| Page 1491 | National Parks Traveler

Controlled hunting or "culling" of animals doesn't work. That was proven in Yellowstone, where elk numbers were kept artificially low for years through "culling". Yet the aspen, cottonwoods, beaver, songbirds, willows etc. did not make a comeback until the wolves were returned. Even when elk numbers were lower than they are now. Why? Because it is not just elk numbers, it is elk HABITS.

Jul 16th - 00:18am | Anonymous

As I understand it, Olympic Nat'l. Park is pretty remote. That being the case, maybe some of the ranchers near Yellowstone could be mollified by transporting some wolves to your neck of the woods. Lots of places, livestock owners don't like the wolves, I know the actual numbers prove them wrong, and so do you, but it's still a tough sell. Carry on, then.

Jul 13th - 15:54pm | Shawn

Both of the comments do hold important issues in preserving the ecosystem. There are times that both are needed to bring an deterorating ecosystem back into check. Hunting by it's self isn't the answer, you need the balance of predator/prey to keep things under control after the ecosystem has been restored.

Jul 13th - 09:36am | Anonymous

Need a better predator/pray balance...not control hunting! Keep the damn hunters and ranchers out of the equation and let nature do it's job.

Jul 13th - 08:07am | RicBarnett

Replace wolves with controlled hunting.

Proposed Redesignation of Golden Gate National Recreation Area to Golden Gate National Parks Worries Dog Walkers

Jul 16th - 14:19pm | Bob Janiskee

Steve, I've visited GGNRA many times over the past 27 years. During the course of numerous conversations with rangers, visitors, and Bay Area residents (including the occasional nude walker I've encountered while doing the B2B) I've come to know a thing or two about The City, GGNRA, and GGNRA visitors.

Jul 16th - 12:39pm | Steve Sayad

"Voice control" is specifically defined in the GGNRA's 1996 Compendium Amendment. Essentially, the immediate response of a pet to a command. Have a read; it's a public document.

Jul 16th - 09:01am | Anonymous

Bob, just off the cuff, since your a former college geography professor and national park historian, how would you rate the best Director for the Dept. of Interior and the best National Park Director...and under which President. Using your own judgment in what they have accomplished and the legacy they left behind. You can suggest the worst as well. Just curious how you would select this.

Jul 16th - 05:20am | Bob Janiskee

Beamis: Whether in war or peace, good times or bad, Congress should always find the time and wherewithal to attend to the essential needs of the National Park System. Think what kind of National Park System we'd have if Congress dealt with national park issues only after solving all of the country's "important" problems.

Jul 15th - 20:30pm | Lone Hiker

Beamis- It's election year. 'Nuf said? Barky- Exactly why [Nancy Pelosi] is commonly referred to as Ms. Dangerfield.......she gets and deserves NO respect. Of course, one can't work on anything of substance that one can't think of, now can they? Prime example of why our political system as currently constructed and staffed is a total disgrace.

Jul 15th - 19:06pm | Bob Janiskee

Mike, I'm afraid that I'm not much help. Sandy and I are cat people. Cats don't listen, and leashes aren't relevant to their way of thinking about the world and their position in it. Perhaps there's a dog whisperer out there who could help sort out this voice command thing?

Jul 15th - 18:55pm | MM

Hello:

Jul 15th - 18:32pm | Bob Janiskee

Beamis, as near as I can determine, the rationale for the redesignation is "to elevate the park's status."

Jul 15th - 17:46pm | Barky

We have a country in the midst of a housing crisis, a fiscal crisis, an exchange rate crisis, an energy crisis, and a banking crisis. We're in the midst of a war nobody likes, the real enemy has slipped out of our grasp, and we're rattling sabers with someone else.

Jul 15th - 12:55pm | Bob Janiskee

MRC, I certainly didn't mean to imply that the dog walking issue was the most important of the managerial issues that are likely to get special attention when this redesignation occurs. That said, there isn't any question that Bay Area dog owners consider the off-leash privilege to be something worth fighting for.

Jul 15th - 12:47pm | MRC

The late George Hartzog, director of the NPS from 1964-1972 said in an interview about the history of the NPS: "If you manage Lake Mead like Yellowstone, someone will want to manage Yellowstone like Lake Mead." He strictly distinguished between natural units, historical units and recreational units in the National Park System.

Jul 15th - 11:23am | Nick Mojave

With the organic act being interpreted as it's interpreted right now, it's time the NPS have all recreation areas pulled from its jurisdiction. Either upgrade them to something else, or release them to an agency that can allow for recreation first, natural preservation second.

