The Sunshine State is in the process of approving a proposal that would create an annual hunt to cull black bear populations. The three-week hunt, to take place in December, would be the first such event in a decade. A chaotic 2015 hunt was stopped early after over 300 bears were killed in just two days. More than half of the killed bears were females, and a fifth of those were lactating, meaning they likely had cubs depending on them for survival.

The proposal to reintroduce bear hunting this year was given preliminary approval by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in a May hearing, and is set to be voted on during a final hearing in August. The hunt would take place from December 6 to 28, and hunters would participate via a lottery-style permitting process. The permits would allow for a total of 187 bears to be 鈥渉arvested鈥� in four hunting zones around the state. Under the , up to six dogs could be used in each hunt, and bears could also be hunted at game feeding stations.

According to the FWC鈥檚 , the state鈥檚 black bear population currently sits at approximately 4,050, up from near-extinction in the 1970s. Bear hunting was legal in Florida from the 1930s until 1994, but in the past three decades, the only hunt held was the truncated one in 2015. Currently, Florida is one of only six states in the U.S. that has a resident black bear population but does not allow hunting to manage the population. Of those six states鈥攚hich also include Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, Ohio, and Connecticut鈥擣lorida鈥檚 bear population is by far the largest.

鈥淲hen we look at game species across North America, there’s not a single game species that has gone extinct or come close through regulated hunting,鈥� George Warthen, the agency’s chief conservation officer, . 鈥淚nstead, we see more money, more attention and a lot more benefits for that animal. And this can be a tough conversation to have. And so the why, for Florida, becomes we’re one of the only states that is not participating in regulated bear hunting in states that have abundant bear populations.鈥�

The timing of the hunt, in December, when most females are in their dens, is reportedly intended to reduce the killing of females and prevent orphaned cubs this time around. The funds that are generated from application and permit sales鈥攁 permit will cost $100 for Florida residents and $300 for non-residents鈥攁re to be sent to the State Game Trust Fund and used for wildlife conservation.

In an exhaustive on the FWC website, the agency addresses a number of concerns about the upcoming potential bear hunt, noting that, although there is no cap on the number of female bears that can be hunted under the provision, the total allotment of 187 bears was specifically chosen because that is the maximum number of female bears that could be killed without resulting in a negative population growth rate. Therefore, even if every single bear killed in the proposed hunt was a female, populations would remain stable, according to the FWC site.

The FWC also addressed the controversial results of the hunt ten years ago, noting changes in the structure this time around. In the previous hunt, 3,776 permits were sold, but the 鈥渉arvest objective鈥� was only 320 bears. The FWC explained that this system, while still allowing them to keep hunting rates within their target range, inadvertently 鈥減ut pressure on hunters to harvest the first bear they encountered in the field.鈥� Essentially, 3,776 hunters were all competing to kill bears as quickly as possible, because they all knew that there were only 320 bears that could be hunted before the hunt was closed.

Under the new proposal, the FWC would only sell 187 permits in the first place, so everyone who received a permit could be selective over the three-week period.鈥� This is also the train of thought behind allowing the use of hunting dogs and the killing of bears at game feeding stations. Both tactics, although controversial, would 鈥渁llow hunters time to be more selective about which bear they take鈥� and avoid targeting females who could be raising cubs.

Black bears were protected under Florida state law until 2012, when scientists determined their populations had recovered enough from the 1970s lows to no longer be threatened by extinction. However bear hunting remains a controversial subject in Florida, particularly after the 2015 cull. A survey the following year鈥攖he results of which were included in the FWC proposal鈥攆ound that residents were in close contention about the issue. Roughly 47 percent of those surveyed supported the idea, and 43 percent opposed it. When the same respondents were asked if they would support bear hunting if it were compatible with maintaining healthy bear numbers, however, those in favor increased to 62 percent.

