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National parks and wildlife within these parks may sometimes be an exhilarating experience but, from a timid deer to an aggressive bear, wildlife should be dealt with caution and care.

These animals are called “wild” life for a reason. While spotting a wild animal within the parks may not happen every time you visit, the sightings do happen, and it’s a good idea to know the safety tips should you happen upon any wildlife.

In any Canadian national park or national parks and wildlife reserves, a creature as benign as a deer may cross your path. This passiveness can sometimes be mistaken for friendliness.

All it takes is one sudden movement and you will be defending yourself from a frightened animal protecting itself on instinct. An angry or frightened deer can be just as dangerous as a charging bear. A human can’t out run an animal and has fewer defenses when it comes to dealing with claws, teeth and antlers.

These few tips about national parks and wildlife may help you have a safer trip.

Do not feed the animals. You may see signs with these words in any national parks and forests. This is not because the park rangers want the animals to die of famine. This tip is as much as protection for the animals as it is for people.

Wild animals have found food on their own before humanity created a sanctuary for them, they will find food long after. If you approach a deer or elk with some food, if you manage to get close enough for it to eat out of your hand, this may seem like a pristine photo opportunity.

However, this innocent situation could turn ugly. One flash from the camera could cause the animal to lash out with its hooves or horns. Also, as these animals become more and more habituated to human interaction, they may start begging for handouts and may even get aggressive if they don’t receive any.

Leave these animals to fend for themselves. Take a picture from afar. It may save you a few broken bones and bruises when you leave these Canadian national parks.

Keep children and pets close by. National parks and wildlife can sometimes seem like play things to kids. There are many places for young ones and pets to disappear in dense cover.

Also, even if you have an eye on them, keep them within grabbing distance. To some wildlife, small children and pets are the size of their prey. Even something as harmless as a chipmunk may suddenly become violent and bite.

Canadian national parks and forests are wild habitats and should never be considered substitute playgrounds for children.

Treat all wildlife with respect. Whether this means giving them their space or putting away all garbage so you leave no damage to their habitats, wild animals deserve this courtesy.

You wouldn’t like a stranger to come into your place, flop on your couch, and take pictures while throwing empty wrappers on the floor, would you? Neither do the animals in our national parks and forests.

Interfering with their instinctual needs can threaten their natural development. Canadian national parks are these animals’ homes. We are simply their guests.

For more safety tips, you can visit any national parks and wildlife websites or contact your local national parks. Before you head out into the wilderness, inform yourself on the type of animals you may have sightings of and learn about their typical defensive behavior.

Learn the animals’ habits, what they eat, when they sleep or where they hunt. The more you know, the better your chances are of having a harmless encounter. Better safe than sorry!

National Parks can be an intriguing and beautiful experience for anyone. Learn more about the national parks and wildlife safety tips at Mike Selvon portal. While you are there leave is a comment at our National Park blog.

If nature is going to be preserved, new national parks are going to be needed throughout the world. The good news is that these parks are being created on a yearly basis. They are designed for a number of reasons, ranging from the protection of ecosystems to the remembrance of historical accomplishments.

The newest of these national parks are found on extreme northern Labrador. Created in January 2005, the Torngat Mountains National Park Reserve is the baby of the Canadian National Parks system. This park is a gift of Inuit land consisting of two distinct landscapes: the gentle Georgian Plateau formed by receding glaciers, and the spectacular Torngat Mountains.

The mountains are amongst the most rugged in North America. Along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, a hiker would find an untamed coastline where cliffs seem to erupt 900 meters out of the sea, and fjords jutting up to 80 miles inland. Massive icebergs can sometimes be seen ferrying along the coast.

This 3100 square kilometer park does whatever it takes to make an explorer seem small while expressing the grandeur of nature at its most beautiful and dangerous.

If you are looking for a place to witness firsthand many ecosystems living together, the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado are an excellent example of a national park that has a bit of everything. While the dunes were designated a national monument in 1932, they were not officially labeled a national park until September, 2004.

This was done so that the surrounding areas could be protected. The dunes are tall and move at a very rapid rate. In fact, one dune has recently taken over a forest. Little green tips of tress can be seen coming out of the dunes.

Medano Creek is also a very appealing attraction to tourists, especially when the weather is hot. A refreshing swim in the stream is a relaxation not to be missed after a long hike. If you want to see one of the most beautiful national parks in the country, visit the Great Sand Dunes of Colorado.

The Canadian national park that has the distinction of being one of the most remote is the Ukkusiksalik National Park found in northern Nunavut. It can only be reached by plane making it also one of the most untouched national parks.

Previously inhabited by Inuits until the 1960’s, this twenty thousand plus square kilometer swath of land became an official national park in 2003.

