NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
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INCIDENTS
Death Valley NP
Bobcat Attacks Result In Employee, Visitor Injuries
On Monday, December 17th, park staff were informed of an incident in which a bobcat had attacked a park visitor at Furnace Creek Inn. Rangers found that a 64-year-old woman had suffered scratches and bites on her hands, face and scalp. For several days thereafter, there were numerous bobcat sightings around the inn and resort. Rangers saw several bobcats that showed signs of habituation to humans, but were unable to determine which one was responsible for the attack. On Friday, December 21st, rangers responded to another report of a bobcat attack at the inn. An adult male employee of the resort had reportedly been smoking outside the building when the bobcat attacked him, inflicting bites and lacerations to his head and neck. Since the attack occurred on private property, California Fish and Game and the Inyo County Sheriff's Office were notified. Fish and Game officers asked the park to euthanize the bobcat to ensure public safety. Necropsy results, received last week, revealed that the animal was not suffering from rabies. Rangers and Fish and Game officers found that several resort employees had been feeding wildlife, greatly contributing to the bobcats' habituation and aggressive behavior. [Aaron Shandor, Acting Chief Ranger]
Olympic NP
Lost Skier Rescued From Hurricane Hill
On the afternoon of Saturday, December 29th, R.K., 53, became disoriented while skiing in blizzard conditions near Hurricane Hill. He stopped and dug a snow cave, then called the park via cell phone to report his situation. Rangers were able to talk to him only briefly before the call was dropped, but were able to gather some information about his surroundings and probable location. A search was conducted for him the evening, primarily along Hurricane Hill Road, and two rescuers attempted to sky beyond the road's end. They had to turn back, though, due to the blizzard and hazardous avalanche conditions. Six rescuers skied to the hill on Sunday morning in three to four feet of deep powder snow, high winds and very poor visibility. They reached R.K. around 1 p.m. and found him to be in good condition. He was able to ski out with his rescuers. About a dozen park staff, ten volunteers from Bremerton-based Olympic Mountain Rescue, employees of the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports Club and personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles participated in the search and rescue effort. [Barb Maynes, Public Affairs Officer]
Biscayne NP
Cuban Migrants Smuggled Onto Keys
Early on the mornings of both Thursday, December 27th, and Friday, December 28th, the park received calls from the Coast Guard's Miami Beach station reporting the landing of Cuban migrants in the park - on Elliott Key the first day and Adams Key the second. Both groups were evidently smuggled in by “go fast” boats that picked them up in Cuba, charging an average of $10,000 per person to bring them to the United States. Both groups appear to have been smuggled in before sunrise. There were a dozen men, women and children in Thursday's group and 38 in Friday's. The park has seen a marked increase in Cuban migrants being dropped off on its remote keys this year, evidently due to recent tensions in Cuba. [Didier Carod, Law Enforcement Specialist]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS (internal) or NPS Digest (external):
Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHS - The park will host the kick-off event for Lincoln's bicentennial birthday celebration on February 8th. President Bush has been invited to deliver the keynote address formally launching the nation's two-year celebration of Lincoln's life and legacy.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6105" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6105
Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the National Park Service.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6104" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6104
Natural Resource Stewardship and Science - Gary Johnston, Washington Office liaison and biologist with the Biological Resource Management Division, will complete a 38 year career in the federal government when he retires tomorrow. The last 28 of these years have been dedicated to the National Park Service.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1782" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1782
Intermountain Region - Robert L. Moon, Intermountain Region's associate regional director for resource stewardship and research, has received a meritorious service award from Secretary Kempthorne. He retires from the NPS on Thursday.
HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1783" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1783
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Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov, 570-686-3828).
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