Recent Stories
Sequoia home to wide range of animals
THREE RIVERS, Calif. — As you walk through a giant forest of solemn silence, the only sound is the one coming from the crunching leaves on the floor. Suddenly, you hear it. A twig cracks and you catch the slightest glimpse of a bird’s wings flying away. After that, backRead More…
Alcatraz escape remains fascinating mystery
SAN FRANCISCO –– “Go ahead, swim!” yelled Commandant Col. G. Maury Cralle to scheming Alcatraz inmates when he received word of a rumored mass escape in 1926. Cralle’s sarcastic encouragement forced dire reality to hit desperate Alcatraz inmates considering escape: it would take a one and a half mile swimRead More…
Grant Tree, Grove popular with visitors
THREE RIVERS, Calif. — Picture a 27-story building that is wider than a three-lane highway. Welcome to Grant Grove, home of General Grant Tree. “Forty five-room houses could be built from the wood of this tree,” said Park Ranger Frank Helling. In addition to this massive tree, there are aRead More…
Four feet of trouble for Everglades wildlife
SHARK VALLEY, Fla.— There’s a new threat crawling around the swamps and sawgrass marshes of the Everglades. As if the ecosystem wasn’t fragile enough, irresponsible pet owners have given the national park another gift that keeps on giving: the Argentine black and white tegu. The South American lizard (usually pronouncedRead More…
Climbing giant sequoias not for everyone
THREE RIVERS, Calif. — Upon my arrival to Sequoia National Park, I was completely awestruck by the giant trees that stood before me, or rather, that I stood before. After picking my jaw off the ground, naturally my first thought was, “Can I climb one?” Turns out, the answer wasRead More…
Biscayne gives visitors nature, adventure
HOMESTEAD, Fla.— You are sitting in a rocking chair, on a porch that wraps around a big, wooden house. You have a view of the vast ocean in front of you. It is warm outside, but it is not a sweltering heat as the ocean breeze provides a smooth windRead More…
Riding under a full moon in Shark Valley
SHARK VALLEY, Fla. — Biking the 15-mile Shark Valley loop in the Everglades National Park is probably something visitors and South Florida residents will do during the day, but biking the route under a full moon is an experience not many have the opportunity to try. The majority of visitorsRead More…
Predator control controversial in Alaska
After a survey conducted last spring in Denali National Park and Preserve, biologists found that the wolf population in the area was drastically decreasing. It was the fourth lowest count found in the past 30 years. In total, there were only 51 wolves counted, among 13 packs in the entireRead More…
Climate changes takes toll on Glacier Park
How would you feel if you saw your favorite park deteriorating before your very eyes due to the change in our climate? The glaciers of Glacier National Park are melting at such a rapid pace that will ultimately change the entire scenery and imagery of the park within a fewRead More…
Endangered redwood restoration difficult
ARCATA, Calif— The redwood forest, despite being populated by the largest trees on Earth, feels surprisingly cozy. Everything is a lush green or deep black brown and the air smells fresh and clean. It’s a far cry from Miami, with its bright sun, sand and vibrant city vibes. In NorthernRead More…
Restoration slowly comes to the Everglades
Since the early 1900s, the State of Florida has invested billions of dollars in changing and then in restoring the Everglades water flow. The impacts of climate change and sea level rise pose a challenge to the Everglades ecosystem and add urgency to accelerate the restoration of freshwater before anyRead More…
Chronic wasting disease threatens park’s elk
After peaking in the early 2000s, the number of elk in Rocky Mountain National Park has returned to a healthy range. The Elk and Vegetation Management Plan was implemented in 2008 to reduce the impact of elk overpopulation on vegetation and animal communities in the park. “The importance of implementingRead More…