RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

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

Day/date: Thursday, October 25, 1990

INCIDENTS

90-384 - Yosemite (California) - Earthquake

At 11:15 p.m. on the 23rd, an earthquake registering 5.7 on the Richter
scale occurred near Lee Vining, California, about 20 miles east of the park.
The quake was strongly felt in the Yosemite Valley area; residents reported
that it was extremely loud and lasted for at least 15 seconds. The Tioga
Pass road was closed overnight due to rock slides outside of the park which
have since been removed by Cal Trans work crews. Rock slides also closed
Highway 140 and 120 in the park. One lane of Highway 140 was opened for
administrative travel at 10 a.m. yesterday morning, and was scheduled to be
completely opened later in the day. large rocks still need to be removed
from Highway 120 near the junction with 140 and a stretch of pavement 30
feet long also must be replaced. The road has been closed indefinitely from
Crane Flat Junction east. Due to the reduction in services available in the
park, entrance fees have been suspended. Services should be fully restored
within three to four days. (Roger Rudolph, CR, YOSE, via CompuServe message
and phone call from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 10/24).

90-385 - Dinosaur (Colorado) - Deer Poachers Arrested

In order to stem a serious deer peaching problem in part of the park,
rangers and Colorado Division of Wildlife officers employed a deer simulator
in hopes of enticing the poachers. The decoy as set up on the night of the
21st. Rangers were posted across the road to observe the spotlighting and
shooting of the decoy and identify the suspects. Two vehicles were
positioned approximately three-quarters of a mile away to the north and
south of the decoy to apprehend anyone who shot the decoy. At about 9:30
p.m., two vehicles approached the decoy, the first about half a mile ahead
of the second. The first vehicle had no guns, but was radioing information
to the second regarding road traffic and deer locations. The second vehicle
contained the poachers, who were employing a hand-held spotlight. The first
vehicle stopped at the decoy; the second then pulled in front of it and its
occupants fired three shots at the decoy. The ranger who was observing the
violations radioed the chase vehicles, who stepped and apprehended the
suspects. Two local men, one of them a juvenile, were arrested and charged
with a series of violations whose fines totalled $1,100; their weapons were
also impounded. [Anyone interested in using this method for catching
poachers may contact district ranger Jerry Ballard regarding techniques,
materials and legal ramifications].  (CompuServe message from Nick Eason,
CR, DINO, 10/24).

90-386 - Lassen Volcanic (California) - Successful Search

B.R. and her husband, both of Santa Cruz, California, became
separated while hiking in the Bumpus area. When she failed to arrive as
agreed at Southwest campground later in that day, rangers were notified.
Since night temperatures were forecast to be in the low 20's and B.R. had
inadequate clothing and neither food nor water, a major search was begun
immediately. Participating were 16 park personnel, California Highway
Patrol officers, SAR personnel from Shasta County, California Rescue Dog
Association search dog teams, and a contract helicopter. B.R. was found in
reasonably good condition near Twin Meadows at 7 a.m. on the 24th. She had
hiked all night to keep warm. (Al Schneider, CR, LAVO, via CompuServe
message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRD, 10/24).

90-387 - George Rogers Clark (Indiana) - Vandalism

Last January, two students from Vincennes University climbed up on the
statue of Francis Vigo and smashed the nose off with an iron pipe. The park
promptly posted a $400 award for information leading to the arrest and
conviction of the vandals, and notified the public through the press that
the vandalism was considered a serious offense and that the guilty parties
would be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Two local citizens
groups put up another $400 to double the award amount. Shortly thereafter,
a tipster called in with the names of the two students. They were
subsequently questioned by local police officers and FBI agents and
confessed to the crime. As part of a plea agreement, they will plead guilty
to state charges, pay $6,000 to fix the statue, and probably be sentenced to
a period of probation. The trial is scheduled for October 31st. (Bob
Holden, CR, GERO, via telephone report from John Townsend, RAD/MWRO, 10/25).

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Lava Beds (California) - Bubonic plague, a potentially lethal and highly
contagious disease, has been found in wood rats living in caves in the park,
all caves except Valentine, Indian Well, Skull, Balcony and Boulevard will
be closed until treatment has been shown to have been effective. Rangers
believe that the caves will again be safe to enter around the begirding of
November.

OFFICE NOTES

1) The 1991 Golden Eagle passes are in the process of being shipped by the
contractor. We have received a report from one regional office that the
serial numbers can be rubbed off. Park staffs are asked to notify their
regional fee coordinators when problems are found with the passes. Regional
fee coordinators are in turn requested to report the problem immediately to
West Kreis at FTS 268-4205. [Wes Kreis, RAD/WASO]

STAFF STATUS

- Division Chief: No travel scheduled.

- Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: No travel scheduled.

- Branch of Fire: Hurd at branch planning meeting in Boise (10/22-10/26).


Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone:  FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Telefax:    FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER (Branch of R&VP); WASO-FIRE-WO (Branch of Fire)
SEAdog:     1/650