|
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Friday, September 29, 2006 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Acadia NP Earthquake Shakes Park On Friday, September 22nd, local residents, visitors, and park staff awoke to an unusual event in Acadia National Park when a 3.4-magnitude earthquake shook the ground at 6:39 a.m. According to the Weston Observatory at Boston College, the epicenter (44.35N, 68.19W) was located in the park, just off the Precipice Trail parking area on the Park Loop Road. Although minor, the earthquake was nonetheless felt by many in Ellsworth, Maine, 22 miles away. Other reports came in from as far away as Addison (29 miles) and Islesboro (34 miles). Park staff living near the epicenter felt several precursors to the earthquake throughout the night and reported that objects in their houses rattled and shook with each event. The rumbles of aftershocks were heard during the day on Friday; at least 16 possible aftershocks have been recorded since the primary event. No damage has been reported. According to the Maine Geological Survey, earthquakes in Maine are relatively rare, with just 507 earthquakes occurring in the state from 1747 until 1992. During that time, only one other earthquake originated from Mount Desert Island. It's no wonder that many people thought Friday's booming and shaking was a furnace malfunctioning, a large truck passing by, or even an explosion. Instead, they had experienced the first recorded earthquake with its epicenter in Acadia National Park. [Ginny Reams, Writer-Editor] Grand Teton NP Two Elk Poachers Caught In Park Rangers apprehended two elk poachers between North Jenny Lake junction and the Spalding Bay turnoff just off the Teton Park Road on the morning of Saturday, September 23rd. B.H., 43, and J.H., 41, both residents of Green River, Wyoming, were illegally hunting elk inside the park when observant visitors notified the Teton Interagency Dispatch Center that two men carrying rifles and wearing hunter orange and camouflage clothing were walking near the park road. Park rangers found B.H. and J.H. walking along the tree line near the Teton Park Road, trying to find their vehicle. The hunters had planned to return to the elk carcass to retrieve it and had marked the kill site with rock cairns to help relocate it. B.H. readily admitted to shooting a six-point bull elk, which was located about one mile off the Teton Park Road, and offered to lead rangers back to the location where he and J.H. had field dressed the animal. B.H. had not tagged the illegally killed elk before he started to field dress it and was still carrying the hunting tag. B.H. and J.H. claimed that they thought they were hunting in Area 73 - a hunting zone located on the western slopes of the Teton Range that is generally accessed from Idaho. They had driven from Green River on Friday night and traveled Wyoming Highway 390 before entering the park through the Granite Canyon entrance station. They then parked their car on the side of the Teton Park Road to sleep before getting up Saturday morning to hunt elk. Rangers issued citations for the illegal taking of wildlife, use of a firearm in a national park, carrying a loaded weapon in a national park, failure to properly tag an animal, and possession of a controlled substance. All charges carry a mandatory appearance in federal court; the court date is set for September 28th. Rangers also confiscated an elk bugle, two hunting rifles, three knives, and drug paraphernalia. The two men were traveling with a 13-year-old female and a 20-year-old male. The young man was also cited for improper transport of a loaded weapon in a national park. [Jackie Skaggs, Public Affairs Officer] NEWS National Historic Landmarks - The Secretary has designated a number of new sites. HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=4809" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewnpsnewsarticle&type=Announcements&id=4809 MEDIA Rocky Mountain NP - Good article from the Denver Post on the challenges of trail maintenance in the park. HYPERLINK "http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_4401628" http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_4401628 PEOPLE Wrangell-St. Elias NP&P - Meg Jensen is the new superintendent. HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1328" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=viewcommunityarticle&type=PeopleNews&id=1328 * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |