national parks

An entrance to Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Tennessee was vandalized last weekend with the skin of a black bear and a sign that read "Here To The Lake Black Lives Don't Matter."

National

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Vandalized With 'Black Lives Don't Matter' Sign

1:17pm September 24, 2020

by Laurel Wamsley

A black bear skin was also left draped on a park entrance in Tennessee. Investigators are offering a reward for information on the incident, which a ranger called "particularly egregious."

Yellowstone National Park begins a phased reopening Monday, with the park's Wyoming entrances slated to open for day use only.

National

Yellowstone National Park Set To Reopen — But With Caveats

7:01am May 17, 2020

by Kirk Siegler

There is growing economic pressure to reopen national parks and ease travel restrictions even as many states are still seeing a rise in coronavirus cases.

An e-bike resembles a regular bicycle, with its batteries and electric motor integrated into the bike's frame. Enthusiasts see e-bikes on national park trails as a great thing, but some traditional riders and environmentalists see big problems ahead.

Environment

National Parks Trying To Get A Handle On E-Bikes

5:43pm October 21, 2019

by Mark Arehart

Electric assisted bicycles are on trails in the national parks. Enthusiasts think that's a great thing, but some traditional riders and environmentalists see big problems ahead.

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is bringing staff back to keep open dozens of wildlife refuges including Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Comanche County, Okla., despite the government shutdown.

Interior Restaffs Some Wildlife Refuges During Shutdown

8:08pm January 09, 2019

by Nathan Rott

Furloughed staff will return to 38 protected sites around the country. Critics are panning the move as a way to avoid bad optics during the political tussle.

During the shutdown, visitors walk and stand atop rock formations at Joshua Tree National Park on Friday.

National Park Service Plans To Expand Operations Amid Government Shutdown Degradation

10:08pm January 06, 2019

by Amanda Morris

Volunteers and a skeletal staff have maintained sites in some parks. In others, the amount of damage and trash triggered an unprecedented move from the National Park Service to return more workers.

Between 20,000 to 30,000 people visit Yellowstone National Park each month in the winter, many to snowmobile the park's groomed roads and trails. To keep the park open during the shutdown, local hotels have teamed up with concessionaires to pay park emplo

Private Companies Are Paying To Keep Roads Groomed, Bathrooms Cleaned In Yellowstone

6:25pm January 04, 2019

by Eric Whitney

Because of the partial government shutdown, some national parks are closing because employees aren't working and both trashcans and toilets are overflowing. Yellowstone has found a work-around.

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As of Wednesday, you won't be able to ride this bald eagle at the carousel at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, D.C. The zoo and Smithsonian museums closed to the public because of the partial government shutdown.

Unexpected Ways The Government Shutdown Might Affect You

9:32am January 02, 2019

by Cat Schuknecht

In the second week of the federal shutdown, consumers might notice fallout in unexpected places, from poop in national parks to closed museums.

A box of trash overflows near the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., this week as some government services have been stopped during a partial government shutdown.

Fallout Grows As Partial Government Shutdown Drags On Into New Year

11:45am December 29, 2018

by Scott Horsley

There's no end in sight for the spending standoff that has forced the shutdown of about a quarter of the federal government. The longer the shutdown continues, the more services will be affected.

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A pay station at Rocky Mountain National Park is closed on Thursday in Estes Park, Colo. Many parks remain open but unstaffed during the partial shutdown of the federal government.

National Parks? Many Are Open During The Shutdown. Their Bathrooms? Not So Much

2:56pm December 28, 2018

by Laurel Wamsley

Some state governments and tourism boards have been using their own funds to keep the parks open. Elsewhere, open but unstaffed parks have become something of a free-for-all.

Slaying At Mountain Inn Off Blue Ridge Parkway Rattles Seasonal Workers

11:14am July 27, 2018

by Associated Press