Virginia Elk Restoration
About 75 elk have been released into Virginia's Buchanan County in a multi-year project to restore the species to its native hills. The project has been conducted by the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, its volunteers, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and several other partners.
"There is now a growing and sustainable elk herd on the ground in Virginia for the first time in more than four decades," said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO.
The third and final group of 45 wild elk -14 bulls and 31 cows, 16 of which are pregnant- from Kentucky recently joined an existing herd of about 30 elk previously relocated in 2012 and 2013.
"Volunteers first got involved when approached by Buchanan County officials back in 2010," said Blake Henning, RMEF vice president of lands and conservation. "They helped search for and find suitable locations in the southwest part of the state and then rolled up their sleeves and went to work in many reclaimed mining sites. Crews cleared brush, applied fertilizer and planted native grasses to improve habitat, talked to and worked with local landowners, and stepped up each time to assist wildlife officials with the actual on-the-ground elk reintroductions."
Virginia has a goal of growing the herd to about 400 animals and eventually instituting a regulated hunting season. Proceeds from hunting permits will target elk habitat and conservation efforts.
RMEF completed successful elk restorations in Wisconsin in 1995, Kentucky in 1997, Tennessee in 2000, Ontario in 2001, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in 2002, Missouri in 2011, and Virginia in 2014. RMEF also previously funded feasibility studies in Illinois, Maryland, New York and West Virginia.
National Park Fish Laced with Mercury
Mercury has been discovered in fish in some of the most remote national park lakes and streams in the western U.S. and Alaska. Mercury levels in some fish exceeded U.S. Environmental Protection Agency health thresholds for potential impacts to fish, birds and humans. The information about mercury, and its appearance in protected areas considered to be relatively pristine and removed from environmental contaminants, is in a recently published scientific report from the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service.
The study of mercury in fish is the first of its kind to incorporate information from remote places at 21 national parks in 10 western states, including Alaska. Western parks were selected for this study because of the significant role that atmospheric mercury deposition plays in remote places, and the lack of broad-scale assessments on mercury in fish in remote areas of the west.
Mercury concentrations in fish sampled from these parks were generally low, but were elevated in some instances. The study examined total mercury in fish, of which 95 percent is in the form of methylmercury, the most dangerous form to human and wildlife health.
Mercury is harmful to human and wildlife health, and is among the most widespread contaminants in the world. It is distributed at a global scale from natural sources, such as volcanic eruptions and from human sources such as burning fossil fuels in power plants. Mercury is distributed at local or regional scales as a result of current and historic mining activities. These human activities have increased levels of atmospheric mercury at least threefold during the past 150 years.
"Although fish mercury concentrations were elevated in some sites, the majority of fish across the region had concentrations that were below most benchmarks associated with impaired health of fish, wildlife and humans. However, the range of concentrations measured suggest that complex processes are involved in driving mercury accumulation in these environments and further research is needed to better understand these processes, and assess risk," said USGS ecologist Collin Eagles-Smith, the lead author of the publication.
Between 2008 and 2012, NPS resource managers collected more than 1,400 fish from 86 lakes and rivers, and USGS scientists measured mercury concentrations in fish muscle tissue. Sixteen fish species were sampled, with a focus on commonly consumed sport fish found across the study area such as brook, rainbow, cutthroat and lake trout. Smaller prey fish consumed by birds and wildlife were also sampled.
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National Park Week
The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation will host National Park Week April 19-27, featuring special events in parks nationwide. This year's theme, "National Park Week: Go Wild!" invites visitors to celebrate all that America's 401 national parks have to offer. Free admission will be offered to all parks on April 19 and 20, and exciting activities and programs are scheduled throughout the week.
There are countless ways to enjoy National Park Week.
The National Park Foundation has teamed with Disney on the new Disneynature film, "Bears," premiering just in time for Earth Day and National Park Week on Friday, April 18. For every ticket sold during "Bears" opening week, April 18-24, Disneynature will make a contribution to the National Park Foundation to protect wildlife and wild places across America's National Park System.
On April 26, young visitors can celebrate National Junior Ranger Day by taking part in special family-friendly activities.
More than 100 free, ranger-led walks are offered during National Park Week. Hike to a cloud forest, take a sunset stroll, wander through John F. Kennedy's neighborhood, and more.
Enjoy a self-guided tour to historic places, most of which are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Each trip takes you to a variety of places significant in American history, architecture, archeology, engineering and culture.
Spring has sprung and it is the perfect time to see nature in all of its colorful glory in parks across the country. Parks including the Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee and Cumberland Gap and Mammoth Cave in Kentucky will have wildflower walks and talks.
National Park Week also offers many opportunities for the public to explore local parks, trails, and architectural gems sustained by National Park Service programs such as the Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance program and the National Register of Historic Places.