Still, the FWC website received over 13,000 comments about the potential 2025 bear hunt, and around three-quarters of them were opposed to the idea. The agency’s position is that, sooner or later, the growing bear population is going to have to be checked. 鈥淲hile all wildlife species, theoretically, will reach some population level that triggers a decline, black bear populations have not reached levels where self-regulation has been exhibited anywhere in North America,鈥� the FWC says. 鈥淩ather, as bear numbers reach high enough levels, human presence can begin to influence [them].鈥�

Florida reports an average of 191 bears are already killed each year as a result of human interaction鈥攕uch as vehicle strikes, required euthanization due to habituation, and illegal hunting. 鈥淥nce there are enough bears in suitable habitats, bear presence will increase in marginal habitats (e.g., neighborhoods), which increases the likelihood of human-bear conflicts and the subsequent risk to public safety, as well as safety for the bears.鈥�

The number of bear-human interactions in Florida has increased dramatically since the turn of the century, as both bear and human populations have climbed. The first fatal bear attack in state history occurred last year. (An 89-year-old man and his dog were killed near Naples.)

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The newest attraction at Yellowstone National Park is ice-blue, steaming hot, and about the size of a Jacuzzi.

According to the a new hot spring has appeared in Yellowstone. First discovered in April by a satellite, the pool is believed to have formed on Christmas Day, 2024, and steadily grown throughout 2025.

The new pool, which has yet to be named, is around 13 feet wide and a foot deep, with a water temperature of 109 degrees Fahrenheit. It is located in the park鈥檚 Porcelain Basin, a subregion of the larger Norris Geyser Basin鈥攖he hottest, oldest, and most active of Yellowstone’s thermal areas.

The scientists who discovered the new pool on April 10 noticed that it was 鈥渟urrounded by numerous small rocks up to one foot across,鈥� and that these rocks were 鈥渃overed by light-gray, fine-grained, sandy mud.鈥� Together, this is strong evidence that the pool formed as a result of a hydrothermal explosion.

But when did the event take place? According to satellite imagery, the pool was definitely not present before December 19, 2024, and it had appeared by January 6, 2025. With this date range, using an infrasound monitoring station鈥攚hich can detect low frequency acoustic energy, essentially 鈥渉earing鈥� explosions鈥攕cientists were able to determine that the pool was formed on December 25, Christmas Day.

Judging by the acoustic energy picked up by the monitoring station, they believe the thermal explosion that birthed the pool was relatively small, and that the pool grew to the size it is now over time. 鈥淚t appears that the feature formed via multiple small events that initially threw rocks and later threw silica mud a short distance, creating a small pit that became filled with silica-rich water,鈥� explained the USGS.

Yellowstone National Park is home to over 10,000 such hydrothermal features鈥攊ncluding geysers, hot springs, steam vents, and mudpots鈥攂ut although the park’s geysers erupt daily, hydrothermal explosions in hot springs are far less common, occurring only a few times per year. These explosions occur when water is superheated鈥攁bove its natural boiling point鈥攁nd then rapidly depressurized, converting from liquid to steam.

Although rare, such explosions can be dangerous. Last year, , Biscuit Basin, sent debris hundreds of feet into the air, destroying a boardwalk and closing a significant section of the park. The same pool erupted again earlier this summer.

As is the case with all hot springs, boiling pools, and geysers in Yellowstone, you don’t ever want to touch the water. The park’s rules forbid touching the pools or runoff, and swimming or soaking yourself is absolutely forbidden.

Even when they aren鈥檛 exploding, hot springs are a threat to the unwary鈥�. The temperatures in these pools routinely approach boiling. Coming into contact with water at this temperature can result in severe burns in seconds.

FYI: into one is also ill-advised.

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Billionaire Elon Musk was recently spotted touring Utah’s Arches National Park.

Well, kinda.

On Saturday, July 12, visitors to the park were greeted by a 12-foot tall sculpture of the tech kingpin鈥檚 head, his expression chiseled into a self-satisfied smirk. The massive effigy was towed around the park in a trailer behind a white pickup truck.

The sculpture was accompanied by a sign emblazoned with 鈥淢AKE AMERICA WAIT AGAIN鈥� and below that 鈥淣ow With Longer Lines Thanks To DOGE Cuts!鈥�

The stunt appears to be an act of protest against Musk鈥檚 work as the head of the newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk has since left his role in the federal government, but under his tenure, DOGE was responsible for significant cuts to staff and budget, including the Department of the Interior (DOI) and its National Park Service (NPS), as well as other DOI agencies responsible for the management of public lands.

The federal government’s gutting of public land management has sparked widespread protest. According to the National Parks Conservation Association (NCPA), a nonprofit, the NPS has lost 24 percent of its staff since January as a result of the cuts. President Trump鈥檚 鈥淥ne Big, Beautiful Bill Act,鈥� which was signed into law on July 4, cuts an additional $267 million from the park service鈥檚 budget. This all comes as park visitation has risen year-on-year, to a record-setting 331.9 million in 2024.