National Park Quiz 11: Blue and Gray

Jul 16th - 12:38pm | CivilWarBuff

Hey Bob-- GREAT quiz! I really enjoyed taking it. Just one thing--the designation for Harpers Ferry is not Military Park, it's Historical Park. Lots of other history happened there in addition to the Civil War which the Park Service wants to recognize. Thanks!

Studies Show Bear Spray More Effective Than Guns Against Grizzlies

Jul 16th - 10:51am | Frank N

"For some bears, like those protecting a nearby carcass, the (bear) spray may not do much good. But it's unlikely to hurt anything either. "In no case did use of the spray appear to be responsible for increasing the extent of injury," ....researchers found.

Jul 15th - 18:56pm | Shawn

Montanan, thanks for your imput, I have to admit that I never thought about the affects of wind, and would sure hate to get the spray on me!!! I have heard that bear spray does work, but under what conditions, I don't know. I myself would like to carry both. I am a gun owner, and I do know that your chances of hitting a charging bear with either the spray or handgun isn't in your favor.

Jul 15th - 15:22pm | John

I think there is a selection problem in the study. Most people are only going to fire a gun if they really feel threatened. I'm not as sure about the pepper spray (see the last paragraph). So the gun defense cases are going to be serious ones while the peper spray defense cases may not be, which could explain the different results as well as the differences in effectiveness.

Black Bears in Denali, Grand Teton National Parks Killed

Jul 15th - 12:24pm | Anonymous

We have stayed at the Colter Bay campground for four nights right after this happened. We have been given instruction on what not to do with the food and other odorous stuff and there are signs and notes everywhere, on the picnic table, in the restrooms, EVERYWHERE. There are also food storage boxes provided per every loop, sinks for gray water and proper garbage containers.

Interior Officials Want to Allow Concealed Carry in the National Parks

Jul 15th - 12:09pm | Anonymous

Lone Hiker, excellent points and your arguments are well structured. It's always a pleasure to read your blogs.

Jul 15th - 11:19am | Lone Hiker

Scotty, in many of your arguments you're absolutely correct. The real point of contention seems to center around each individual's definition of the term "rights". Where do one person's rights terminate and how far do an individual's liberties extend? Many of us gun owners are responsible in firearms management.

Jul 14th - 22:36pm | Anonymous

Scotty, and all due respect to you as well! The NRA does have a hidden agenda that weasels right into the National Parks. Why be dumb about it and why then would seven past National Park Directors oppose the conceal weapons legislation? I have a gut feeling, that those who are in favor of carrying conceal handguns (weapons) into the National Parks have some affiliation with the NRA.

Jul 14th - 18:22pm | Scotty

Anon -

Jul 14th - 16:04pm | Shawn

This is one topic that can be argued over for ever. There will always be people who don't believe in guns as well as people that do. There will always be people that follow the rules and those that don't. As I stated earlier, you will always have guns in the park, because the dishonest people don't care about the law, and will continue to carry them into the park.

Jul 14th - 14:45pm | Anonymous

Yeah Scotty, tell me what's the NRA's masterplan for this country? It first starts with fear mongering! Besides Scotty, this isn't a subject that I wish to dwell on, give credence or provide propaganda flak for the NRA. It is an NRA issue! Simply because it touches the very heart of the subject that's hell bent on fear mongering. GUNS OUT OF THE PARKS!

Jul 14th - 14:02pm | Scotty

Anon- In response to your comment.....

Jul 13th - 11:32am | Kath

The NPS will not have the final say on this. The Supreme Court will. The recent Heller decision said that a complete ban on firearms can be a violation of the Second Amendment.

Jul 12th - 20:30pm | Anonymous

The NRA sure knows when to pile on a blog! I guess the gun craze issue will be with us until the NRA gets everything it wants...lock, stock and barrel!

Jul 12th - 17:41pm | Anonymous

I don't understand why I should "need" to carry a concealed handgun into a park. Why do my second amendment rights disappear when I enter a park? Anywhere that I go is a place that people with evil intent may also go, so why is there this illusion that NP's are completely safe? Hikers go missing and are found murdered every year.

Summertime: What National Parks Are On Your "Must Visit" List?

Jul 15th - 10:13am | Kurt Repanshek

Glacier Boy, you're dead-on concerning Glacier's possibilities. Again, this list wasn't intended to be an all-inclusive "A-list" of what's available in the park system. Too, one of the conflicts writers deal with is talking about their favorite haunts -- places that have been overlooked by others, and so remain as close to pristine as possible, become overrun.

Jul 15th - 10:05am | Glacier Boy

And yet on the backpacking area, you omit the perennial favorite of Glacier National Park. If it not the top park named for backpacking by the pundits such as Backpacker magazine, it will always be in the top five.

