"People vandalized ancient petroglyphs in Texas' Big Bend National Park, while in California, they cut down Joshua trees in Joshua Tree National Park and used the fragile Death Valley ecosystem as a toilet when the official bathrooms were closed, said Allison Michalski, the Northern Rockies program manager with the National Parks Conservation Association. Sanitation and trash issues became so bad at California's Sequoia and Kings Canyon that both parks were forced to close."
"You can still go outside, but you need to stay on the trails and out of closed areas. If an area is closed, Cozzocreo said, it is closed for a reason. Download maps before you leave home and bring anything you might need with you. Don't take chances and keep your distance from wildlife. Emergency services in many parks will be limited, and rangers will not be collecting fees at the entrance or answering questions and educating visitors on safety."
"The government might be shut down, but national parks, forests and other public lands generally remain open. And being able to go outside - whether you want to hike, hunt elk or deer, camp or just admire the fall colors - can offer much-needed relief, especially during a time of political strife. But national parks left their gates open the last time the government shut down and sent park rangers home in late 2018, and national parks paid a high price."
National parks, forests and other public lands generally remain open during a government shutdown, but staffing reductions create significant management gaps. The 2018 shutdown left parks open while rangers were sent home, resulting in vandalism, tree cutting, and severe sanitation problems that forced some parks to close. Conservationists and wildlife managers warn that similar or worse harms could recur amid current federal workforce reductions. Visitors are advised to stay on trails, obey area closures, download maps, bring necessary supplies, and avoid wildlife. Emergency services and ranger support will be limited, and fee collection and visitor education may be suspended.
Read at High Country News
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