You are here

Home

All Recent Comments

Alaska Regional Director Responds To Outrage Over Katmai Preserve Bear Hunt

Oct 12th - 11:52am | Bob Jackson

Yet another ignorant comment, made by someone who does not even begin to address the issue here. Please Mr PhD the issue isn't about thinning the population of bears and I'm surprized that this is the only comment you can make. If you truly have a PhD you should have understood what the real issue is? You're damn right people are getting emotional!!

Oct 12th - 11:21am | Gerald

I am satisfied with Ms. Blaszak's explanation of the parameters of federal jusidiction and justification for yearly thinning. Her science is quite sound and well reasoned. It is quite obvious that many of the commenters on this page are getting way too emotional...hunts have taken place for years. These bears will continue to thrive in Katmai thanks to sound mangement practices.

Oct 12th - 10:42am | bob Jackson

Yes!! Ms Blaszak's comments really read as if she's only addressing the legal rights of the hunters massacreing the bears on Katmai. In fact her entire comment seems nothing but pro hunter jargon however it comes to no surprise that yet another politician would once again completely avoid the real issue..

Oct 12th - 10:04am | Lone Hiker

Ms. Blaszak-

Oct 12th - 10:03am | Anonymous

Ms. Blaszak, I cannot agree with your holistic assessment on the environmental impact studies on the bear population in Alaska. I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something fundamentally missing in these studies. Maybe some of you conversation biologist up in Alaska can see if these studies are skewed intentionally.

Oct 12th - 09:31am | Bob Jackson

I totally agree with BIN and Texas 2-Step. Lets go back to the video and think about what is going on when the guide says "look at the bears, they just don't even care that we're walking right up to them" BLAM!!! Ther're times when it's not even possible to walk up too an animal in a petting zoo?

Oct 12th - 08:43am | Texas 2-Step

Isn't Katmai big enough that hunting could be restricted to the less-visited part, where the wildlife would not be so accustomed to humans.

Oct 12th - 07:26am | BIN

Having spent a few days at the Brooks Lodge this summer, I am astonded by the inhuman, barbaric ruling allowing bear hunting in Katmai NP. Are we so reactionary that we have to allow grown men to use bears as target practice for a trophy on their wall.

Oct 11th - 21:32pm | Bob Jackaon

I appreciate Ms. Blaszak taking the time to respond to the outcry of opposition on the issue of bear hunting in Katmai. I believe she mentioned bear viewers have only increased in numbers over a few years, which sounds abit like they don't matter as much but bear hunters have been legally hunting bears for decades as if that gives the bear hunters automatic tenure!!

Yellowstone Snowmobiles: Has Apathy Arrived?

Oct 12th - 11:42am | Gerald

Apathy? No, it is just realizing that just as in bear hunts to manage same, snowmobiles in Yellowstone is just one more issue that illustrates that there is way too much junk science with a heaping portion of too much emotion out there being spewed by environmental extremists.

Oct 11th - 12:53pm | Frank N

Mookie: the point is that reducing the max. from 720 to 540 is NOT a reduction when the average is only 250. A reduction would be to make the max 240, or 200. Random: how right you are. Now they are talking about a hotel, employee housing and a wrecker station at Tower Junction! What happened to "left unimpaired for future generations"?

Oct 10th - 12:00pm | Lone Hiker

I'm not sure if it qualifies as apathy, or a momentarily disgusted expression of disbelief, culminating in the old expression most parents utter to their children at one time or another, "Just what the hell do I have to do to get through that thick skull of yours?".

Oct 9th - 22:26pm | Random Walker

"Yellowstone Snowmobiles: Has Apathy Arrived?" Arrived? With Yellowstone's continuous build up to 6 Hotels, 8 restaurants, 7 gas stations, a multitude of gift shops, 17 ATM's and many many miles of paved trails and roads I would say my apathetic view of the National Park Service has been around for quite a while.

Oct 9th - 12:29pm | Mookie

For the record, I'm against having anything greater than 0 snowmobiles in the parks.

4-Year-old Dies in Fall off South Rim of Grand Canyon

Oct 12th - 11:27am | Gerald

Cactusdar, that is one of the nicest posts I have ever read in this blog! Amen!

Oct 12th - 10:46am | Brenda

What parent has never done something stupid or careless that could have resulted in tragedy? Ever "almost" get in that car wreck that could have killed yourself or your kids? It only takes a second, folks. My heart grieves for this family. Their grief will be deep and lasting and I pray that if they have other children they manage to find joy with them in future years.

