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National parks appeal to people of varying interests: some come to soak in the stunning views and connect with nature, while others are there to enjoy the meaningful outdoor experiences. However, increasingly, more and more visitors are being drawn to the allure of going viral on social media with the 'perfect pic'. Over the years, it has become apparent that the strive to get "TikTok famous" has driven more people to visit national parks. There is also a distinct correlation between the rise of social media and the increase in both environmental destruction and visitor fatalities at national parks. Learn about some of the negative impacts social media has on our parks & other crazy stories below!
Current Stories:
Current Stories:
Article Link: "A TikTok Star Hit A Golf Ball Into Grand Canyon. Here's How Much That Stunt Cost Her"
For the purpose of creating new, popular content, TikToker Katie Sigmond put all national park visitors at risk and damaged park property by hitting golf balls into the Grand Canyon. This dangerous form of littering was punished but this still represents one of the egregious stunts social media users are willing to perform at the expense of national parks and for the safety of its visitors.
Article Link: Baby Bison Dies After Yellowstone Tourists Put It in Their Car Because It Looked Cold
While unrelated to social media, a lack of park education is apparent through these visitors' careless behavior. A group of tourists saw a baby bison, which they interpreted as chilly in the winter weather, and decided to "help" the bison warm up. Approaching this animal can be very dangerous for the visitors (because while the young bison may not be large, its protective mother surely would be), but they managed to place the bison in their car. Any human contact a young bison experiences can cause its herd to abandon it, making this a very dangerous act by the tourists. Additionally, disturbing a young animal's ability to adapt to its habitat can greatly harm the animal in the long-run, which could cause it to become human-reliant. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, when the bison was returned to its natural environment, the mother refused to take her baby back, resulting in the ultimate death of the bison. This tragic story is just one clear example of why it is critical visitors adhere to all national park rules, specifically those that prohibit impeding on wildlife.
Article Link: Teen Falls to His Death in Yosemite National Park After Tying to Take a Selfie
In this unfortunate incident, a young teenager was so desperate to capture the perfect selfie that he decided to approach the edge of a cliff in Nevada Falls, Yosemite National Park. The teen slipped during his selfie attempt, causing him to fall to his death. Sadly, taking dangerous selfies and pictures has resulted in similar deaths at national parks. While achieving an Instagram-worthy photo may be tempting, it is not worth risking your life. Always prioritize your personal safety, be sure to keep a safe distance between you and the edge of a trail or cliff and never go off trail.
Article Link: Graffiti Artists’ Move to National Parks Shocks Nature Community
Article Link: Graffiti Etched into Famed Rock Formation at Arches National Park Might Be Irreparable
In recent years, graffiti damage has increasingly plagued our national parks, harming both the appearance and integrity of these natural formations. At Arches National Park, graffiti markings were found on one of the park's iconic rock structures. This type of permanent damage destroys America's natural treasures. This damage sparked widespread outrage from the community. Not only does this behavior cause damage to one of Utah's most treasured natural landmarks, but it is also illegal. In a similar incident, a graffiti artist at Joshua Tree National Park, spray-painted an entire boulder, disrespecting the park, and ruining other visitors, experience at this popular landscape. This act is a clear representation of park vandalism, a pattern that must be ended. There are many other similar offenses committed at our parks, among them an act of vandalism at New River Gorge. The act of branding or tampering with the structures at a national park is a violation one of the key principal's visitors are expected to adhere to: Leave No Trace.
Article Link: Rock Cairns - by the US National Park Service
While the act of rearranging rocks to create or destroy existing rock cairns may seem innocent and harmless, it has a negative impact on visitor experiences. Official rock cairns created by National Parks serve a distinct purpose: they are used as trail markers for hikers and relied on by visitors. Tampering with, creating new ones, or destroying existing cairns can confuse visitors and lead them off path. Also this act violates the policy of Leave No Trace while exploring a national park. Additionally, building unnecessary rock cairns impedes trail paths, creates triping hazards and can potentially be very harmful to animals and visitors when they are unbalanced.
Learn more about the unnecessary damage that reckless visitors have inflicted on our national parks in the video below!
Olympic National Park
Olympic National Park
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
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