Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the most pristine natural areas in the eastern United States. The park is filled with breathtaking mountain scenery, rushing mountain streams, and mature hardwood forests stretching to the horizon. Photo by Mary Pisoni (www.sharetheexperience.org)
Spring is in the air! Eggs are appearing in nests at @usfws National Wildlife Refuge System sites and other public lands from coast to coast. Learn all about eggs, their distinctive characteristics, and the threats they face: http://ow.ly/xOf750DRCaJ
Team Public Lands Tip: Know before you go. Check agency websites or stop by a contact station before you set out to learn about fees, pick up permits, check the weather and make a plan. Know your limits and pack the proper gear for your public lands adventure. Photo of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area by Darsh Patel (www.sharetheexperience.org). https://www.doi.gov/blog/welcome-team-public-lands
“Nature doesn’t take notice of your gender, your race, your abilities, or your faults. The only thing that matters is that you leave the space as you find it.” - Teresa Baker
As we enjoy National Park Week, we encourage park lovers to leave these special places unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations. Photo of Glacier National Park by Autumn Schrock (www.sharetheexperience.org)
“Rivers are the old roads, as are songs, to traverse memory.” - Joy Harjo
Sunrise light warms the Painted Wall at Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park near Montrose, Colorado.
Photo by Ryan McGinely (www.sharetheexperience.org)
We’re celebrating bat diversity this International Bat Appreciation Day! Fun facts:
🦇 47 bat species in North America
🦇 About 1,400 bat species worldwide
🦇 Nearly 1 in 5 mammal species are bats
🦇 Bats are the only true flying mammals
Learn more about these mammals, how they maintain a healthy natural world for people and wildlife, and how you can help: http://ow.ly/Gq8350E9XAh
The Laguna Cartagena National Wildlife Refuge in Puerto Rico, along with five other @usfws refuges on the island, are considered to be the most important stopover for migratory birds between North and South America. Historically, almost half of the bird species recorded in Puerto Rico have been observed in the lagoon and the adjacent hills.
At just 160 square acres of land, Rainbow Bridge National Monument is one of the smallest units of the National Park Service. What it lacks in acreage it makes up for in size as one of the largest natural bridges in the world! Photo by Rosemary Polletta (http://sharetheexperience.com)
Swirling sandstone with smooth edges makes for a striking contrast in this remote section of Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona. Home to extraordinary formations, this area, known as White Pocket, is only accessible by ATV’s or 4-wheel-drive vehicles. Please bring plenty of your own water, proper hiking footwear, and a #TeamPublicLands mindset, that will leave this place for others to enjoy. Photo by Jessica Fridrich (www.sharetheexperience.org)
Each spring, the energetic and playful bison calves or “red dogs” join the herd. Standing out with their bright reddish-orange coats, their bursts of energy are magical moments. They fill the fields with awkward jumps, uncoordinated sprints, and joyful reactions as they learn and grow. Pictured here is a newborn red dog with mom, just minutes old, fighting against a slight breeze in an attempt to hold itself up for the first time. Photo Yellowstone National Park by Taylor Albright (www.sharetheexperience.org).