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Parkography

NEWS: NPS Offering $70K To New NPS Rangers, Graffiti at Arches National Park, Trail Runner Gets Pardon

Parkography

RV Miles Network

Science, Nature, Places & Travel, Society & Culture:places & Travel, Society & Culture, History

4.9870 Ratings

🗓️ 19 November 2025

⏱️ 13 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week: National parks reopen after the government shutdown — but not before one of them gets hit with a rash of graffiti. Winter closures are rolling in across the park system, including some big changes at Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. The Park Service is trying to hire 500 new law enforcement rangers with an eye-popping $70,000 bonus… while a new academic study shows national parks are still some of the safest places you can visit. We’ll also look at the Justice Department’s renewed crackdown on marijuana use on federal land, the controversy surrounding the nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management. Plus — a presidential pardon for a record-setting trail runner, and the unbelievable moment a man walked straight toward a pack of wolves in Yellowstone. The full video of the man approaching wolves on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/DPfVXr4Ap4S/ The National Parks Traveler Article: https://www.nationalparkstraveler.org/2025/11/national-parks-are-overwhelmingly-safe-spaces-says-study Find the  Slinky Stove that's right for your next adventure at: https://www.slinkystove.com/?ref=PARKography Join the PARKography Facebook group to discuss this episode and more: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parkography Check out our other channels focused on RV travel:  @RVMiles   @RVMilesPodcast ​ 00:00 National Parks Reopen After Shutdown02:36 Winter Closures and Changes in Major Parks04:53 Recruitment Drive for Law Enforcement Rangers07:09 Safety in National Parks: New Study Insights08:22 Federal Cannabis Law Enforcement in Parks09:12 Controversial Nominee for Bureau of Land Management10:30 Call for Restoration of National Park Funding11:36 Presidential Pardon for Trail Runner12:16 Man's Close Encounter with Wolves in Yellowstone13:14 Conclusion and Thanksgiving Wishes

Transcript

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0:00.0

This week, national parks reopen after the government shutdown, but not before one of them gets hit with a rash of graffiti.

0:07.8

Winter closures are rolling in across the park system, including some big changes at Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon.

0:14.5

The park service is trying to hire 500 new law enforcement rangers with an eye-popping $70,000 bonus, while a new academic study

0:23.1

shows national parks are still some of the safest places you can visit.

0:26.6

We'll also look at the Justice Department's renewed crackdown on marijuana use on federal

0:30.9

land, the controversy surrounding the nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management,

0:35.8

plus a presidential pardon for a record-setting trail runner,

0:39.5

and the unbelievable moment, a man walked straight toward a pack of wolves in Yellowstone.

0:44.9

All that coming up, I'm Jason Epperson.

0:47.0

This is parkography, and it's time for the latest in National Park and Public Lands News.

0:52.2

Welcome back, everybody.

0:53.2

First up, the National Park Service has

0:55.0

officially reopened hundreds of national parks and recreation sites now that the government

0:59.5

shutdown has ended. Most outdoor spaces remained open, but most buildings did not. Park

1:05.4

officials say crews are working quickly to restore normal operations and welcome visitors back.

1:11.3

With parks reopening, travelers can once again make advanced reservations for permits,

1:15.6

campsites, tours, and other activities.

1:18.1

Tours at sites like Mammoth Cave are back online, for instance.

1:21.4

Several of you let me know after the episode I put out last week on National Park Passes

1:26.1

that the USGS.gov portal that sells park passes

1:30.2

online was down. It is now back up and running now that the shutdown has ended. There wasn't as

1:35.5

much illegal behavior and vandalism throughout the shutdown as there was during the last one,

...

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