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Everglades, an alligator, crocodile paradise

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COOPERTOWN, Fla – Established in 1974, Everglades National Park continues to be a monumental environmental staple. Located in the South Florida, the calm-moving shallow water is known for its protected ecosystem and wildlife. Beginning near Orlando and extending across to the southern tip of the Florida peninsula, the Everglades isRead More…


Biscayne: Watery wonderland under siege

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HOMESTEAD, Fla. —The clear waters of Biscayne National Park reflected back a prism of greens and blues. Looking out into the vast area that separated the mainland from the Florida Keys, the steady hum of the boat taking passengers to Boca Chita sped along. The ornamental lighthouse at Boca ChitaRead More…


Art takes charge each fall in Zion park

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SPRINGDALE, Utah — Dramatic landscapes have inspired great art around the world. The unique scenery of America’s national parks, such as Zion National Park located near here, is no exception. National parks and great artists always have a special relationship. Artists have long painted and photographed the beautiful scenery andRead More…


Travel to park worthwhile despite anxiety

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WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. — The familiar feelings fastened to my bones and I held my breath as wheels scraped against concrete and ground shifted into air. I prayed that with each exhale, the restlessness, the panic, the thing would descend and dissolve into the night sky and not follow meRead More…


Alligators are top draw in Everglades

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FLORIDA CITY, Fla. — “Daddy look!!! There’s another alligator!” Brian Sears, age 7, shouted pointing at the rippled surface of the water at the Anhinga Trail in the Everglades National Park. Most kids, as well as adults, are excited to catch a glimpse of an alligator but Sears has grownRead More…


Parks’ volcanoes pose no imminent hazard

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The 4.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred in the western part of Yellowstone National Park caused very minimal damage, however, led outsiders to believe a volcanic eruption could take place in the park soon. The earthquake, which occurred on March 30, lead to many animals fleeing the park. Scientists and parkRead More…


Spotted owl population continues to decline

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The spotted owl population at Olympic National Park in Washington state is at its lowest yet. In the most recent “Olympic National Park: Spotted Owl Monitoring Report” conducted by biologist Scott Gremel, a total of 266,800 acres of old growth was split into 52 territories and monitored to assess howRead More…


Oil drilling threatens Everglades region

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The Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection has been under a lot of scrutiny lately after it was discovered that the Dan A. Hughes Company was conducting unauthorized drilling activities at the Collier-Hogan well. The department finalized a Consent Order with the Dan A. Hughes Co., April 8 to make sureRead More…


Native wildlife at risk at Hawai’i Volcanoes

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The Hawaiian Islands are the most geographically remote archipelago on the planet, making it the home of an impressive amount of unique animal and plant inhabitants. However, many of these native species have become endangered. At the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, a park located in Hawaii, 59 threatened plants andRead More…


Lionfish plague marine life of Biscayne Bay

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Several years after the first lionfish sighting in the Biscayne National Park area in June 2009, these threatening species remain very prevalent and a serious threat to the area’s marine life. Biscayne National Park, which is 95 percent water, is the largest marine park in the national park system. ItRead More…


Denali works to increase wolves sightings

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Those who travel to Denali National Park and Preserve with the hope of catching glimpse of wolves may end up disappointed. The park, which boasts the highest opportunity to see wolves “more than anywhere else in Alaska,” according to wildlife biologist Bridget Borg, is experiencing a decline in the sightingsRead More…


Yellowstone officials work to manage bison

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The mention of the nation’s oldest and first official national park conjures images of mountainous terrain, Old Faithful geyser and an abundance—in fact an overabundance—of bison. According to the National Parks Conservation Association based in Washington, D.C., Yellowstone is home to the largest wild, genetically pure herd of bison inRead More…