So, who made the giant Musk head? The phrasing on the sign is similar to that used in a series of billboards placed outside many U.S. national parks earlier this summer by a labor advocacy group, More Perfect Union. More Perfect Union鈥檚 founder, Faiz Shakir, told 国产吃瓜黑料 that although the Elon Musk head was a 鈥渃reative鈥� idea, his organization had nothing to do with the project.

A Family Vacation Interrupted by Elon鈥檚 Head

Nancy Carmichael, a mother of two from Florida, was touring Arches National Park with her family when the trip was interrupted by the giant head. Carmichael told听翱耻迟蝉颈诲别听she was “excited” by the sighting, and that she and her husband decided to follow the sculpture for a few minutes as it was towed by the truck.

“We saw the big Elon head driving around鈥攖hat’s something you don’t see everyday,” she said. “I personally think it was a creative way to protest, and to people to think about the things that are going on at a higher level and how they trickle down to the park.”

Carmichael toured Arches National Park over the weekend and said that, despite waiting in a line to enter the park, she did not encounter queues or interruptions in service.听Carmichael said that onlookers seemed curious when the head drove by, and sight of it elicited questions and laughs.

“People seemed receptive to it,” she said. “It was a protest but not your typical protest.”

Frederick Dreier contributed to this report.听

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Lightning-sparked wildfires have ravaged two national parks in the western United States in recent days, and firefighters are struggling to gain a foothold on either blaze.

A Grand Canyon Landmark Is Destroyed

In Arizona, the Dragon Bravo Fire prompted the closure of the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, and the shuttering multiple popular trails, as well as Phantom Ranch. And on Sunday, July 13, the fire consumed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, an 88-year-old structure that was the only hotel on the canyon’s North Rim.

According to , a federal website that monitors wildfires, the fire sparked on July 4 and was initially managed using a 鈥渃onfine and contain鈥� strategy. But heavy winds, which gusted up to 40 miles per hour, whipped the fire into an uncontrollable blaze. The fire ballooned from July 12-13, jumping multiple containment barriers and surging to an estimated size of 5,716 acres. 鈥淔ire behavior is very active, driven by hot temperatures, low relative humidity, and continued strong wind gusts,鈥� said the InciWeb report, adding that containment is currently at zero percent.

Firefighters were hindered by another wrinkle: , the fire damaged a water treatment facility, which resulted in a leak of highly toxic chlorine gas. The release turned听the disaster into a hazmat incident, and many firefighters had to be evacuated from the surrounding area.

Although there have been no injuries as a result of the Dragon Bravo Fire, as of Monday, July 14, the NPS reported that more than 70 structures have been destroyed.

As a result of the Dragon Bravo Fire, the North Rim will be closed entirely for the rest of the season, and all inner canyon trails and campgrounds have been closed until further notice as firefighters worked to establish containment.

Already, Arizona Governor Katie Hobb on Sunday night, criticizing the 鈥渃onfine and contain鈥� strategy, arguing that firefighters should have been more aggressive in their response. 鈥淎n incident of this magnitude demands intense oversight and scrutiny into the federal government鈥檚 emergency response,鈥� Hobbs wrote. 鈥淭hey must first take aggressive action to end the wildfire and prevent further damage. But Arizonans deserve answers for how this fire was allowed to decimate the Grand Canyon National Park.鈥�

A Colorado Park Is Evacuated

Another lightning-sparked fire began in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, in Colorado, on July 10. Called the South Rim Fire, the blaze is also currently zero percent contained.

According to , the fire has spread to over 3,600 acres. The park is currently being evacuated of all personnel, and on July 10 its superintendent, Stuart West, closed the park to all visitors. State officials have closed Colorado State Highway 347, which goes through the park.

The South Rim fire joins a growing collection of blazes in Western Colorado, which has seen high temperatures and dry conditions in recent weeks.

On Sunday, July 13, Colorado Governor Jared Polis for fires in Montrose, Delta, and Mesa Counties.

