Conservation, Wildlife

Gov. Brown signs Assembly Bill 1213 that sort of bans California bobcat trapping

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

On October 11, 2013, California’s latest mistake for Governor Jerry Brown signed into law a bill that will prohibit commercial bobcat trapping in areas adjacent to California’s national and state parks, monuments and wildlife refuges where trapping is currently prohibited. Assembly Bill 1213 also requires the Fish & Game Commission to consider whether to prohibit bobcat trapping on private land adjacent to preserves, conservancies or any other public or private conservation area identified by the public for protection.

While some – like Brian Nowicki of the Center for Biological Diversity think “This is great news for California’s bobcats, and for the millions of Californians and visitors alike who love watching wildlife in our beautiful parks and other wild places,” the bill comes without any funding of any kind. And without funding, there’s no enforcement.

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Conservation, Hiking - General

American Hiking Society’s Save the Trails Fund

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

I love to hike.  I love the outdoors.  One thing that disrupts the flow on our hiking trails is the insurgence of mountain bikes ridden in an unsafe manner on trails where mountain bikes aren’t allowed to be that puts hikers and the mountain bikers at risk.

From the American Hiking Society’s website:

In recent months there has been an upsurge of organized mountain biking groups attempting to gain access to sections of National Scenic Trails where mountain bikes are currently prohibited. These trails – or in some cases, sections of these trails – were neither designed nor built for mountain bike use. Due to concerns about safety, sustainability, and the displacement of hikers on trails with heavy bike usage, AHS believes that the sections of National Scenic Trails, where mountain bikes are currently prohibited, should remain closed to bikes.

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Activities, Offroading - General

California Association of 4WD Clubs Operation Desert Fun – October 18-19

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Here is one last reminder to get your registration in for Operation Desert Fun, a great fundraiser for the Cal-Diego Paralyzed Veterans Association and Cal4Wheel. Truck on down to the Truckhaven 4×4 Training Facility in the Ocotillo Wells SVRA for some all vehicle action. There are trails for all skill levels, a great vendor show, a raffle and lots more to keep you busy. Kids can even ride as long as they are accompanied by an adult.

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National Forests, National Parks

Isn’t it MORE expensive to add more armed goons to close down our National Parks?

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

FINALLY!  It seems that some have figured out that this is a question that needs to be addressed!  According to The Blaze:

The Obama administration is considering allowing some national parks to be maintained by states during the partial government shutdown, but is still withholding information from Congress and the public about the cost of closing so many open-air monuments and parks.

“It would appear logically that the cost of barriers and security could cost more than simply leaving open,” House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings (R-Wash.) told TheBlaze. “We’ve asked the National Park Service and unfortunately we haven’t gotten answers.”

The Natural Resources Committee and House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a joint investigative hearing Wednesday on why 401 national parks and monuments were closed across the country during the shutdown.

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National Parks

Has the National Park Service Gone Completely Insane?

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

As an avid outdoor enthusiast, I have a great deal of respect and fond memories of my interactions with Park Rangers.

Those feelings, however, are eroding.  During the government shutdown, the National Park Service seems to have completely lost it’s little hive mind in various parts of the country:

  • Locking veterans out of the World War II Memorial, but allowing an illegal alien rally;
  • Using armed guards to detain tourists into their rooms at Yellowstone;
  • Refusing to allow the same tourists to stop at public restrooms as they were bussed out of the part;
  • Erecting barricades to keep people out of Mount Vernon – a privately owned and privately managed venue;
  • Removing handles from drinking fountains to stop people from drinking the valuable (and free) water;
  • Using many more resources to keep people OUT of parks than it takes to keep them open in the first place.

According to a widely-published quote from an Park Service Ranger, “We’ve been told to make life as difficult for people as we can. It’s disgusting.”

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