A black bear that refused to be driven out of the Lake McDonald Lodge complex at Glacier National Park in Montana was put down by rangers after breaking into a cabin and trying to get into other buildings.

A carefully planned effort to boost the bison herd at the Oakland Zoo in California with animals from the Blackfeet Nation adjacent to Glacier National Park has proved unexpectedly successful, and now most of the bison loaned to the zoo have been sent back to the reservation.

Warm breezes and "chamber of commerce" blue skies make spring an ideal time to get out into the national parks, but in those parks with snow in the mountains visitors have to be aware of both hungry bears coming out of hibernation and the potential for avalanches. Pedaling up that iconic Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park in springtime, before snow is fully removed and vehicles are allowed on it, can be a spectacular experience. Paying attention to your surroundings can ensure it's a safe roundtrip, notes Glacier Superintendent Jeff Mow.

How many of you automatically think about Instagram when you see a square-formatted image? Sure, the square format is the way to go with this popular social media application, but there are other advantages to the square format, beyond Instagram. Contributing photographer Rebecca Latson discusses these advantages and how you can use them with your own national park photography.