Protecting Our National Park's Wildlife

Welcome Back! This blog will have a different spin than our others as we have been asked to work together in Collaboration with #TheParksApparel. For those of you have never heard of the Parks Apparel before, let me introduce you. The Parks Apparel is a clothing company, with the goal to create a collective consciousness of outdoor appreciation and awareness among their consumers through providing, leading, and involving. Every purchase made by customers from the Parks Apparel gives back to the wild, and protects 100 square yards of land for #endangeredwildlife. Each and every purchase supports wildlife conservation projects. How amazing is that?! What a great cause to support. And that brings us to our blog today, creating awareness of the importance of our #Nationalparks, and all the endangered species that call our national parks home. Using both facts, and our own personal experience on our latest road trip, we hope maybe we can encourage you to visit our national parks, and next time you do, to be extra mindful of the impact you are making on the land, and the wildlife living among these lands.

Grizzly Bear at Yellowstone National Park

America is full of so much beauty, and many of the US National Parks offer some of the world's greatest natural wonders. As of 2015, our National parks encompassed fourteen percent of the land area across America. This is very significant, as this is a large amount of our wilderness and forests being protected. More recently, with the government shutdown occurring all across America, we have watched a catastrophe begin. Our National Parks are at such a high risk, and more than ever need our assistance in maintaining their beauty.

Wearing #TheParksApparel "Adventurer" Crew Neck

Why is it Important to Protect Wildlife within the National Parks?

National Parks across America are home to over 1000 rare or endangered plants and animals. Placing great importance on the need to protect and preserve these species, and their habitats. The list of endangered species is always growing, and includes but is certainly not limited to; grizzly bears, bison, bighorn sheep, bald eagle, and the long-nose bat. Although park rangers do their best to maintain and manage a healthy environment to protect such species, a large responsibility falls on to the park visitors to be respectful, and keep the parks safe for the wildlife inhabiting the surrounding environments. When a species becomes endangered, or threatened, it is a sign that the ecosystem is slowly falling apart. This is so critical, as each member of the environment, plant or animal is interconnected, and impacts other species living within the same environment. This is where the parks visitors come in, more recently, this is becoming an increasing concern, as the National Parks across america are facing a crisis of popularity, with visitors coming from all over the world to see the natural wonders and beauty offered by the parks. The ongoing popularity of our national parks are leading to congestion and overcrowding not only on the trails, but also in the parking lots, and roadways leading into, and throughout the park. It is important that we are aware of the impact we are making on the parks, so that we can preserve the breathtaking sites for future generations to come, and all to enjoy. If we continue at this rate, we will loss so many of the wonderful wildlife sightings we all hope to experience when visiting our national parks. I know the wildlife sightings were a huge highlight for our road trip. Can you imagine our National Parks without Wildlife?

Bison Grazing in Yellowstone National park

How can you make a Difference?

There are numerous ways you can help support and protect our National Parks! We wont go through all of them, but will certainly get you started, and help you realize just how EASY it is to help our parks. Here are 5 ways you can help protect wildlife while visiting our National parks, so that both the wildlife and visitors can thrive together, safely.

Mountain Goat in Yellowstone National Park

Number One: Leave No Trace

First and foremost, the easiest thing you can do for our National Parks, and wildlife is to ALWAYS pack out, everything single thing you pack with you on your hikes, or backpacking adventures. All garbage, including food wrappers, toilet papers, or toiletries, plastics, everything. Leave no trace, means that the area which you visited should feel and look as if you were never there. Do not disturb the environment around you. Leave things as you found them, let the rocks be, as they may be home to little critters, and please do not carve into trees, as this harms the tree and makes them vulnerable to diseases which may kill them. Transferring sticks, branches or pieces of bark is harmful for the environment, as it may contain wood-boring insects, which are among the most destructive pests, capable of destroying entire sections of forests. Travel and camp on durable surfaces. There are many species of wildlife that live underneath of us, in the ground. As the famous saying goes "leave only footprints, and take only pictures". Its that literal, leave nothing behind. Be respectful to the environment and our wildlife. Keep your distance if you do sight wildlife, and be aware of safety procedures for bears, wolves, cougars, and bison.

