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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT BLACKBERRY EDITION Thursday, February 2, 2006 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Big Bend NP Visitor Attacked by Bobcat On the afternoon of February 1st, a visitor was attacked by a bobcat while visiting the Hot Springs area in Big Bend NP. The visitor, a 49-year old woman from Wisconsin, had just gotten out of the hot springs pool when the bobcat leapt towards her, sinking its teeth into her left arm and wrapping both front legs around her torso. The woman was able to shake the cat loose and it fell into the pool. The cat then got out of the pool, walked a short distance away, defecated and departed. About half a dozen visitors were in the area when the attack occurred. One visitor who was approaching the hot springs on the trail saw the cat about 50 feet away, loping towards the visitors in the spring. He said that the cat broke into a run when it was about ten feet from the woman, then jumped on her. The woman sustained deep puncture wounds to her left arm and scratches and punctures from claws to both the front and rear of her abdominal area. She was treated by park medics and sent to a local hospital for a follow-up exam and tetanus shot. All witnesses agreed the cat was acting normally and appeared healthy. Rangers closed the area to visitors and began attempting to locate the bobcat. [Mark Spier, Chief Ranger] Prince William Forest Park Attempted Suicide, Life Saved At approximately 10 a.m. on January 26th, Department of Defense Maintenance personnel at Marine Corp Base Quantico discovered a note indicating a possible suicide in the Chopowamsic Backcountry area of the park. This land was formerly used by the Corps for training under a special use permit. Marine MPs and rangers were notified and responded. The first on scene was a Marine MP who was able to extricate a man in his mid-20s from a vehicle parked between a numbers of downed pine trees. The man had driven the vehicle under the downed trees the previous night and was hidden from view. He'd then ingested a number of prescription sleeping pills along with an undetermined amount of alcohol, and had also attempted to fill his car with carbon monoxide using a portable charcoal grill. The man was disoriented and in need of medical treatment, which was provided by base EMS personnel. He was then transported to a local hospital, where he voluntary committed himself for psychological evaluation. Rangers are leading the investigation into the incident. [Norman W. Nelson, Jr., Chief Ranger] Big Bend NP Suicide at Backcountry Campsite A 41-year-old visitor from Conroe, Texas, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in at the Solis #4 backcountry campsite in a remote area of the park on the Rio Grande River. The man was camping with his father, who drove out to the Rio Grande Village area to report the incident. Rangers, assisted by the FBI, investigated the incident. [Mark Spier, Chief Ranger] OPERATIONAL NOTES Rocky Mountain NP Christensen Fatality Report Released This morning, the park will release the fatality investigation report and park action plan for ranger Jeff Christensen's fatal accident, which occurred on July 29, 2005. Christensen, 31, of Fraser, Colorado was killed when he suffered head injuries as a result of a fall. The accident, which was not witnessed, is estimated to have occurred in mid-afternoon on July 29th while Christensen was on a backcountry patrol in the Mummy Range area of the park. An intensive search and rescue operation was begun by the park early on the morning of July 30th and continued under the direction of the National Park Service's Type II Central Incident Management Team. Christensen was discovered by a hiker at approximately 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 6th. A serious accident investigation team (SAIT) was convened. The team's role was to gather all pertinent data and facts surrounding the accident. The team has prepared a factual report that includes their findings and causal factors for this incident. In addition, Rocky Mountain National Park officials have prepared an action plan which responds to the findings and recommendations of the investigation team. “We appreciate the support we have received from so many people both during the search for Jeff and the following months,” said Jeff's parents, Dale and Chris Christensen. “Rocky Mountain National Park, Winter Park and the mountains were very important to Jeff. We are at peace knowing that Jeff was doing something he loved and we are proud of him.” Superintendent Vaughn Baker had this to say: “We honor Jeff and all those who protect our parks and visitors by learning from this incident and enhancing the safety of our employees and visitors.”
For copies of the reports and more information visit HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/romo" www.nps.gov/romo after the report is posted at 10:30 a.m. EST. * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |