These activities create unsafe conditions for people, wildlife, plants and park resources. Some visitors are getting into altercations over campsites and parking sites. And because of the lack of park staff to educate visitors and supervise operations, visitors are driving, hiking, using off-road vehicles, parking and camping in areas where these activities are not permitted. Increased waste and litter dog-walking, parking and camping in unpermitted areas and the unauthorized use of drones have threatened wildlife and habitat in some parks. Many national park sites are experiencing problems with human waste in open areas, along roads and at overflowing toilets, a serious concern for human health as well as wildlife health. Other deaths have been reported at national park sites since the partial shutdown began, although there is no evidence at this time to suggest that illegal activity or reduced staffing due to the shutdown were factors. The investigation into the hiker’s death has been delayed and no press statement was issued, both due to staffing shortages. Had staff been on duty at the time of the incident, as is normally the case, rangers very likely would have prevented the visitor from taking his dog on the trail. In one case at Yosemite, a hiker died from a fall after chasing his dog on a trail near Nevada Fall. Far fewer rangers are available in parks to educate visitors and monitor behavior, increasing the chances that people will be exposed to dangerous situations. ]The Park Service has warned that staff shortages could lead to search-and-rescue delays at a time when some parks are experiencing inclement weather, making driving, hiking, boating and other activities more dangerous. What are some of the major threats to people, wildlife and historic sites since the partial government shutdown began? Smith reported on January 8 that vandals had cut locks off of closed entrance gates, killed Joshua trees and driven vehicles illegally in closed parts of the park, creating new roads through pristine desert areas.Ī boy stands outside the locked entrance gate at the William Howard Taft National Historical Site in Ohio during the partial government shutdown in December 2018. Vandalism, illegal camping and off-road vehicle use, and extensive trash and human waste led Superintendent David Smith to announce that he would close the park indefinitely, although a press statement from the National Park Service later reversed this decision and declared the park would stay open using previously collected fee revenue. At Joshua Tree National Park, the situation has been especially severe. Some parks that had initially remained open later closed due to public safety and resource protection concerns, although several, such as Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, later reopened using funds from previously collected recreational fees, a move NPCA maintains is illegal (more details on our objections to this practice below). Park managers have a great deal of flexibility in deciding whether to close certain areas, and the effects of the shutdown differ from park to park.

In some parks, roads that are normally plowed remain impassable due to lack of maintenance, so the parks remain open but difficult to access. In other cases, parks initially remained open and park superintendents later made decisions to close areas such as campgrounds and roads due to health and safety concerns from overflowing toilets, hazardous weather conditions and other dangers. In some cases, national parks have used supplemental funding from partner groups and state budgets to stay open, diverting resources from maintenance projects and park programs. Gates at many other park sites remain open, but few if any staff are on hand to protect visitors and park resources, and many visitor centers and restrooms remained locked and roads are closed due to weather.

This means that approximately a third of our national park sites are completely closed, including places like presidential homes, museums and cultural sites with buildings that can be locked. The Department of the Interior directed its staff, including National Park Service staff, to keep national parks as accessible as possible while still obeying the law. The news of an agreement to fully reopen the federal government and put our 800,000 men and women back to work, and with pay, is welcome. Short-Term Deal Will Put Federal Employees Back to Work, Fully Reopen National Parks

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