NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
MORNING REPORT
Monday, August 10, 2015
INCIDENTS
Yellowstone NP
Grizzly Bear Involved in Yellowstone Hiker's Death
Preliminary results of an investigation into the recent death of a hiker in the park show that the man was attacked by a grizzly bear.
While the exact cause of death has not been determined, investigators have identified what appear to be defensive wounds on the victim's forearms. The victim's body was found partially consumed and cached, or covered, in the vicinity of the Elephant Back Loop Trail near Lake Village on Friday afternoon. Based on partial tracks found at the scene, it appears that an adult female grizzly and at least one cub-of-the-year were present and likely involved in the incident.
The Montana man was a long-term seasonal employee of Medcor, the company that operates three urgent care clinics in the park. He had worked and lived in Yellowstone for five seasons and was an experienced hiker. He was reported missing on Friday morning when he did not report for work. A park ranger found his body in a popular off-trail area he was known to frequent, approximately a half mile from the Elephant Back Loop Trail.
Additional rangers and wildlife biologists responded to the scene and gathered evidence for bear DNA recovery. The investigation will continue, although heavy rains in the area Friday evening and Saturday morning have made additional evidence recovery difficult. A forensic autopsy is currently scheduled for today.
Wildlife biologists set bear traps in the area on Friday evening. If bears are trapped and identified as having been involved in the attack, they will be euthanized.
“We may not be able to conclusively determine the circumstances of this bear attack, but we will not risk public safety,” said Superintendent Dan Wenk. “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and our hearts go out to the family and friends of the victim as they work to cope with the loss of someone who loved Yellowstone so very much.”
The Elephant Back Loop Trail and immediate area will remain closed until further notice. Signs are posted and maps of the closure area are available at park visitor centers.
[Public Affairs Office]
Sleeping Bear Dunes NL
Powerful Thunderstorm Slams Park
On the afternoon of Sunday, August 2nd, a powerful thunderstorm with straight-line winds in the 80 to 100 mph range slammed into the Glen Haven area of the park.
Although no employees or visitors were injured during the storm, it toppled thousands of trees in an estimated 2,000 acre area and forced the closure of D.H. Day Campground (88 sites), Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive, Dune Climb, Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail (paved multiuse trail), the Glen Haven Historic Village and numerous hiking trails. Preliminary site inspections show minimal damage to park buildings. The D.H. Day Campground has extensive damage to picnic tables, tent pads and fire rings.
Approximately three hours after the storm, a 33-year-old kayaker was successfully rescued by a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter about two miles off South Manitou Island. He had been in 67 degree water and separated from his kayak for over three hours before being rescued. The kayaker had departed North Manitou Island with his brother and was attempting to cross the four mile passage to South Manitou Island when they were hit by a separate storm. His brother was able to complete the crossing and contacted a ranger who helped coordinate the rescue response.
Another rescue involving five hikers took place on the mainland in the Alligator Hill Trail area. The hikers were trapped by fallen trees during the storm and became wet and cold. Two rangers and a sheriff's deputy spent hours hiking through dense fallen trees and brush and rescued them in the early morning hours of August 3rd.
As of August 6th, more than 100 employees and volunteers from the park, Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore and North Country National Scenic Trail were assigned to the cleanup efforts. District Ranger Joe Lachowski and Chief Ranger Phil Akers have been managing the incident.
[Phil Akers, Chief Ranger]
OTHER NEWS
The following stories are among those in today's webpage editions of InsideNPS (available to NPS employees only) and the Morning Report (available to all readers):
General Grant NM - The annual kickoff event for the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce's month-long "Harlem Week" was held again on the streets and parks surrounding General Grant National Memorial. An estimated 3,000 people attended.
Kings Mountain NMP - The EPIC (Education, Participation, Interpretation and Creation) Patriot Camp, held this summer through a collaboration among three NPS areas and a partner association, taught students about the Revolutionary War and helped make them NPS ambassadors.
Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings, newly introduced bills, and the status of legislation of interest to the Service. This report covers activities in Congress for the week ending August 7th.
Cane River Creole NHP - Johnny Batten III, a tractor operator at Cane River Creole National Historical Park, passed away peacefully at home on the banks of Cane River on July 31st.
Pacific West Region - Jacqueline Ashwell has been selected to be the next superintendent of World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument and the newly created Honouliuli National Monument.
To see the full text of these stories, readers should go to one or the other of the following sites:
NPS employees - HYPERLINK "http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index" http://inside.nps.gov/index.cfm?handler=index
Non-NPS employees - HYPERLINK "http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/" http://www.nps.gov/morningreport/
The Morning Report is produced by the Office of Communications with the support of the Office of the Associate Director for Information Resources. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@contractor.nps.gov).
--- ### ---