen recently paddling in ponds in Central Park in New York City brought much excitement to New Yorkers and on the Internet. But have you ever seen surf scoter, a sea duck with a clown-like face? They can be seen at Jamaica Bay at Gateway National Recreation Area in the New York-New Jersey metropolitan area.

Photography In The National Parks | The Armchair Photography Guide To Bryce Canyon National Park – Part 3

If you want to capture great images yet cannot, or do not wish to, venture very far from your vehicle or lodging, then you've probably been following the Armchair Photography Guides for national parks that National Parks Traveler contributing photographer Rebecca Latson has visited. In her final Part 3 of this Armchair Photography Guide for Bryce Canyon National Park, Rebecca covers portions of Fairyland Canyon and Fairyland Loop Trail, complete with suggestions and techniques for fantastic photos in this smaller amphitheater chock-full of colorful scenery and amazing geology.

House Votes To Strip Wolves Of ESA Protections; Will Senate Follow?

Lame duck congressional sessions are pretty much a crapshoot, as the politicians rush to wrap up business and try to force through legislation that might otherwise not fly. So while there was much concern when the U.S. House of Representatives voted to remove Endangered Species Act protections from gray wolves, it's not a sure thing that the Senate will go along.