The fires in Grand Canyon and Black Canyon are just two of over a hundred wildfires currently raging in the United States. Around 35 miles north of the Grand Canyon fire, a much larger blaze, the , has surged to a staggering 50,000 acres, decimating Kaibab National Forest. According to the , this year 37,672 wildfires have burned 2.5 million acres across the country.

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Mount Rainier has the shakes.

, the 14,410-foot mountain endured approximately 391 individual earthquakes between July 8 and July 11, marking the most seismically active period in the peak’s recorded history.

But don’t worry鈥攕cientists don’t think it’s a sign of anything bad. The USGS noted that not only are the quakes too small to feel underfoot, but 鈥渢he shaking from these is too small to trigger any additional activity from cliff faces or glaciers,鈥� such as rockfall or avalanches.

The earthquakes were first picked up by the seismographs at the Cascades Volcano Observatory in the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 8, and have continued for the past three days. Seismologists said the earthquakes are occurring in the earth’s crust, between two and four miles beneath the mountain. During it’s peak, the earthquakes were occurring 30 times an hour.

But these earthquakes are so minor that people cannot feel them. According to the USGS, the most violent one had a magnitude measurement of 2.3. Earthquakes below 2.5 are usually not even felt by human beings, though they can be picked up by seismographs.

Mount Rainier is the most heavily glaciated peak in the United States, and an active stratovolcano. Though it has not fully erupted in roughly 1,000 years, it is considered among the most dangerous volcanoes in the world due to its proximity to the densely populated urban area of Seattle. Rainier is one of just 16 volcanoes in the world to be on the 鈥淒ecade Volcanoes鈥� list, a classification created by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth鈥檚 Interior (IAVCEI) to highlight volcanoes worthy of close monitoring because of the catastrophic effects of their potential eruption.

Earthquake swarms typically occur once or twice per year around Rainier; though these annual swarms usually involve far fewer overall quakes. Before this week鈥檚 swarm, the largest swarm recorded at Rainier occurred in 2009. It reached a magnitude of M2.5, but did not consist of as many individual quakes, or as much energy released.

Alex Iezzi of the USGS that the recent swarm 鈥渋s the most significant event since we have been having monitoring equipment at Mount Rainier,鈥� although, 鈥渨e have to remember Mount Rainier is really old. We’ve only been monitoring it for 40, maybe 50 years now. So just because it’s the most significant one we’ve seen on equipment doesn’t mean this hasn’t happened in the past, prior to 2009.鈥�

They also confirmed that this week鈥檚 swarm, which is likely caused by 鈥渨ater moving around the crust above the magma chamber,鈥� does not indicate an increase in volcanic activity or raise threat levels. 鈥淩ight now, this swarm is still within what we consider normal background levels of activity at Mount Rainier,鈥� said the USGS. 鈥淭he volcano is not 鈥榙ue鈥� for an eruption, and we do not see any signs of a potential eruption at this time.鈥�

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In an , President Donald Trump has mandated an increase in entry fees for all international visitors to U.S. national parks.

The order, titled 鈥淢aking America Beautiful Again by Improving Our National Parks,鈥� requires that Secretary of the Interior Douglas Burgum increase both entrance fees and recreation pass fees for nonresidents, and use the resulting funds to 鈥渋mprove the infrastructure of, or otherwise enhance enjoyment of or access to,鈥� federally managed recreation areas. According to a published by the Department of the Interior (DOI) in May, the scheme will raise as much as $90 million for national parks and other federally managed public lands.

The order did not specify the increase in price. National parks currently charge different rates, and only around 100 sites managed by the National Park Service鈥攚hich also oversees national monuments, historic sites, seashores, and other public lands鈥攔equire an admission fee to enter.

The executive order specifies that the fee increase will only apply to parks that currently charge admission, but some parks have a nuanced fee structure. Smoky Mountains National Park, for example, does not technically charge entrance fees, but parking anywhere inside the park for more than 15 minutes costs $5.

However, based on the language in the White House order, although fee increase may vary park-to-park, all national parks are now required to have some margin of difference between the rates charged to U.S. citizens and foreign visitors. In addition to the fee increases, the executive order also requires that action be taken to 鈥済rant American residents preferential treatment鈥� in other competitive access scenarios, such as permit lotteries.

