It's easy to take the status of national parks for granted. We read wonderful, beckoning stories about them in magazines and newspapers. And we watch gorgeous travelogue pieces about them on television. But how much do we know about the operational status of the national parks? How much do we know about the health of the natural resources, the condition of historic structures, the state of the workforce that operates and manages the national parks?

Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming has extended two existing wildlife closures to protect bighorn sheep because of persistent winter conditions and deep snowpack at high elevations throughout the Teton Range. The existing park closures, near the summits of Static Peak, Mount Hunt and Prospectors Mountain, are extended through May 15. Recreational use in these areas is prohibited during this time.

A paving project will require closure of the Shark Valley area of Everglades National Park in Florida to allow for repaving of the entrance road, parking lot, and 15-mile tram road.

There are living things on this planet which defy the passage of time, surviving harsh winters, burning dry summers, and altering climate. These hardy, gnarly lifeforms are the bristlecone pines, trees that can live for thousands of years. At Great Basin National Park, you can hike the Bristlecone Grove Trail to pay your respects to these “elders.”