Oct 11th - 19:28pm | cactusdar

SOMETIMES, UNFORTUNATELY ACCIDENTS DO HAPPEN....... WITH THE WAY THE STATE OF THE WORLD IS GOING AND THE NEGATIVE NEWS CONSTANTLY BEING REPORTED THROUGH THE MEDIA IT'S NO WONDER THE FIRST REACTION IS ALWAYS TO PUT BLAME SOMEWHERE.

Oct 11th - 16:42pm | new orleans

my heart goes out to the poor parents.the guilt for the rest of there lives. i pray for them to god in jesus name.

Oct 11th - 11:55am | Connie

They don't have to "climb over or under" anything to fall off the edge. Most of the edge does not have a fence. I would not have let go of my child's hand for one second.

Oct 11th - 10:04am | Kath

An adult has to hold onto a 4 year old at all the Grand Canyon overlooks. Constantly and tight.

Oct 11th - 09:43am | anonymous

Isn't iit obvious? Children move fast. The poor parents will be beating themselves up over the guilt for the rest of their lives.

Oct 10th - 17:09pm | Steve

How in the hell does this stuff happen? What were the parents doing? How can anyone climb over or under and fall that distance. Anybody give a damn???

National Park Foundation to Host Conference on Philanthropy in the Parks

Oct 12th - 10:33am | Anonymous

i'll take the "corporate intrusion" if it buys things like the rockefeller parkway (or whatever it's called) between yellowstone and the tetons. AND, i'll take it if it isn't funding what they want for marketing rather than funding what the nps needs. but don't let it supplant traditional funding and turn the parks private. that would be messy.

PEER: Centennial Challenge Might Exacerbate Park Service's Backlog Woes

Oct 11th - 18:54pm | jersu

exacerbate - "to increase the severity, violence, or bitterness of; aggravate"

Oct 11th - 18:49pm | Shaun

What does exacerbate mean?

World War II Sites in the National Park System

Oct 11th - 11:56am | jersu

Thanks for the input everyone. I realize that I forgot an important NPS unit related to the war: Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site in Alabama. I've updated my list above to include that site.

Oct 11th - 11:35am | Kath

In the Fremont National Forest in Oregon, there's a monument to Elsie Mitchell and five school children. They were killed instantly in 1945 when a Japanese balloon bomb exploded. The Japanese built these bombs and set them aloft in the jet stream to drop on the United States. The goal was to cause mayhem, terror and forest fires.

Oct 11th - 08:28am | Shadow Howard

At Fort Sumter in Charleston, SC, the USS Yorktown(the 2nd one) is open to tour. I don't remember it actually being a NPS site but you pay to enter at the same place you pay to tour Fort Sumter. I spent 7 hours on it and didn't want to leave. I missed seeing Fort Sumter!

Oct 10th - 17:24pm | Anonymous

If you are in Boston the Charlestown Naval Shipyard National Park is home to the U.S.S. Cassin Young which is a WWII built destroyer. She is currently in her 1950's configuration, but she was hit by two kamikazes. The last one just two weeks before the war ended and potentially the last ship hit by a kamikaze in the Okinawa campaign.

Visitation At Olympic National Park Up Nearly 16 Percent

Oct 10th - 17:10pm | Dave O

We try to do our part. My wife is in a race with a coworker to fill up their National Parks Passport.

Oct 10th - 13:17pm | Mary

Hopefully people are realizing that nature's beauty is more fulfilling than watching TV, going to the mall, etc. Maybe these changed attitudes will help people to be much more conscientious about our wonderful scenic planet & do all that can be done to preserve it.

Katmai Bear Hunt: Outfitter Says It's No Walk in the Woods

Oct 10th - 11:32am | Bob Jackson

I have traveled to many places viewing and documenting our natural treasures. No place has touched me and my family as has Alaska and specifically the Katmai bears. The first and number one question asked is did you see a bear. I can not accept the brutal and unabated slaughter of Alskas brown bears on Katmai. This is not fair chase hunting and in fact it's not hunting at all.

Oct 10th - 09:37am | Anonymous

There is no need to have an unrestricted open hunt on the Katmai. I have been to the Katmai for the past 8 years. The number of bears decrease every year. I haven't seen a large male in several years. The polar bears attack because they have no food, this is not the case with the bears on the Katmai. They have plenty to eat, hence their size.

Oct 10th - 09:26am | Anonymous

Have you ever been to the Katmai for bear viewing? I have for the last 8 years. I have NEVER seen a roughe bear. What I do see is decreasing numbers year after year. I can't tell you the last time I saw a large male on the Katmai. These bears will allow you to come within 50 feet of them, I camped on the Katmai as do many fishermen and you know what?