The idea to increase fees for foreign tourists is the brainchild of Property and Environment Research Center (PERC), a think tank based in Montana. In 2023 a PERC economist, Tate Watkins, suggesting that a $25 surcharge on all foreign park visitors could raise $330 million annually for the beleaguered park service. PERC went on to include Watkins鈥� idea in a paper published in March: 10 Ideas for the Interior Department.

The plan to increase park fees comes as the National Park Service budget has been gutted by budget cuts even as admissions surged to a record high of 331 million last year, up 6 million from 2023. According to , roughly 14.6 million foreign tourists will visit at least one national park during their trip, so the increased fees could impact around 4.4 percent of all park visitors.

In an interview in June, Watkins told 国产吃瓜黑料 that 鈥淚f your goal is to make sure national parks have the resources they need to be stewarded properly now and for future generations, the entry fee structure is the lowest hanging fruit.鈥�

While historically U.S. national parks have charged the same rates to nonresidents and residents alike, in other countries it鈥檚 common鈥攊n fact, it鈥檚 arguably the norm鈥攆or national parks to charge an increased entry fee for foreign visitors. South Africa鈥檚 Kruger National Park charges around $30 for foreign tourists, while locals can enter for just $7. In other countries, the margins are even higher. At Ecuador鈥檚 Gal谩pagos National Park, foreigners pay $100 to enter, while Ecuadorian citizens are only charged $6.

Watkins also noted in his report that, 鈥渢he idea of differential pricing for outdoor recreation has relevant precedents elsewhere in the United States,鈥� as well. 鈥淔or example, it鈥檚 standard practice for state fish and wildlife agencies to charge different prices for residents and non-residents to hunt and fish.鈥�

鈥淭he American family is actually paying more than the international tourists,鈥� Watkins argued, 鈥渂ecause Americans already contribute a small portion to the National Park Service budget through taxes.鈥�

Critics theorize that an in fees might deter visits from foreign travelers, but Watkins and PERC believe this is unlikely, citing a that estimated raising entry fee for vehicles at Yellowstone National Park from $30 to $70 would only decrease visitation from foreign visitors by 0.07 percent. 鈥淔or people traveling from overseas, it鈥檚 a tiny slice of their overall budget,鈥� Watkins said.

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A large male elk has laid claim to a lakeside campground in Wyoming鈥檚 Grand Teton National Park, and has been harassing and intimidating park visitors.

That’s the thrust of a new story by The Jackson Hole News and Guide.听According to his story, the bull elk has stepped on people’s feet, poked his antlers into a tent, and then upped the aggressive behavior鈥攊t pooped right next to the group’s tent.

Jennifer Jones, a backpacker who recently encountered the bull elk while camping at Grand Teton鈥檚 Bearpaw Lake along with three friends, told the newspaper that although multiple rangers warned their group about the animal while hiking into the campsite, they weren’t prepared for what awaited them.

Shortly after they arrived at their campsite, Jones and her friends were approached by a lone female hiker, who told them that the infamous bull elk was in her campsite. 鈥淒o you mind if I sit here with you guys while I wait for it to pass?鈥� the woman asked.

The group tried to offer the woman safe harbor, but were soon confronted by the elk themselves, staring at them from the bushes. 鈥淚 held eye contact with it for at least a couple of seconds,鈥� Jones recalled, 鈥渂efore reading the sign and realizing that you鈥檙e not supposed to make eye contact.鈥�

The animal鈥攚hich was around six feet tall, and had a rack of antlers with at least ten points鈥攂egan stalking them back and forth from the bear box to their campsite, preventing them from stashing their food. 鈥淭he most surreal part was seeing him walk down a path and walk directly toward us, looking at us in the eye, walking towards a campfire,鈥� Jones said.

Even with Jones and her friends taking cover inside their tents, the elk remained lurking outside. During the night, it stepped on one of the campers鈥� feet through the tent, poked its antlers through the tent itself, and left a large pile of stinking feces outside.

Elk are known to become aggressive around humans, specifically during the mating season, or “rut,” in the fall, or during the calving season in the spring and early summer. In 2024, elk s in Estes Park, Colorado, near the entrance to Rocky Mountain National Park. In all three incidents, elk calves were present.

Also in 2024, a tourist in Yellowstone National Park by a massive bull elk near Mammoth Hot Springs. The incident prompted the park to issue a : during mating season, bull elk are not to be messed with.