Number Two: Proper Storage of Foods

Another VERY Important part to wildlife conservation is ensuring the proper storage of food on our outdoors adventures. This is especially important for those on camping or backpacking trips. Always ensure your camp is bear proof. Always use a bear cache if they are available. Ensure all food, and toiletries such as toothpaste, soaps, dishes, toothbrush, oils, anything that you feel may have a smell. If your unsure, but it in the bear cache anyways. Its always better to be safe, and to keep the wildlife safe too. If there is no bear cache, hang your food in a tree 10-15 feet high so that standing bear cannot reach it. Ensure that you hang your bag, and make your cooking fire at least 100 yards away from your tent, or where you will be sleeping. NEVER

EVER feed the wildlife. Something which may seem harmless like feeding a deer, can lead to serious injury to yourself, wildlife or the other hikers/campers. Feeding wildlife eliminates the hiker - wildlife boundary. Wildlife that has repeatedly been fed looses its fear of humans, and will keep returning and getting closer to human interaction seeking food. When wildlife, especially bears loose their fear of humans, they not only endanger you, but put themselves at risk, and often because a dangerous animal. These are often the wildlife that park rangers are called out to shoot. In fact while on our road trip, there were many posted signs stating that "a fed bear, is a dead bear".

Number Three: Be Aware of Posted Signs and Stay on Designated Trails/Paths

Why stay on designated trails you ask? Our National Parks provide designated trails and paths for several environmental benefits. Trails are carefully planned out to provide park visitors with the maximum exposure to special park features, while having minimal damage to the environment. Staying on the trails helps to preserve the environment for future generations, while some environments may also be home to endangered wildlife. Any destruction to the environment could be detrimental to the endangered species. Often times, National Parks will closed trails or sections of forests for restoration and regeneration, as they have undergone great stress from visitors. When we go off the trails, fragile soils, animal habitat, or surface vegetation can be hurt beyond recovery. Some trail heads even offer brushes to wipe off the bottoms of your shoes, as we can stop the spread of invasive plants species to vulnerable habitats. Veering off the designated trails can also sometimes bring us in very close encounters to wildlife. As mentioned previously when wildlife become accustomed to people, they loose there fear and the boundary line between people and wildlife is eliminated. Putting visitors and wildlife at risk. Next time your out on a hike, or camping trip, please give the signs a quick read for your safety and the preservation of our wildlife and national parks. You just never know when a sign could be warning you of wildlife activity.

Number Four: Visit the Parks

Proceeds from entrance fees, contribute to the keep up, and conservation of the park and the wildlife living in the parks. Our national parks offer an affordable family vacation with ample learning opportunities. national Parks are a great alternative to wildlife viewing in the wild, versus in a zoo. The wildlife found in our national parks are living in their natural habitat, wildly and freely. Park Rangers throughout the park offer family friendly activities, and front line learning experiences. These experiences include guided hikes, presentations surrounding bear safety, preserving our national parks, and full engaging scavenger hunts, etc. The list of reasons to visit the National Parks is endless really, but most importantly they offer the opportunity for individuals to reconnect with nature, and understand what the true meaning of tranquility is. Nature truly is the best medicine. A visit to a National park leaves you feeling re energized and educated, while the entrance fees help preserve the beauty of the land, and the vast array of wildlife.

Number Five: Support Local Shops Such as The Parks Apparel who Give back to our National Parks, and give proceeds of their purchases to protect endangered wildlife

For those of you involved who enjoy social media, and supporting special causes, this is a perfect option for you. You may not enjoy going outdoors, and hiking, etc. and that's completely OK. You can make just as much of a difference by supporting local shops. You can support them, by following them on Instagram or Facebook, and making purchases from their online or in store shops. Local shops thrive off their fans and supporters. So you can get something nice for yourself, while contributing to important environment/ wildlife concerns. Every purchase makes a difference!

Thank you so much for tuning it, I couldn't be more excited about this wonderful opportunity. As you've read through, it's so simple to make a huge difference when it comes to our national parks, and the endangered animals living in our parks. There are options available for everybody, and a change cant happen without you! So be sure to check out The Parks Apparel Instagram page, and if your feeling generous, maybe even make a small purchase ;)

The Parks Apparel, Happier Camper Sweatshirt

Stay Wild,

Jesse & Jessica.