Elk in GSMNP are still accesable despite the slide

As I reported earlier today a rock slide overnight has closed a section of I40 on the Tn/NC border inside of Tennessee. The slide deposited large boulders in the breakdown lane on the westbound side and there is still a potential more rocks will slide. Tennessee officials have brought in geologists to study the situation and develop a plan to stabilize the rocky face and remove the slide rocks and reopen the road. While a timeline has not been set speculation is this will be more a matter of weeks as opposed to the last time when it took 6 months to reopen the road. The east bound lane remains open.

“It doesn’t look anywhere near as extensive as the major rock slides years ago,” said Mark Nagi, a community relations officer for Tennessee DOT.

It is unclear what or how big an effect the rockslide will have on businesses in Haywood County.

“That is just something that we can’t answer at this point in time,” said CeCe Hipps, president of the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce. “Hopefully, this will not have a big effect on business in Haywood County.”

For now, county tourism leaders are spreading the word that Interstate 40 is still open near Waynesville, Maggie Valley, Canton and Clyde.

“We are just thinking how to keep the doors open,” Hipps said.

The Haywood County and Maggie chambers and the Tourism Development Authority have emailed businesses and posted information on their websites about the slide and encouraged visitors not to cancel their plans.

“We want to make sure that people are not deterred,” Hipps said.

Smoky Mountain News

With a much milder winter this year now is a good time to beat the crowds in the Cataloochee Valley and see the elk. This is one of my favorite places in North Carolina to go and relax if you’ve never been you need to go check this place out.

The body of Benjamin Colton Barnes, the suspect in the killing of Ranger Anderson as well as an earlier shooting spree, was recovered faced down in a stream with heavy snow cover all around. The man with survival skills and training was seriously unprepared for his run from the law into the wilds as it appears nature took care of the task that would of taken our justice system years to do. Reports say there was no outward injuries on his body and it is believed he died from hypothermia or exposure to the elements.

Multiple news stories state that Barnes held authorities at bay firing upon them preventing them from reaching Ranger Anderson who was still in her patrol car. It took 90 minutes for them to reach her. I don’t know if thy could of got to her sooner if the outcome would be any different but what a cowardly act on his part.

Barnes may of been battling demons in his head but I seriously doubt he didn’t know his actions on New Years day, be it the earlier shooting or the murder of Ranger Anderson, were wrong. As the days go on I’m sure there will be further digging into his past; his misconduct discharge from the military, other brushes with the law, could he legally possess firearms etc. None of that will undo the tragedy that happened inside that park with the death of Ranger Anderson.

Some may think I’m cold but part of me is glad he is dead. No one else was injured or killed trying to stop this killer and now we won’t have to go through a long trial waiting and hoping for justice.

My thoughts and prayers are still with Ranger Anderson’s family and friends as well as the National Park Service and all those who work daily to keep us safe.

The suspect being hunted for the murder of Ranger Anderson is still at large this morning inside Mount Rainier National Park. National Park Rangers, Local Sheriff deputies along with Washington State Police, National Forrest, and FBI SWAT have sealed off the area and continue the man hunt. Barnes is believed to be on foot in the woods armed with an “assault rifle” authorities have said trackers have tracked him into a stream area where he was attempting to make his way out of the snow covered area in attempts to throw the pursuers off. Additionally an aircraft with a heat seeking camera has been brought into the hunt to help scan the area and narrow the search. Obviously this is a difficult situation giving the rugged terrain they are working in as well as the suspect has some military / survival skills training and apparently no problems with shooting others. In addition to the murder of Ranger Anderson Barnes is being sought in another shooting where four people were shot in a house during a New Years Party.

Will continue to follow this story and hopefully authorities will bring this manhunt to a successful and safe end soon.

National Park Rangers Patrol some of the most remote parts of our country where backup can be a long ways off.

Ranger Margaret Anderson made the ultimate sacrifice earlier today while on patrol in Mount Rainier National Park when trying to stop a vehicle that had failed to yield to another ranger. Ranger Anderson had set up a roadblock to stop the vehicle when she was fatally shot. Early reports state that the shooter approached the roadblock and exited his vehicle with a gun shooting the ranger and then escaping into the woods. Additional rangers and deputies arriving on the scene were also fired upon with what is reported as a suspect with a “assault rifle”.

Ranger Anderson

The park has been closed and a manhunt is currently being conducted. Visitors in the park have been asked to leave because this is a very dangerous situation. Some news reports say that people attempting to leave the park have been fired upon as well and armored vehicles are being brought in to help evacuate the public.

The vehicle the suspect was driving belongs to Benjamin Colton Barnes

Pierce County Sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer says 24-year-old Benjamin Colton Barnes is believed to have military experience and possess skills to survive in the wild.