Jul 14th - 17:15pm | Kurt Repanshek

Dapster, read a little more closely. CAHA was mentioned. Just not in detail.

Jul 14th - 15:24pm | Dapster

I noticed that the Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area was conspicuosly absent from the "Beachcombing" section of your article.

Study Claims National Park Service is Failing to Protect Biscayne National Park's Coral Reefs

Jul 14th - 21:35pm | Anonymous

Painful, but necessary; closure of the park. Re-open as a wildlife sanctuary.

Jul 14th - 09:49am | Anonymous

You see this beautiful marine sanctuary, a splendor of magnificent beauty slowly dying at are doorsteps. Yet, the Bush & Cheney administration wants to drill off the coast of Florida and California for more oil without a clue how precious our ocean resources are.

How To Buy National Park-Related Gifts Without Leaving Home

Jul 14th - 17:19pm | Alan Esovski

On May 14th I saw a post regarding an american company, Inner Peace Designs , who makes National Park pewter ornaments. I recently contacted them to see if any new items were being made soon. They informed me that a new design of Mount Rushmore was in the works and would be available for purchase on their website and at area stores at the park.

Park History: Would There Have Been a Mesa Verde National Park Without Virginia McClurg?

Jul 14th - 16:14pm | Bob Janiskee

Thanks for the helpful comments, Mary. As you doubtlessly surmised, I am very appreciative of the work that Virginia McClurg did in behalf of Mesa Verde preservation. It's a shame that historians haven't treated her more kindly. As for my travels, well, I don't get around very much these days.

Jul 14th - 15:33pm | Mary l

Hi Bob,

Comment Period Reopens on Whether National Park Visitors Can Arm Themselves

Jul 14th - 12:26pm | Parks Visitor

Lots of misinformed commentary here by the folks who refuse to believe that unarmed parks visitors (in isolated areas or otherwise) are potential victims of those with criminal intent. In other words "it won't happen to me". That is a classic victim's mentality.

Another Black Bear Put Down, This One In Yellowstone National Park

Jul 13th - 23:03pm | jsmacdonald

And an interesting twist on this! 7/14/08 Park: Tourists not to blame in bear death (by Noah Brenner Jackson Hole News and Guide)

Jul 13th - 20:51pm | jsmacdonald

I just got back from a weekend in Yellowstone. One of the sad things we saw was a coyote persistently looking through a picnic area in search of human scraps. Despite our efforts to keep him away by scowling at him, he continued on throughout the picnic area to another group of tourists. The tourists there had a dog. They were encouraging their dog to get into a fight with the coyote.

Jul 12th - 17:01pm | little bear

Mother Bear is sick, so Father Bear saw no alternative but to seek food in other places, a forest fire destroyed their food source last year, and fishing is slow as well. Baby Bear is hungry and Mother is getting weaker. They said their goodbye

Jul 12th - 10:13am | Anonymous

Right on. If we have the money to build roads,home's, and park's in the wilderness, we should be able to protect the life of wilderness. This should be part of a permit to build. Thou shall not kill. Relocate,Relocate, as many times as it take's or keep people out, not the creature's. We can move a lot easier than they can.

Bush Administration Plan to Remove Wolf Protections Draws Criticism

Jul 13th - 20:34pm | Shawn

As for the question of who counts the wolves, one answer would be a wildlife manager working in that area. As for the how do they count them, well, there are several different ways and it's a little to hard to explain. The only reason I know about them is from a wildlife/ forestry conservation course that I took, and from what I studied, the results should be accurate.

Groups Sue Park Service Over ORV Use in Big Cypress National Preserve

Jul 13th - 18:34pm | Hugo H.

I have been riding ORV in the cypress for years and i have felt both sides of idiousy in the park from both sides of the issue. i have on occasion picked up trash while riding, mainly beer cans. on my way out i was stopped with several cans old, dirty, sun faded cans. when i was stopped and told i was going to be given a open container ticket for every can on my bike!

Should Yellowstone National Park's Elk Herds Be Culled to Fight Brucellosis?

Jul 12th - 08:45am | B Howell

http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/07/12/opinion/guest/40-habi... Interesting letter to the editor from a very good group who seems to share my beliefs concerning wildlife and wilderness.

Man Bitten at Saguaro National Park by Gila Monster

Jul 12th - 08:19am | Anonymous

I have to agree, the guys a dumb***. Some people may think that you should give the man a break, WELL who is giving the animals a break??? I'm sorry for this homeless man that was off his meds( I'm glad the doctar diagnosed this for us). Perhaps in the future he will not listen to the gila monster when he wants to be his friend.

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