RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           CC: RAD Information Net

Day/date: Thursday, January 4, 1990

INCIDENTS

89-369 - Great Smokies (North Carolina/Tennessee) - Rescue

On the morning of December 30th, the park received a report of a sick backpacker
at the Spence Field shelter on Bote Mountain about five miles southeast of Cades
Cove.  Ranger and EMT Dave Little arrived at the shelter shortly thereafter and
found a 25-year-old man semi-conscious, weak and dehydrated. The man was a
diabetic, who had administered a smaller dose of insulin than normal, causing
his blood sugar levels to fluctuate significantly.  Ranger and Park Medic Rick
Obernesser arrived before noon and administered intravenous fluids under the
direction of a local doctor.  Because driving sleet, rain and limited visibility
precluded helicopter evacuation, a dozen rangers carried the ailing hiker out to
the nearest service road, where he was transported to a Tennessee hospital. He
is now in the hospital's intensive care unit.  The park reports that the initial
treatment of the patient by a doctor-directed EMS person was "instrumental" in
saving Hardy's life.  (CompuServe report from Bob Marriott, LES, GRSM, 1:30 p.m.
EST, 1/3/90).

90-1 - Rock Creek (District of Columbia) - Oil Spill

A heating oil leak from an underground storage tank was discovered draining into
Hazen Creek, a tributary of Rock Creek, on the afternoon of the 2nd. Park
Police, park resource management personnel and a D.C. hazardous materials team
arrived on scene around 3:30 p.m.  The source of the heating oil was determined
to be an underground storage tank that serves a nearby condominium complex. 
It's estimated that approximately 4,500 gallons of heating oil spilled into the
creek - the worst spill in the park to date.  A private firm is on scene to
clean up the spill, and park personnel are monitoring their progress.  Fifteen
booms and associated sorbent materials are in place along Hazen Creek.  Cleanup
should continue for at least another week.  (Bob Ford, ROCR, via CompuServe
message from Carroll Schell, RAD/NCRO, 4 p.m. EST, 1/3/90).

90-2 - Yellowstone (Wyoming) - Animal Mauling

At 3:30 p.m. yesterday afternoon, a 27-year-old TW concession employee was
skiing in the Biscuit Basin area near Old Faithful when he was attacked by a
coyote.  He was returning on a trail he'd made in the morning when he came upon
a coyote sitting on the trail.  The coyote ran towards him, he fell, and the
coyote then began attacking him.  He struck the coyote with a ski and was able
to drive him away, but sustained lacerations and puncture wounds to his skull,
forehead and both arms and hands.  He is presently in a hospital in Bozeman,
Montana.  Over the past week, there have been a number of incidents in the Old
Faithful area in which individuals have been charged by coyotes.  At least four
separate animals were involved in these incidents.  Rangers were in the process
of tracking one of the four when this attack occurred. Last night, two coyotes
were tracked and killed, and rangers are looking for others this morning.  The
coyote involved in the attack has escaped, however. None of the animals showed
any signs of rabies, and current speculation is that the coyotes, who have been
fed by visitors and become habituated to them, may have attacked because they
are not getting the handouts they've become accustomed to receiving.  (Telephone
report from Dan Sholly, CR, YELL, 8 a.m. EST, 1/4/90).

OFFICE NOTES

1) The Office of Personnel Management has approved special pay rates for park
rangers in Philadelphia.  The rates were effective at the beginning of PP 26
(December 3, 1989).

2) Cave parks: Butch Farabee has been given the responsibility for cave
management for the foreseeable future.  He is taking over the duty from Steve
Hodapp, who left this office last month.  

STAFF STATUS

Farabee on AL, Kreis on SL.

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone:	FTS 343-4874/6039 or 202-343-4874/6039
Telefax:	FTS 343-5977 or 202-343-5977
CompuServe:	WASO-RANGER
SEAdog:     1/650 (Phone: 343-6014; BAUD:2400)