2007 Q & A
June 10, 2007
What measures do park rangers take to lessen the impact of human activity on the park? Alan, Williams High School, Alamance Co.
Rangers travel the park, frequenting areas known for human-animal encounters. Their first priority is to clear traffic to lessen the chance that a vehicle will hit an animal or human (who is not paying attention to traffic). Rangers also educate people about the animals, respond to reports of human-animal encounters and close off habitats that could be damaged by too much human contact.
Do the animals in Yellowstone receive names from the park rangers? students from Mount Airy Middle School, Surry Co.
No, the park rangers do not name the animals. Often, park animals are given numbers to help identify them if they are being studied. In order to keep a scientific perspective, rangers and biologists respect the “wildness” of the animals.
How has Global Warming affected Yellowstone National Park? Joshua, Topsail Middle School, Pender Co.
Park Ranger Sean Miculka told us that due to global warming, larger populations of pine bark beetles can survive the milder winters. These beetles are killing many of the whitebark pine trees, which produce nuts that are a vital part of grizzly bear diets.
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