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Reader Participation Day: A Two-Fer, Mixing Thanksgiving With Year-End Holidays

With Thanksgiving tomorrow and Christmas and the other year-end holidays right around the corner, we decided to spring two questions on you in this week's Reader Participation Day: One, any plans to mix Thanksgiving with a national park visit, and two, what item would you like to find in your holiday stocking that would make your national park visits more enjoyable?

Cactus Poachers at Saguaro National Park Receive Stiff Sentences

One of the most recognized symbols of the American desert is the saguaro cactus, and that fact makes those multi-armed giants attractive targets for thieves. A tip from a concerned citizen, excellent work by rangers at Saguaro National Park and great cooperation from the U. S. Attorney's office have resulted in hefty sentences for two cactus poachers.

Winter: The Perfect Time To Plan Your Long-Distance Trek Along National Scenic Trails

Winter is a season for planning. How better to pass some of those long, cold, snowy nights than before the fire or a the kitchen table with guidebooks and maps, calculators and checklists? And if you’re thinking of tackling one of the country’s long-distance hiking trails, planning is definitely not over-rated. Here’s a look at some of the trails that pass through parts of the National Park System, and what planning assistance is out there.

National Park Service Releases Proposal Endorsing "Benefit Sharing" Tied to Parks' Resources

Should national parks be opened to commercial "prospectors." Not mining prospectors, but rather modern-day scientists and researchers looking for, perhaps, a cure for cancer or maybe an industrial reagent? The National Park Service apparently believes so, as its final Environmental Impact Statement on "benefits-sharing agreements" with scientists supports such agreements.

Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park Uniquely Commemorates a Mexican War Battle

Commemorative activities at the Palma de Reseca Battlefield recently drew attention to a little known national park with an important distinction. Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park near Brownsville, Texas is the only NPS unit that preserves a Mexican War battle site (and it does a fine job of it, too).

Kate Kendall To Explain What Bears Really Do in the Backwoods of Glacier National Park

Kate Kendall is one of the leading bear researchers in the United States, and as such has been working to develop non-invasive techniques for gauging how bear populations in the Rockies are doing. If you're in Montana in December you can catch her presentation on "The Secret Life of Bears," which will provide insights into her latest research.

Officials At Kings Canyon National Park Mulling Future of Concessions in Grant Grove and Cedar Grove

If you've ever ventured to Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon National Park, you know there's not much there in terms of development aside from a small lodge and associated restaurant and four campgrounds. Is that too much, or too little? Park officials want to know as they embark on an environmental assessment looking at the future of concessions in Kings Canyon.

Voyageurs National Park Slowly Working to Acquire Inholdings

Across the National Park System there are millions of privately held acres that fall within the boundaries of national parks. Recently, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area was able to acquire one small parcel that otherwise might have been developed. Voyageurs National Park is just one other example where efforts are ongoing to acquire inholdings.