Seattle PI

Benjamin Colton Barnes The Person of Interest in the killing of National Park Ranger Anderson

A man who is a person of interest in the shooting death of a park ranger Sunday morning near Mt. Rainier is also a suspect in a shooting that left four wounded in Skyway earlier in the day, sources tell KOMO News.

Detectives are looking for Benjamin Colton Barnes, a 24-year-old believed to have military experience and survivalist skills, officials said.

Investigators have recovered Barnes’ car which was filled with weapons and body armor, along with survivalist gear, said Det. Ed Troyer with the Pierce County Sheriff’s

KOMO News

This is a tragic situation for sure and I’m sure as time goes on will know more about what exactly happened. Our thought and prayers certainly go out to the Anderson family that just lost mother and wife as well as her co workers and friends. Additionally we pray for a quick and safe resolution to this man hunt.

The multiple news stories with references to the change of law in 2010 that allows people to carry firearms in National Parks I will not address at this time. I don’t see it as relevant to this story especially if it turns out prior felonies were committed prior to this tragic encounter.

Tonight my prayers are with two little girls who’ll never have their Mom tuck them into bed, tell them a story, or bake their favorite cookies.

With mounting litter at Grand Canyon National Park a plan was developed to ban plastic bottles (that accounts for 30% of the litter) was side tracked after Coke-Cola weighs in. At last that is what it looks like even though both sides deny it.

A plan to ban the sale of plastic water bottles at the Grand Canyon was scrapped after talks with Coca-Cola, which is a donor to the national parks system and a bottled water distributor, a former park superintendent who worked on the plan said.
However, National Park Service spokesman Dave Barna said Thursday the plug was pulled on the ban after the agency’s director determined it wouldn’t solve the littering problem at the popular tourist spot and that the plan needed more work.

The Coca-Cola Co. was not the leading factor in the decision to dump the plan two weeks ahead of its scheduled Jan. 1, 2011,[sic wrong year 2012] start, Barna said. Coca-Cola also denied trying to influence the decision.

MSNBC

I guess the fact that Coke donates significant money to the National Parks to the tune of 14 million wasn’t a factor.

I enjoy the National Parks and have been to Grand Canyon a number of time. The general conditions of our National Parks is pretty strained with bad roads outdated facilities etc. so private donations are pretty important. I also never understand why people feel like the world is their trashcan just dumping litter where ever.
There is no doubt a plan needs to be come up with that balances visitors needs as well as the impact on the environment. I would suggest strict enforcement and stiff fines for those who litter in a park. As far as trashcans and recycle bins it seems to be ample ones within the park. We always carry our stuff out if we are hiking or if we are riding we keep it in our car till we get to a location to properly dispose of the litter. Common sense and proper behavior suggests everyone should do this but we all know that is never the case.

No matter what the reason for putting this rule aside a better solution needs to be developed because the size of the park makes it almost a necessity for these products to be offered for sale within the park.

Grand Canyon in Winter Photo by Moose

If there is ever a time to head into the Catalooche Valley to see the elk now is the time. There is nothing like hearing the bugle of the bull elk across the valley as he searches for receptive cows.

Now is the height of the rutting season among the estimated 140 elk that inhabit Great Smoky Mountains National Park. In Cataloochee Valley, where the herd was established a decade ago, the peak mating activity — including the bulls’ distinctive bugle calls — is expected to last through the second week of October.

“You see rutting behavior from the beginning of September to the end of October, but a lot of that is showmanship among the bulls,” said Joe Yarkovich, elk management specialist for the Smokies. “The bulls have hormones coursing through their veins. They’re out chasing cows and looking for a fight. The real action is now.”

Knox News

Here are some photos I shot a few years ago during the rut.

On the prowl

Testing the wind

The chase

I came across this amazing series of photos involving and injured Bison and a grizzly inside of Yellowstone National Park on the Outdoor Life Website. The bison had multiple burns over a significant amount of his body probably from an encounter with a geyser or one of the many thermal pools in the area. I’m impressed that the photographer was able to stand his ground and get the shots I’d like to think I could do the same. That had to be a sight to see them rumbling down the road towards you. Check out the photos over at OL and I will warn that some are a bit graphic.

Photo I took of Grand Canyon

National Geographic Wild America channel is a new channel in the satellite lineup that is in my book a great channel. Tonight they are exploring the Grand Canyon which is one of my favorite places to visit.

America’s Wild Spaces: Grand Canyon

NGC joins a scientific expedition to explore the Grand Canyon’s entire 277- mile lenght. We’ll trace its geological history, study its colonies of vegetation and examine its unique creatures to unlock the mysteries of this wonder.

