RANGER ACTIVITIES DIVISION
                           MORNING REPORT

Attention: Directorate
           Regional and Park Chief Rangers, USPP, BIFC, FLETC
           CC: RAD Information Net

Day/date:  Wednesday, May 1, 1991

INCIDENTS

91-143 - Joshua Tree (California) - Weapons Violations

On Sunday, April 30th, visitors to the park told patrol rangers 
that they had been shot at by several individuals in camouflage 
clothing near the park's boundary.  The rangers contacted local 
sheriff's office deputies and California Highway Patrol officers 
and asked for assistance.  A CHP helicopter located the suspects 
after a brief search.  When found, the suspects stuck their 
bayonetted rifles into the sand and raised their hands.  
Investigation revealed that they had been conducting survival 
training just outside the park and that they had not intended to 
shoot at or near any persons.  The guns in their possession were 
AK-47 and SKS rifles; since they were not functioning on fully 
automatic, they were deemed legal and no arrests were made.  
[Paul Henry, CR, JOTR, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, 
RAD/WRO, 4/30]

91-144 - Sequoia/Kings Canyon (California) - Successful Rescue

During a backcountry ski trip in the park last week, A.S., 
34, of Corte Madera, California, began suffering from high 
altitude pulmonary edema.  Her husband skied 20 miles in one day 
through very steep and icy terrain and 80 mph winds to report 
her illness to rangers.  On Friday, a helicopter from Lemoore 
NAS braved 40 mph winds to successfully evacuate A.S. to a 
local hospital.  A.S. was attempting a 35-mile, six-day-long 
traverse of the Sierra Nevadas along the High Route.  [Dispatch, 
SEKI, via CompuServe message from Herb Gercke, RAD/WRO, 4/30]

RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

Padre Island (Texas) - Turtle Nesting

A Kemp's ridley sea turtle nested in the park on April 29th  the 
first confirmed nesting of a Kemp's ridley on the Texas coast 
since 1988.  The turtle is currently the most critically 
endangered sea turtle species in the world, with only about 300 
adult females remaining in the population today.  Three visitors 
saw the turtle emerge from the surf to nest and immediately 
notified park staff.  Employees rushed to the nest site, 
examined the turtle, and retrieved 107 eggs for incubation under 
protected conditions.  Nearly all Kemp's ridleys nest on a 
single, 14-mile-long stretch of beach at Rancho Nuevo in Mexico.  
An international project was conducted between 1978and 1988 to 
establish a secondary breeding colony in the park, but there 
have been no confirmed nestings at Padre Island as a result of 
this effort.  Although it's possible that this turtle is 
associated with the project, it's also possible that it is a 
wild Kemp's ridley, as four other wild Kemp's ridley turtles 
have nested there since 1979.  Park employees will be conducting 
patrols for nesting sea turtles through August.  Detection of 
larger numbers of nesting Kemp's ridleys in the park would 
indicate that the project to establish a breeding colony there 
was a success.  [Butch Farabee, PAIS, 4/30]

OPERATIONAL NOTES

1) The Department of Interior has received a request from the 
Costa Rica Ministry of Environment, Energy and Mining for five 
or six NPS rangers to help in earthquake damage assessments and 
assistance.  The request is currently being considered in the 
Director's Office.  Ranger Activities has identified a team 
leader and team members who have the requisite skills  
selfsufficiency, good physical conditioning, fluency in Spanish, 
and EMS and SAR skills  and are available for travel to that 
country.  Attempts are currently underway via the State 
Department to identify logistical and communications support for 
the team.  We'll keep you posted on developments. [Dick Martin, 
RAD/WASO]

STAFF STATUS

Division Chief: Dabney in Canyonlands (4/29-5/1).

Branch of Resource & Visitor Protection: Sisto in meetings on 
subsistence issues, ARO, Anchorage, Alaska (4/29-5/3); Henry on SL 
(indefinite).

Branch of Fire: Hurd at Congressional operations seminar, Washington,
D.C. (4/29-5/3); Broyles at national training team meeting, Salt Lake
City, Utah (4/30-5/3); Norum and Gale at park/wilderness fire management
course, NARTC, Marana, Arizona (4/28-5/3); Farrel at orientation to NPS
operations training course, Portland, Oregon (4/29-5/3).

Prepared by WASO Division of Ranger Activities

Telephone:  FTS 268-4874/6039 or 202-208-4874/6039
Telefax:    FTS 268-5977 or 202-208-5977
CompuServe: WASO-RANGER (Branch of R&VP); WASO-FIRE-WO (Branch of Fire)
SEAdog:     1/650