Oct 10th - 09:21am | Anonymous

I have been going to the Katmai for 8 years. I did not see ANY males over the age of 4 this year. IS THAT MANAGEMENT? I am not debating hunting, I am questioning the your insistance that there is number management in that location and a fair hunt. I have camped on the Katmai and these bears are basically tame. Why not shoot animals in a zoo? The odds of a kill are about the same.

Oct 9th - 13:41pm | Lone Hiker

And to set the record straight-

Oct 9th - 10:22am | Lone Hiker

Alright boys, break it up. OF COURSE original writer wasn't talking about the IDENTICAL specimens that ate the fool and his guest. And as for the origin of my comments being somewhere between at less than the 3rd grade level, I guess that still qualifies as higher education by rifle-totin' redneck standards, so I'll bring it down a few notches so that all might understand.

Fall's Brightest Colors Descending on National Parks

Oct 10th - 08:26am | Jon - The DC Tr...

Great post on Fall colors in the National Parks, Kurt. Here's a bit more information on Skyline Drive in the Shenandoah National Park. The color's in the upper elevations of the park are just starting to explode.

The Consequences of the Legal Bear Hunt in Katmai

Oct 9th - 13:49pm | Lone Hiker

In this ever-evolving world of political correctness, it was deemed the term "killing" gave the NRA-supported hunting lobby a bad image, so it was they who placed the moniker of "harvesting" animals, acceptable due to the portion of hunting that was engaged in during the fall season. Talk about glossing over the truth.........

Oct 9th - 11:47am | Gaby Zezulka-Ma...

I believe that the statements are not anti-hunting, but are against unethical hunting. I would guess that ethical hunters enjoy hunting because it provides meat for sustenance and a challenge for the mind and body.

NPS' Washington Headquarters Supports Snowmobiles in Yellowstone

Oct 9th - 11:44am | Lone Hiker

Let's not shift the focus here........it's NOT the George and Dick Show that created this mess. It's been EVERY administration in modern times. The Washington flag wavers have, without exception, continued to disregard their constituents when it comes to the issue of public lands.

Oct 9th - 09:30am | Anonymous

This type of callus in your face attitude, "it's my way or the highway" is a typical response that the Bush administration shoves down are throats. It's this kind of response that's been handed down to every govermental agency from the White House and down to the NPS: damn public opinion, and the general consensuses, and the fervor outcry.

Oct 8th - 14:59pm | Merryland

So long as we can shoot them from the air, I'm all for it. ;-) PS -- I'm just joking -- I would only use paintballs...

Sunrise at Bryce Canyon

Oct 9th - 08:54am | marion

Thanks. If you are interested in seeing more photos I would invite you to look at: www.picasaweb.google.com/canonshooter63 Some good and some not so great photos. I'm still learning. Still think every photo I take should be perfect. Marion

Oct 9th - 08:45am | marion

Thanks for the comment. I have lived here all my life and really am just now growing to appriciate the beauty of my surroundings now that I have invested much money and time into photography.

Oct 9th - 05:27am | Brenda

Beautiful work Mr. Littlefield, I have visted there several times..ever changing..step back in time, when life was so simple or was it? Even then it was about making the best of what you have. Look forward to more photographs.

Oct 8th - 11:08am | Glenn Scofield ...

Beautiful photograph... exquisite light and composition. Makes my soul scream to be there...

Haleakala National Park Officials Institute Moratorium on Bike Tours

Oct 8th - 16:03pm | Craig McCurdy

I think if you want to ride down, you should earn it by riding up it!

Grizzly Attacks Man in Grand Teton

Oct 8th - 14:13pm | Nickerman

My wife and I had a VERY close encounter with a grizzly "cub" (had to have been at least 400 pounds) this summer while camping in the open in Coulter Bay campground. Fortunately, the bear was curious and only "sniffed" us as it was moving through the area at dawn on August 30, 2007. I awoke to a "clicking" sound on our plastic ground cloth.

Centennial Projects: Fighting Mosquitoes in Grand Teton National Park

Oct 8th - 07:52am | au79scorpion

my opinion is that they need to eliminate non native species which follow the central fly-away via "trash dumps" from Jackson hole and Cody as others in the area that allow the refuse to stay uncovered to long and etc. which give these "critters" a trail to follow from Mexico to Canada.I also agree with the fact of re-introducing more bats,purple martins and etc. to naturally fight them.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.