In the case of the Grand Teton elk,听rangers told the The Jackson Hole News and Guide that the animal had likely become “habituated,” meaning it has lost its natural fear of humans after too much contact with park visitors.

In many cases, wild animals which have become habituated to human behavior are ultimately euthanized, but a public information officer at Grand Teton National Park, Emily Davis, told the newspaper that for now, the park is responding to the elk鈥檚 unpredictable behavior simply by monitoring it and suggesting park visitors keep their distance.

In addition to food, trash, and other odors, such as deodorant, perfume, and scented toothpaste, Davis said campers should also secure their sweaty clothes in bear boxes, as these can also attract elk. 鈥淚f you鈥檝e encountered this animal, we encourage you to report it,鈥� Davis added. 鈥淚nclude the date, time, the specific location, and photos and videos are especially helpful.鈥�

Including their antlers, bull elk can stand eight to nine feet tall. Most weigh between 700 and 800 pounds, but larger bulls can weigh upwards of 1,000 pounds. Elk aren鈥檛 as likely to or bears, but female elk can behave aggressively during the spring and fall.

Roughly a million elk are found throughout the western United States and Canada, including at popular national parks like Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Rocky Mountain, and Olympic. If you see an elk, rangers recommend maintaining a distance of at least 75 feet, roughly two school bus lengths.

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The summer crowds at Yellowstone National Park were confronted with the heartbreaking sight of a bison stumbling and then falling into the 160-degree Grand Prismatic Spring, one of the park’s main attractions.

After jumping and thrashing around for a moment trying to free himself, the bull bison lay down in the water and died. The incident occurred on Saturday, June 1.

“It was like seeing the circle of life unfold in the most raw way possible,” a visitor named Katie Hirtzel told 翱耻迟蝉颈诲别.听“It was unexpected, haunting, and powerful to witness.”

Hirtzel was completing a daylong hike in Yellowstone with her husband and 13-year-old son when they descended a hillside and walked toward the Grand Prismatic Spring. Just before they reached the hot pool, they saw the footprints of bears and bison in the mud near it.

“We started talking about how amazing it is that these animals know how to navigate this crazy landscape,” she said.

As they came closer to the pool, they saw a large mass of hair protruding from the water. Hirtzel originally thought it was a dead bear, but as she got closer, she could see the horns and hoofs of a bison.

Hirtzel said she arrived shortly after the animal had died. She and her family snapped photos of the scene.

“It wasn’t gross or yucky,” she said. “There was mist in the air. It was an eerie sight.”

Hirtzel posted her images to a . Another visitor, Louise Howard, posted photos of the bison’s last fateful moments.

“It took a few steps into a shallow area to the right of the pool, turned around, and stepped out very quickly,鈥� Howard wrote on Facebook. 鈥淚t stood for a moment, then turned back towards the spring and stepped into a deeper section, then couldn鈥檛 get out despite trying its best.鈥�

When photos and videos of the incident were posted to Facebook, Internet denizens took a range of stances. Some commenters suggested that posting the footage was disrespectful to the animal. Others were more positive. 鈥淚 bet that was sad to watch,鈥� wrote one. 鈥淏ut I appreciate your pictures. It鈥檚 nature, and even though I鈥檓 a huge animal lover, I like to see the good and the bad.鈥�

It鈥檚 unclear exactly why the bison stepped into Grand Prismatic, which is the largest hot spring in the United States and the third-largest in the world.

Observers noted online that it first stepped, briefly, into a shallower area of the pool, and then stepped out again.

While incidents like this are rare, they aren鈥檛 exactly anomalies. 鈥淭here are occasional reports from observers of wildlife dying in hot springs,鈥� Mike Poland, the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory鈥檚 scientist-in-charge, Poland added that although there is no clear record of how many incidents occur per year, 鈥淚t鈥檚 not at all unprecedented.鈥�

The hot springs and geysers at Yellowstone don鈥檛 just present a hazard for wildlife, but for humans, too. In fact, the park鈥檚 hot springs kill more people than bears, and even bison. And that鈥檚 saying something, since bison goring has become a semi-annual occurrence.

Hundreds of people have been injured in Yellowstone hot springs over the years, and nearly two dozen have been killed. In 2024 an SUV filled with tourists accidentally drove into one鈥攅veryone was OK.

