NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
                           MORNING REPORT

To:        All National Park Service Areas and Offices

From:      Division of Ranger Activities, Washington Office

Day/Date:  Wednesday, December 28, 1994

Broadcast: By 1000 ET

INCIDENTS

94-682 - Arches (Utah) - Visitor Injured by Ram

On the afternoon of December 15th, a bighorn ram knocked down and injured a
visitor who'd walked into the herd to take photographs.  The man had gotten
between the ram and the herd, then had turned his back on the ram and knelt
down to take photos of the rest of the herd.  Three smaller rams came to the
front of the group and stared at the man, cocking their heads.  When the man
stood up, the large ram charged him, striking him on his right shoulder and
knocking him to the ground.  The man got up slowly and began screaming for
help.  Two passers-by ran to assist him, but the ram ignored them and charged
again, striking the man in the middle of the back and again knocked him down. 
The visitors yelled and waved their arms at the ram, but he stood his ground. 
The ram did not charge again, though, and the visitors were able to get the man
back to his car.  Although the man suffered a bruise to his shoulder, severe
abrasions on his back and complained of pain around his collar bone, he
declined to report the incident and refused medical assistance offered by one
of the witnesses.  According to another of these witnesses, all of the rams
displayed aggressive poses - lowering and cocking their heads - throughout the
incident.  This herd is well known in the Moab area because it grazes just off
Utah Highway 191 along the park's southern border during the fall, winter and
early spring.  Many visitors stop to take photographs of the animals, but they
usually move up the steep slopes into the park when photographers get too
close.  This is the first known instance of a bighorn butting a visitor. 
[Karen McKinlay-Jones, ARCH, 12/27]

94-683 - Gulf Islands (Florida/Mississippi) - Burglary

The ranger station on Perdido Key was burglarized sometime during the night of
December 23rd.  The burglar gained entry by knocking out a panel in the front
door, then unlocking it.  A microwave oven, TV and a mobile radio used as a
base station were taken.  A joint investigation with Escambia County is
underway.  [Gene Phillips, CR, GUIS, 12/27]

94-684 - American Memorial (Saipan) - Tropical Storm

Tropical Storm Bobbie passed Saipan during the early morning of December 23rd. 
The closest approach was approximately 45 miles to the north of the island;
although forecasters said that the storm would likely strengthen before it
passed the islands, it did not.   Maximum winds reached 75 mph, and sustained
winds were approximately 60 mph.  The storm did little damage to the park, and
it reopened the following day.  [Ed Wood, Superintendent, WAPA & AMME, 12/28]

94-685 - Indiana Dunes (Indiana) - Suicide

A park jogger discovered the body of D.S., 44, of Chicago, near the
Inland Marsh trail on the morning of December 22nd.  Evidence indicates that
D.S. shot himself the previous evening.  The suicide is being investigated
by rangers and Portage police.  [Guy Whitmer, INDU, 12/22]

94-686 - Bryce Canyon (Utah) - MVA with Damage to NPS Structure

Just before noon on December 25th, a 1994 Dodge sedan driven by Y.I.,
a Japanese citizen, crashed into the side of the park's west entrance
station.  The building's west wall was pushed in about eight inches; the cost
to repair the damage has been estimated at about $5,000.  There were no
injuries, as the station was empty at the time and all the occupants of the
vehicle were wearing seatbelts.  High speed and icy roads contributed to the
accident.  The investigating ranger reported that Y.I. attempted to pay the
$5 entrance fee as his vehicle was being extracted from the side of the
entrance station.  [Charlie Peterson, CR, BRCA, 12/27]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

No field reports today.

OPERATIONAL NOTES

No notes.

MEMORANDA

No memoranda.

Prepared by the Division of Ranger Activities, WASO, with the cooperation and
support of Delaware Water Gap NRA.

Telephone: 202-208-4874
Telefax:   202-208-6756
cc:Mail:   WASO Ranger Activities
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