Nat Geo Wild

This is a pretty good show tracing wildlife and human impact on the canyon. They covered a story I reported on a few years back on the accidental death of wildlife biologist Eric York

They also covered the restoration of the Condor and the impact of hunting on them. Many believe that Condors are being poisoned by ingesting lead from gut piles of hunter killed game animals. There has been an effort to get hunters to use lead free ammunition to reduce the possibility of poisoning the birds.
A very good show and worth watching if you have any interest in the Grand Canyon, wildlife, and the natural world. I’m sure they’ll rebroadcast this show in the future so check the listings and DVR it you won’t be disappointed.

3 bulls from back in 2009 #2 #17#21

North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission Law Enforcement Division is investigating the poaching of a Bull Elk in Haywood County North Carolina. The remains of bull elk #16, part of the initial experimental release inside The Great Smoky Mountain National Park, was recovered outside the park after biologists received data from the telemetry collar reporting the elk was down. The site was located in the 12 Mile Strip and Hicks Branch Road in Haywood County. Poachers removed meat, hoofs, and the antlers from the animal leaving the head, carcass, and the collar behind. This happened a few months ago but the news of this crime has just hit unknown whether the info was being held for investigative purposes or not.

How much evidence has been gathered and how close investigators are to breaking this case is unclear. Currently there is a $10,000 reward being offered for information leading to a conviction.

The recent killing of an elk near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in Western North Carolina has prompted the North Carolina Wildlife Federation to pledge $5,000 towards a reward pool.

With the contribution, the award amount will be up to $10,000 being offered to a person who provides information about the elk killing that directly leads to an arrest, a criminal conviction, a civil penalty assessment, or forfeiture of property by the subject or subjects responsible.

Citizen Times

Bull # 16 was known to be one that lived primarily outside the confines of the national park and seen in the park mostly during the rut. There is no doubt he was one of the older bulls and probably had a prime rack. I’ve looked through my photos and I haven’t found any of #16 so it seems to support he spent most of his time outside. Of course starting last year bulls are no longer ear tagged and this year only a small sample of the cows will be tagged. The experimental herd is through that phase so much of the study and observation is being scaled way back. The herd itself seems to be doing well with estimates of about 130 animals.
I was in Cataloochee this weekend and saw about 70 elk and from talking to the staff their they expect another good calf season. The cows should start dropping calves in the next couple of weeks and they estimate an additional 25 or so will be added to the herd.

Poaching can significantly cut into survivability of this small herd so I urge anyone with any information to contact NCWRC. The return of elk to North Carolina is a great thing and great for the area tourist industry. When I first traveled into the Cataloochee Valley shortly after the release there was not many people making the drive into the remote valley this weekend there was heavy traffic in there showing that not only has the elk herd expanded but so has the sightseers.

Wildlife biologist Kim Delozier is retiring the end of this year after 32 years of service at Great Smoky Mountain National Park that sits in both North Carolina and Tennessee. As one who frequents GSMNP often I’m always impressed at how well they manage the resources with the number of visitors this park attracts.

When Delozier started out, the Smokies employed just four people in resource management. Today, that staff includes 70 to 80 people including seasonal workers. Delozier’s job as a wildlife biologist kicked into high gear when the Smokies embarked on a series of wildlife reintroductions in keeping with the park’s overall mission to restore native ecosystems.
Starting with peregrine falcons in 1984 and moving through elk restoration in 2001, all of the park’s wildlife reintroductions over the past two decades began as experiments to determine if the species could co-exist with the park’s natural and human landscape.
The peregrine falcon releases were successful (in 1997 the park documented its first peregrine nest in the Smokies since 1943), as were efforts starting in the late 1980s to restore river otters.
“If I had to choose an animal to come back as after I die, it would be a river otter,” Delozier said. “They seem to play all the time.”
In the early 1990s, the Smokies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tried unsuccessfully to reintroduce red wolves in the park. None of the wolf pups born in the park survived, and after 10 years, the project came to a halt.
“We couldn’t release enough wolves to out-compete the coyotes in the park,” Delozier said. “You just can’t take a captive animal, open the cage and expect it to make it in the wild.”
In 2001, the park launched an ambitious program to bring elk – a species that hadn’t roamed the mountains since the late 1700s – back to Cataloochee Valley in North Carolina. Delozier said what he remembers most about this successful campaign was the tremendous support from partners like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the Friends of the Smokies and the public at large.
“Unlike the wolf reintroduction, bringing elk back to the park was something people genuinely wanted to see happen,” he said.

Knox News

While I’ve never met Mr. Deloizer I’ve certainly benefited from his and the rest of the staffs efforts every time I stop to watch river otters play or I watch a bull elk chasing cows across the meadows of Catalocchee. I hope he enjoys his retirement.