For those ambitious adventurers willing to travel to this park, you’ll be rewarded with such features as reversing falls, 8 meter high tides, a 24 foot waterfall that freezes in the winter, and archaeological sites of previous Inuit inhabitants.

Also, nature abounds in this northern habitat with polar bears, seals, caribou, and over 100 different species of birds.

These are only a few of the new national parks that you can witness firsthand. Areas still untouched by man are difficult to find and disappearing quickly. If you would like to learn more about Canadian national parks and be a part of history in the making, visit www.pc.gc.ca. For American parks, stop by www.nps.gov to find more information.

National Parks can be an intriguing and beautiful experience for anyone. Learn more about the New North American National Parks at Mike Selvon portal. While you are there leave is a comment at our National Park blog.

When it comes to national parks recreation camping, there is more than just bringing a sleeping bag and tent to the great outdoors. The most successful camping trips are well-planned, as it takes quite a bit of effort to survive an evening in our national parks and forests.

You have to be prepared for emergency situations. What if you get lost? Would you know how to survive and find your way back or signal for help? What about encountering wild animals? Would you know what to do if you were faced with an angry bear caught raiding your food at night?

Plan your route before you leave. Collect any useful map you will need for this trip. Road maps, trail maps, and park maps detailing the national park system of the park you’d be visiting.

Be sure that you check the weather forecast before you head out, and then pack accordingly. Try to plan your trip for a time that will be dry: it is simply not as much fun to explore the outdoors if it is raining. Even if rain is not in the forecast, you should still pack your gear with foul weather in mind. Better to have brought too much gear than not enough.

Bring a First Aid Kit. This kit should be equipped with anything that could be useful for any sort of minor injury that could result from camping in our national parks and forests. The kit should include antiseptic, gauze, bandages, insect repellent, sunscreen, pain relievers, tweezers, and a pair of scissors.

Make room for emergency supplies. National parks recreation camping sometimes can take a turn for the worse if you or a member of your group get lost or injured within a national park system.

Take a compass, extra water, flashlight, knife, whistle, high energy food like energy bars, waterproof matches or fire starter fluid, an extra change of warm clothes, and bug spray.

Keep all trash sealed. While camping in one of the country’s many national parks and forests, do not leave any trash behind and recycle anything you can. Conversely keep all food sealed and hid away.

Open food while national parks recreation camping is an open invitation to any wildlife to come to your camp to feast. Beware of any animals that come near. Most animals feed at night so if you happen to hear one, a flashlight may ward them off.

Look out for bugs. The biggest hazard you’d most likely face are bugs. Depending are where you’re camping, bees and hornets will be attracted to scents such as food, perfume, and dark colored clothing. Gently brush them away if they approach. Swatting will only aggravate them.

Pitch your tent in a nice, safe, dry, flat spot away from the campfire. National parks recreation camping is unpredictable at best. By anticipating the worse, you can avoid many accidents. Look out for a spot to place your tent that doesn’t look like water would pool or make the ground muddy if it were to rain. Always use a flame retardant tent in case of stray sparks from the fire.

Learn more about national parks recreation camping survival guide at Mike Selvon portal. While you are there leave is a comment at our National Park blog.

Not all national parks in Canada are cut from the same cloth. They are as diverse as the country is wide. From the east coast of Newfoundland to the farthest reaches of the Northwest Territories, you will find something for every taste and budget. There are too many to name all national parks in Canada but below are three popular ones you shouldn’t miss.

Cape Breton Highlands, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia

Driving along the Cabot Trail that skirts the rocky cliffs of the northern coast of Cape Breton, you feel like you stepped out of North America and into the Scottish Highlands. What you have to look forward to in this Canadian national park are breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, rolling green mountains, steep roads, deep valleys, and enough scenery to fill a photo album (or your digital memory card).

The Cape Breton Highlands are also home to several family-friendly trails and beaches, and is the location of the best public golf course in Canada, the Highland Links.

Of all national parks, the Cape Breton Highlands National Park should be seen to be appreciated. Please visit your national parks website for more information or check out the Parks Canada website.

Banff National Park, Banff, Alberta

Nestled in the Rocky Mountains along the border of Alberta and British Columbia just an hour and a half-drive from Calgary, you will find the first Canadian national park and the third of all national parks worldwide ever established.

This 6641 square kilometer (2564 square mile) park boasts some of the most impressive peaks of the Rockies (Castle Mountain), year-round refreshing hot springs, world class downhill skiing (Lake Louise), renowned glaciers (Columbia Icefield), and wildlife. This popular park is a must-see destination for anyone who enjoys skiing, hiking, or just relaxing.

