Zion National Park in Utah is extremely popular. With the pandemic, it has seen an even bigger boost in visitation. Consequently, more people also means more problems.
One of the latest problems stems from people and wildlife. No, it isn’t an animal attack. And no it isn’t someone “rescuing” an animal. In the past, we have covered situations where people have gotten too close to wildlife and have been attacked. Likewise, In 2020, a woman was attacked in Yellowstone National Park after getting too close to a bison, you can read about that by clicking here. Back in 2016, people tried to “save” a young bison by loading it in their car. Unfortunately, the young bison later died from the encounter.
Zion National Park and Garbage
However, this issue comes from people’s garbage. Recently at Zion, a necropsy was performed on a dead deer. In short, the results are shocking.
“The deer’s stomach was packed with more than a dozen pieces of food wrappers, an entire sandwich bag and a piece of rope. The deer couldn’t digest any of it.” -Park Officials
It is not uncommon for wildlife to get used to people. Especially in such a busy park. However, they are so used to it that they are searching campsites and dumpsters for food. As a result, this is most likely not the last time this will happen.
“Tourists should always store their food in proper containers. If a dumpster is overflowing, people shouldn’t add more trash to it. Never feed the wildlife, and keep a safe distance from all critters; for your safety and theirs.” -Park Officials
Most importantly remember that wildlife is wild. Animals can be aggressive and dangerous. Consequently feeding them can alter natural patterns and spread disease. Often times it does more harm than good. You can read more about this incident by clicking here.
What close animal encounters have you had? Do enjoy seeing wildlife in National Parks? Let us know in the comments!
