On its face it sounds like a good move: engineer land swaps to remove private parcels from within Cumberland Island National Seashore. But that proposal is raising fears the exchanges could accelerate development on the barrier island off the coast of Georgia.

Eleven more miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina opened to the public Wednesday as National Park Service crews continued to remove debris left by Hurricane Helene and make repairs.

On a rocky slope in Torngat Mountains National Park in northern Labrador, a lone polar bear was splayed out on his belly on a bed of Arctic plants. He looked like a bearskin rug until he rolled lazily onto his side, lifted his head and yawned.

Grizzly 399 symbolized our remaining wild and spectacular places. Her passing is a wake up call to protect grizzlies in the face of disappearing habitat, increased traffic, and shootings.