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NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Monday, January 29, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Redwood N&SP Mountain Lion Attacks Hiker On the afternoon of January 24th, a mountain lion attacked one of two adults hiking in the Prairie Creek area of Redwood National and State Parks. J.H. and his wife N.H. were able to fend off the lion after a protracted struggle which included stabbing the lion in the eye with a pen. They then walked out to the roadway where park staff discovered and assisted them. J.H. had significant wounds and can likely attribute his survival to the presence and actions of his wife. He was transported to the hospital were he underwent reconstructive surgery and is ICU doing well. The area was closed to vehicular and pedestrian traffic. California Department of Fish and Game responded and is investigating along with staff from the parks. The lion was subsequently identified and shot and killed. For an update on the incident and J.H.'s condition, click on “More Information” below. [Rosie White, Park Ranger] HYPERLINK "http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=19853" http://www.eurekareporter.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?ArticleID=19853 Redwood N&SP Follow-up On Search For Missing Fishing Guide On January 19th, the body of Crescent City resident C.B. was found in the Smith River inside Redwood National and State Parks. C.B. disappeared in the river after a fishing mishap on January 5th. The Del Norte County Sheriff's Office, responsible for the search effort, used three certified search dogs to locate the body, which was found within 500 feet of the point where C.B. fell into the river from his boat. [Pat Grediagin, Chief Ranger] Haleakala NP Summit Visitor Center Reopens Intense, caustic smoke from a fire on neighboring state land forced a closure of Haleakala National Park's summit visitor center last Thursday morning. Wind shifts had funneled the smoke column from the Polipoli State Park fire up the ridge of Haleakala and over the summit, completely enveloping the backcountry and crater wilderness. On Friday, strong trade winds blew the smoke away from the park, permitting the reopening of the visitor center. All services are now back to normal. [Dominic Cardea, Chief of Interpretation] OTHER NEWS Other news from today's edition of InsideNPS, the National Park Service's home page: Fire and Aviation Management - The oldest active fire truck in the National Park Service is being retired and transferred into volunteer service with the fire education program at Bent's Old Fort. Glacier - The National Association of Interpretation recently awarded Glacier National Park's web-based "eHikes" first place in the multimedia category at their National Interpreters Workshop. National Partnership Office - National Park Week 2007 will be held from April 22nd to April 29th. The theme this year is "Your National Parks: Explore, Learn, and Protect." To link to InsideNPS, click on HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/" http://inside.nps.gov/ * * * * * Prepared by Visitor and Resource Protection, WASO, with the cooperation and support of Delaware Water Gap NRA. --- ### --- |