However one finds oneself in a hot spring, it鈥檚 a dicey situation. The water in most of these springs is scalding hot. It can run anywhere from 100 degrees Fahrenheit at the edges and surface, to nearly 200 degrees deeper down. Once you鈥檝e fallen into one, of course, it might be too late.

Hirtzel said she and her family returned to the Grand Prismatic Pool the day after seeing the dead bison, and the carcass was still in the water. She said that the ordeal sparked a conversation with her son about the life cycle within the park.

“We talked about how nature isn’t always pretty, but that’s the process,” she said. “He wasn’t scared. He was like ‘wow, I got to see something really rare.'”

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The Department of the Interior has a new plan to help fund the U.S. National Parks: raise the price for foreign visitors.

The department recently outlining its 2026 budget plans, and included in the brief is a plan to levy a surcharge on visitors coming from outside of the United States. According to the document, the fee could generate more than $90 million to help cover the costs of maintaining visitor services at national parks, which are facing a proposed budget cut of $1.2 billion next year.

鈥淚 think we鈥檙e way undercharging, as a nation, for international visitors,鈥� Secretary Doug Burgum said during a House Committee on Natural Resources oversight hearing in early June.

The origins of the plan came from a Bozeman, Montana-based think tank that works on environmental policy called the Property and Environment Research Center (PERC).

In 2023, PERC titled How Overseas Visitors Can Help Steward Our National Parks that suggested a $25 surcharge on foreign visitors could generate $330 million, which would double the revenue the NPS generates in fees.

In March, the 听10 Ideas for the Interior Department that included the proposal.听, Brian Yablonski, the CEO of PERC proposed the idea to Burgum earlier this year.听国产吃瓜黑料 reached out to the National Park Service for comment but did not hear back by the publishing date of this story.

国产吃瓜黑料 reached out to PERC to discuss the plans. A PERC economist named Tate Watkins, who authored the 2023 report, said that raising the price to entry represents the easiest way to generate more revenue for the NPS.

鈥淚f your goal is to make sure national parks have the resources they need to be stewarded properly now and for future generations, the entry fee structure is the lowest hanging fruit,鈥� Watkins told 国产吃瓜黑料.

Currently the NPS operates on a $3.1 billion annual budget, with most of the money coming via federal funding allocated by Congress. But the NPS sites do generate revenue via entry fees. more than 80 percent of the money generated by these fees is invested back into the parks.

Entry fees for NPS sites vary. Yellowstone National Park currently charges $20 per person or $35 for a single car. Great Smoky Mountains National Park requires a $5 daily parking fee.

Watkins pointed out that several other countries charge international visitors extra to visit natural wonders, parklands, and historic sites. At Gal谩pagos National Park in Ecuador, foreign guests pay $100 to enter, compared to $6 for locals. Serengeti National Park in Tanzania and Masai Mara National Reserve in Kenya both charge international visitors $70, while residents of either country pay $4 and $7, respectively.

Meanwhile, in the U.S., a family from France visiting Zion National Park for three days would pay $35 for a week-long park pass鈥攖he same as an American family.

鈥淭he American family is actually paying more than the international tourists because Americans already contribute a small portion to the National Park Service budget through taxes,鈥� Watkins said.

Critics of the plan have suggested the increase in fees might deter visits from foreign travelers. SFGATE estimates that 14 million people from outside of the United States visited an NPS site in 2024. Watkins says his research suggests the contrary. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a negligible amount,鈥� Watkins said. 鈥淔or people traveling from overseas it鈥檚 a tiny slice of their overall budget.鈥�

A PERC study in 2017 estimated that raising the vehicle entry fee at Yellowstone National Park from $30 to $70 would decrease visitation from foreign visitors by only 0.07 percent.

鈥淚t won鈥檛 deter many at all,鈥� Watkins said. 鈥淥n the flip side, even a modest increase could bring in a ton of revenue.鈥�

In its March report, PERC outlined other strategies for NPS, including a revamped fee structure for U.S. visitors as well. Watkins said the current structure is 鈥淎 relatively blunt system today.”

One of PERC鈥檚 recommendations is to offer weekday discounts for American visitors. The report also recommends increasing the price of the America the Beautiful Parks Pass, which grants a holder entry to 2,000 recreation sites, including all 433 NPS sites. The pass currently costs $80.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 an immense value,鈥� Watkins said. 鈥淓specially when you compare it with the cost of private attractions or even similar passes offered by state parks.鈥�

The Department of the Interior has released few details about its proposed fee on foreign visitors, and has not divulged which parks would see an increase or by how much.

Watkins predicts the fee increase will impact 鈥渂ig name destination parks鈥� such as Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, and Yosemite. In 2024 the NPS sites recorded 331.9 million visits, the most in history.

Despite the uptick in visits, the NPS is slated to endure a 40 percent decrease in federal funding in 2026. Major cuts are slated for the NPS’s maintenance division.

According to Watkins, the total NPS maintenance backlog across all sites is approaching $24 billion鈥攎ore than double what it was ten years ago. Additional revenue generated by new fees, he said, could alleviate some of the pressure.

鈥淲ithout some kind of action, our crown jewel parks are on an unsustainable path of deterioration,鈥� Watkins said.

The post The New Plan for National Parks: Increase Prices for International Visitors appeared first on 国产吃瓜黑料 Online.

The U.S. Senate’s plan to sell off millions of acres of public land just lost considerable steam in the halls of power.

And the Republican Senator behind the plan says he will adopt a new strategy.

On Monday, June 23, Elizabeth MacDonough, the Senate Parliamentarian鈥攁n advisor and referee-like figure who enforces the voting rules of the U.S. Senate鈥攔uled that the provision could not added to the Republican-led reconciliation bill. The decision was announced in a and was first reported by .

The move has raised the political bar for the provision. Instead of passing via a simple 51-vote majority, the plan would require a two-thirds vote to pass.

The current party division in the U.S. Senate is 53 Republicans, 45 Democrats, and two Independents.

The shift comes after the proposed sell-off generated vocal backlash not only from Democrats and conservation groups, but also from Republican officials, business owners, and non-profits focused on hunting and fishing.

The public lands sell-off was originally part of President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” and was added by Utah Senator Mike Lee, the chair of the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources committee. The original plan called for the U.S. to auction off up to 3 million acres of land in 11 western states managed by the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management to raise funds for federal spending.

Housing prices are crushing families and keeping young Americans from living where they grew up. We need to change that.

Thanks to YOU鈥攖he AMERICAN PEOPLE鈥攈ere鈥檚 what I plan to do:

1. REMOVE ALL Forest Service land. We are NOT selling off our forests.

2. SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE鈥�

鈥� Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee)

On Monday, Lee saying he would alter the proposal鈥攂ut still include plans to sell public land.

“Remove all Forest Service land. We are not selling off our forests,” Lee wrote. “Significantly reduce the amount of BLM land in the bill. Only land within 5 miles of population centers is eligible.”

According to E&E News Lee has not yet submitted any changes to the plan to the Senate parliamentarian.

In late June, four Republican senators came out in opposition of the plan: Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy of Montana, and Jim Risch and Mike Crapo of Idaho.

“After reviewing the Senate Energy and Natural Resources reconciliation language, I do not support the proposed provision to sell public lands,” Risch released on June 20.

More pushback came from hunting groups. Hunter Nation, a non-profit group that aims to “preserve and protect our nation’s hunting heritage,” told its members on social media that it “stands opposed to the indiscriminate sale of our public lands.”

Update from Capitol Hill on the proposed sell off of public lands: is currently headed into a meeting with lawmakers to make sure our voices are heard!

Be sure to do your part as well and message or call your Senator TODAY!

鈥� James Jinnette (@james_jinnette1)

“These lands belong to ‘We the People’ and they should continue to remain as such,” the group wrote.

In Wyoming, to Senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, calling the plan a “non-starter for Wyomingites.”

The news sparked a wave of positive public statements from conservation and wildlife non-profits.

The sell-off plan is out鈥攆or now. Last night鈥檚 win is a big step forward, but public lands are still under threat. Americans have spoken: These places belong to all of us. Let鈥檚 keep it that way. Read more from :

鈥� Trust for Public Land (@tpl_org)

The Trust for Public Land called the development “an important victory,” and the result of Americans making it “overwhelming clear they do not want to see their public lands sold off to the highest bidder.”

Tracy Stone-Manning, the president of , and former head of the Bureau of Land Management, said the news was “a victory for the American public.”

“We trust the next politician who wants to sell off public lands will remember that people of all stripes will stand against the idea,” Stone-Manning added. “Our public lands are not for sale.”

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