RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           Ranger Activities Division Information Network

Day/Date:  Wednesday, April 14, 1993

Broadcast: By 0830 ET

INCIDENTS

92-620 - Gates of the Arctic (Alaska) - Follow-up on Poaching 

On April 8th, a federal judge sentenced B.L.L., 41, to 18 months
in prison and ordered him to forfeit his $30,000 Piper Super Cub after
B.L.L. pleaded guilty to illegal hunting in and near the park in August
of 1991.  B.L.L. pleaded guilty to one count of felony perjury, four
felony Lacey Act counts for the sale of wildlife, and one misdemeanor Lacey
Act count for transportation of illegally taken wildlife.  Clients of
B.L.L., a registered Alaska big game guide, had killed a brown bear,
caribou and wolf, all in violation of Alaska state law, which prohibits
same-day airborne hunting; a Dall sheep, which was taken without the
required big game tag; and a moose, which exceeded the hunters' bag limit. 
Three sheep were also taken inside the park.  Two of the clients will pay a
total of $15,000 in fines and forfeit hunting privileges for up to two
years; an assistant guide will do 300 hours of community service and lose
hunting and guiding privileges for two years.  The investigation began when
the park and state were contacted by other hunters.  USFWS special agent Tim
Eicher and ranger Jon Peterson posed as hunters and conducted surveillance
of the guide's camp, during which time they gathered the information that
resulted in the prosecutions.  Other information was culled from
photographs, videotapes and interviews.  The USFWS lab in Oregon conducted a
DNA analysis of meat from the sheep carcass at the kill site and samples of
meat in the possession of a client and made a positive match.  The Alaska
Scientific Crime Detection Laboratory was also able to physically match a
lower leg found at the kill site to a hindquarter seized from a client. 
Further charges are probable pending the completion of the investigation and
review by the U.S. attorney's office in Fairbanks.  [John Quinley, PIO, ARO,
4/13]

93-180 - Gulf Islands (Mississippi/Florida) - Sinking; Three Fatalities

Three people died and one was rescued and hospitalized after their small
boat sank between Horn Island and the Mississippi mainland on the evening of
Friday, April 9th.  Earlier that day, their 18-foot boat had developed
engine problems.  Rangers Bill Wilson and Ben Moore had helped them get
started again, and had radioed in a float plan to the Coast Guard as the
foursome headed back to the mainland.  During the trip back, the engine
again stalled, this time in rougher seas, and the boat capsized and sank. 
J.L., 26, was rescued by the vessel "Fiesta" some 12 miles out in
the Gulf of Mexico.  The bodies of his brother, L.L. II, 29, and his
in-laws, T.B., 30, and F.B., 53, were recovered from the
Gulf.  All four had put on their life jackets prior to the sinking and had
floated for more than 14 hours in the chilly ocean waters.  During that
time, tides pulled them some five miles through the Mississippi Sound and
another 12 miles into the Gulf, thereby complicating NPS and Coast Guard
search efforts.  [Gene Phillips, CR, GUIS, 4/12]

93-181 - Yosemite (California) - Car Clouts

Six auto burglaries occurred in the Wawona campground between midnight and 8
a.m. on April 10th.  The methods used in the clouts were very similar to
those recorded over the past two years by the NPS, Forest Service and
California State Parks at sites in California, Oregon, Montana, and Arizona. 
All the vehicles that were burglarized were at tent sites, with the point of
entry into the vehicle on the side away from the tent.  A wire was passed
through the window molding to gain access to each vehicle, and some were
found with their passenger windows rolled down.  The only items taken were
compact discs and cash.  Other items which were traceable were not
disturbed.  The FBI and NPS are working together on this case.  If you have
had any similar incidents, please contact the park at 209-372-0614.  [Jeff
Sullivan, YOSE, 4/12]

93-182 - Natchez Trace (Mississippi/Alabama/Tennessee) - Fatal MVA

T.G., 33, of Ashland, Mississippi, was fatally injured on April
11th when the vehicle he was operating left the parkway near mile post 235
and struck a tree.  The passenger, R.R., was admitted to a local
hospital and is in critical condition.  The accident is under investigation. 
[Gordon Wissinger, CR, NATR, 4/13]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Western/Southwestern/Rocky Mountain Areas - New Threatened Species Listing

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has added the Mexican spotted owl (Strix
occidentalis lucida) as a Federal threatened species under the authority of
the Endangered Species Act.  This Mexican subspecies of the spotted owl is
known to inhabit forested canyons and mountains from central Colorado and
Utah south through Arizona, New Mexico, western Texas and northwestern
Mexico.  Threats to the subspecies include timber harvest, fire, and
increased predation due to habitat fragmentation.  The effective date of the
listing is April 15, 1993.  [Richard Hadley, NRS, WRO]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: No leave or travel scheduled.

Branch of Resource and Visitor Protection: Smith at managerial grid training
course (4/11-4/16); Martin and Dickerhoof at FLETC 9PT curriculum review
conference (4/13-4/15).

Branch of Fire and Aviation: Gale and Broyles at managerial grid training
course (4/11-4/17); Clark at national fire weather group meeting (4/13-
4/16); Spruill at workshop (4/12-4/16).

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone: Branch of R&VP - 202-208-4874
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - 202-208-5572
Telefax:   Branch of R&VP - 202-208-6756
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - 202-208-5977
cc:Mail:   Branch of R&VP - WASO Ranger Activities
           Branch of F&A (WASO) - WASO Fire and Aviation