Yellowstone In the News

yellvet wrote: ↑

Mon Aug 14, 2017 3:35 pm

MGB, thought I'd provide a little background for those who aren't familiar with the bear box project originated by the Yellowstone Foundation. Since a good sturdy bear box is expensive, the Foundation partnered with the state of MT so Yellowstone advocates from MT could buy custom Yellowstone license plates. I bought my first custom Yellowstone plate in 2011 and have renewed the plate every year since. According to the Yellowstone Foundation, part of the money received from the purchase/renewal of a custom Yellowstone plate is donated to the Yellowstone Foundation to help fund various projects, ie: adding new bear boxes at the Yellowstone campgrounds as well as replacing the old, vintage ones.

I've been camping at Slough Creek every year since 1978. I would have thought that, by now, the Foundation would have taken the initiative to see to it that all the handicap campsites in Yellowstone would have an EZ to open bear box, especially, since the MT/Yellowstone custom license plate program has been in place since at least 2011. Since then, I have voiced my concerns numerous times about the poor condition of the bear box at the SC handicap site not only to the local Tower rangers but also to the Yellowstone campground supervisor, the SC campground host(s) and to the campground maintenance workers. Since physically disabled campers at Slough Creek are still expected to use a vintage bear box, my husband and I plan to submit our concerns directly to the Park Super. on the feedback form that we were asked to fill out, at the end of our visit this summer. If that doesn't work, then I plan to share my concerns with DOI Sec. Zinke. It's beyond me as to why the vast majority of the SC camp sites have the new bear boxes, while the very campers who need a functional, easy-to-open bear box the most (the physically disabled), are still expected to use a bear box that's falling apart or won't open, without the help of another person. That's shameful!! A few years ago, when the rangers were putting on the adhesive, donator nameplate sticker on the bear box at our site, I asked them why the handicap site (located next to us) didn't have one of the new bear boxes. They couldn't give me an answer. So until such time that a new bear box is installed at the SC handicap site (Site #12 in 2017), I'm going back to buying a generic MT license plate next year. Hopefully, someone in Park management will see this post and will remedy this situation before the 2018 Park visitor season begins. To see any disabled camper have to struggle with one of the old, hard-to-open bear boxes, breaks my heart. The one in the SC handicap site should have been replaced years ago. It doesn't take a brain surgeon to identify which bear boxes need to be replaced. They're the ones that have a big heavy chain bolted to each end of the door, with HD steel fasteners bolted to the bear box.

On a positive note, I'd like to mention that the new bear boxes are absolutely wonderful!!! The interior storage space is more than adequate and you don't have the strength of Hercules to get the doors open. So many thanks to all the people who were involved in choosing the design and vendor for the new bear boxes. They're GREAT!!!

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Wenk’s retirement will take effect on March 30, according to a press release the park sent early Friday morning.

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