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Human excrement, overflowing trash, illegal road exits and other damaging behavior in fragile areas began to overwhelm some of the iconic Western National Parks on Monday, while a partial government closure left areas open to visitors, but with few staff. Dakota Snider, 24, lives and works in the Yosemite Valley, said Monday by phone that officials in Yosemite National Park have announced the closure of some campgrounds and public spaces under minimal surveillance.
"It's so heartbreaking, there's more human waste and trash and no more rules than I've seen in my four years here," Snider said.
The 10th Day of the Party The closure of the federal government, which forced hundreds of thousands of employees to absentee, left many parks without most forest guards and other people who manage the campgrounds and ensure their operation.
Unlike closures. In some previous administrations, the Trump administration left the parks open to visitors despite staff time off, said John Garder, senior director of the budget of the Association for the Conservation of National Parks Nonprofit.
"We are afraid to start seeing significant damage to natural resources in the parks and potentially to historical and cultural artefacts," said Garder. "We are concerned that visitor safety will be affected."
"It's really a nightmare scenario," Garder said.
As part of park closure plan, authorities must close any areas where waste or other problems become health and safety or wildlife threats, Jeremy spokesman said Monday. Barnum in an email.
"At the discretion of the Superintendent, parks may close lands / areas endowed with sensitive, natural, cultural, historical or archaeological resources that may be destroyed, looting or other damage that can not be protected from damage. adequately by the excepted enforcement forces that remain in service, "said Barnum.
In the southern part of Sierra Nevada in central California, some areas of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks were closed on Monday. evening. In Sequoia, home to huge old giant sequoias, General Highway was closed due to the dumping of garbage cans overflowing with bins and posing a threat to wildlife. In addition, the frozen and congested road was three hours late, according to the National Park Service.
The Grant Tree Trail trail, a popular hiking spot, was also closed, as the government's stop put an end to the maintenance and left the trail very slippery with snow and ice, with at least one injury reported, said the park service.
Campers at Ethan Feltges, who operates the Coyote Corner Gift Shop outside Joshua Tree,
Feltges and other business owners, said Ethan Feltges, owner of Joshua Tree National Park in the Southern California Desert. Around Joshua Tree, he had crossed the space between the two vehicles as much as possible, hauling trailers into the park to empty overflowing garbage cans and sweep and store toilets still open. n, said Feltges.
Feltges himself had installed a portable toilet in his store to help visitors who were entering and leaving the park. He spent his days standing in front of his store, offering advice on the park in place of the ranger who would normally be present.
"The whole community has come together," said Feltges, also by phone. "Everyone loves the park and many companies really need this park."
Some visitors hung Christmas lights in Joshua's tortuous trees, many of which are centuries old, the Los Angeles Times reported. 19659002] Most visitors respected the desert wilderness and park facilities, said Joshua Tree Superintendent David Smith in a statement.
But some grasp the lack of park employees to perform illegal work or otherwise damage the park. , as well as relieving himself in the open, says a statement from the park. Joshua Tree said that he would start closing campgrounds for any use except for the day.
In Yosemite, Snider, the local resident, stated that crowds of visitors were coming to the park to enjoy free admission, with only a few park guards on duty.
Visitors left their dogs running off leash in a region rich in bears and other wildlife, and scattered bags of trash along the roads, Snider said.
"You're looking at the Yosemite Falls and in front of you are plastic bottles and garbage bags," he said.
Rocky Mountain National Park officials in Colorado announced on Monday the closure of toilets and the closing of garbage cans in many places.
In Yellowstone National Park, private companies took over some of the maintenance normally performed by federal officials. Contractors who organize snowmobile, bus and van park tours maintain trails, haul trash and replace toilet paper in washrooms and washrooms along their routes.
Almost all roads in Yellowstone's interior are normally closed for the winter. Go to the amusement park like Old Faithful or the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone through guides. Travis Watt, general manager of See Yellowstone Alpen Guides based in West Yellowstone, Montana, explains Travis Watt, general manager of See Yellowstone Alpen Guides.
"This is certainly not our preference – the parks services are doing a good job and we hate seeing them unemployed," Watt said. "But it's something we can handle."
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Report from Gecker from San Francisco. Matt Volz contributed from Helena, Montana.
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