Crater Lake Bear-Camper Conflicts Close Sites

The Aspen Daily News reports that camping around Crater Lake in the Maroon Bells Wilderness has been closed because of bear-camper conflicts.

The restriction keeps overnight visitors away from an area of dangerous bear activity and prevents bears from further obtaining food and garbage suspended from trees and in tents. It also provides a period of time for these bears to begin finding their natural food as berries and acorns become available downvalley, and may help keep these bears from becoming dependent on food and garbage, ultimately leading to their demise.

Texas Town Bans Public Camping

Officials in Graham, Texas, have banned camping in city parks after discovering several homeless people camping in a wooded area.

Minnesota DNR Promoting Yurts

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is also promoting yurts to attract campers to two state parks and a state recreational area in that state. The yurts, to be installed at Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area and Glendalough and Afton state parks, will feature woodstoves. The yurts join the camper cabins built at 27 state sites since the mid-'90s, also designed to bring more people to the parks more often. Not a bad idea for those less inclined to tent camp!