When backcountry violations where discovered in designated wilderness in Joshua Tree National Park, The Access Fund and Friends of Joshua Tree jumped into action to correct them.

Clouded sulfur? Mormon fritillary? Hoary comma? I had never heard of such intriguing creatures before last month, but the Rocky Mountain BioBlitz put me in close proximity to all three. No fear factor or injuries sustained. Just a stroll in a sub-alpine meadow in an effort to inventory butterflies.

Solar energy is one key to sating the United States' energy appetite, but federal officials need to be careful not to overly impact national parks and other public lands when it comes to siting these facilities.