On clear, calm nights, from the top of Buck Hill you can see them flickering off in the distance. Not campfires, but rather gas flares, emblematic of North Dakota's energy boom, glimmering after dark. Here, in the South Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, the flares are just one sign of how the boom, spurred in large part by fracking, are impacting the park.

With Mitt Romney, the Republican presidential nominee, vague on details concerning his plans for reducing the federal deficit and shrinking government, speculation is running heavy, and it's not encouraging for the National Park System.

If you find yourself in Theodore Roosevelt National Park this weekend, head for the North Unit where they're going to be having a star party.

Badlands comprise a great portion of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. But that doesn't mean they're lifeless lands. Spend a little time in the park, keep your eyes and ears open, and you might be surprised by what you see.