All national parks in this area of Canada have the Rocky Mountains as the backdrop to their canvas but only this one can claim to be the first of all Canadian national parks. So be the first in your community to explore this great park and please visit your national parks website to plan your trip today.

Mount Revelstoke National Park, Revelstoke, British Columbia

Mount Revelstoke stands on the west side to the Rocky Mountains and is where you can find the world’s only inland temperate rainforest. Here you will see some of the oldest natural environments in the world.

Mount Revelstoke has three areas in its park that are named after their elevation: Rainforest, Snowforest, and No Forest. As you travel higher through the park, any rain that might be falling turns to snow.

The spectacular sight of ancient forests below from the highest point of the park is amazing to behold. Another wonderful sight are the giant cedar trees on the Giant Cedars Nature Trail, a half-kilometer path that has 500 year-old trees as thick as a car.

For more information, please visit your national parks website for Mount Revelstoke.

Visiting a Canadian national park is like visiting all national parks - it is a welcome refuge from the daily grind. We have only looked at a few of the many things to see in the broad and diverse land that is known as Canada.

National Parks can be an intriguing and beautiful experience for anyone. Learn more about the Canadian All National Parks at Mike Selvon portal. While you are there leave is a comment at our National Park blog, and receive your FREE gift.

Our national parks have developed a reputation for several appealing features. Incredible monuments, gorgeous scenery, and intriguing wildlife are but a few of the many attractions of our parks.

The unspoiled majesty of our national parks is a living treasure and it could be difficult to choose one or two to visit at any given time. Why not start with two of the more popular sites; The General Grant Tree and Kings Canyon.

The General Grant Tree towers over 260 feet above the Grant Grove, the largest remaining natural Sequoia grove in the world. The circumference of its trunk at its widest is over 90 feet alone.

The true size is difficult to imagine but, to put it in perspective, the General Grant Tree is a little shorter than the Statue of Liberty standing on her pedestal and the trunk is bigger than the Oval Office at the White House.

This two thousand year old Sequoia tree also has the designation of being the third largest Sequoia in the world, the second largest of all our national parks (the largest found also found in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Park but not nearly as picturesque), and our nation’s Christmas Tree.

The General Grant Tree can be found at the north entrance of the park along Route 180 leading to Grant’s Grove Village.

Despite the impressive size of the General Grant Tree, the true centerpiece of the Kings Canyon National Parks is Kings Canyon. Kings Canyon has the distinction of being the deepest canyon in North America.

At 8000 feet from its highest point to the Kings River cutting through its middle, it is deeper than even the Grand Canyon though it lacks the sheer width that makes the Grand Canyon more impressive.

The only way to fully enjoy most of the attractions at the Kings Canyon National Park is by hiking. It is the only mode of transportation that is allowed. Cars will never get in your way, so plan on thoroughly enjoying the exquisite Zumwalt Meadow and Cedars Grove, two of the most appealing attractions found in the park.

Other notable places to visit in the Kings Canyon National Park include the Roaring River Falls, a section of the Kings River that tumbles down the rocky side of the Kings Canyon.

Big Stump Basin is another location to visit, where remnants of fallen giant Sequoia trees lay dead from timber operations from the early 1900’s as a reminder of mankind’s lasting effects on our environment.

All of our national parks teach us valuable lessons. Both the Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks show us how mighty our forests can be - when humans do not negatively affect them.

It would be a shame to lose these magnificent trees and have our future genteration only read about them in books. Protecting the environment is a must for all of us today, so that we may sustain nature and beauty for as long as we can.

National Parks can be an intriguing and beautiful experience for anyone. Learn more about the fragility of our national parks at Mike Selvon portal. While you are there leave is a comment at our National Park blog, and receive your FREE gift.

National parks are wonderful resources. In this era of constant deforestation and construction, national parks offer a bit of a respite. These federally protected areas are good for the environment and good for us, as they give us a place to get out of the hustle and bustle of urban life.

Many people do not fully understand the purpose and need for national parks, and in this article, we will address some of the most frequent questions about them.

In the United States, what activities are forbidden in national parks?

The exact rules vary by park, but in general, any activity that disturbs the natural environment is prohibited. This includes building campfires outside of designated fire rings, cutting trees whether alive or dead, gathering firewood, hunting, littering, throwing coins into fountains or pools, or any other activity that may be damaging to the environment.

What is the value of national parks?

National parks exist to preserve our history. Without the national parks, many historically and environmentally important landmarks would be subject to destruction and decay. The national parks also provide a place for us to visit to escape from the mundane world. The cultural and recreational significance of national parks is tremendous.

Does it cost money to visit the national parks?

The national parks do charge a nominal entrance fee as well as additional fees for expanded activities such as camping. Fees vary by park, so please contact the park you wish to visit in advance. A variety of passes is also available.

Is the National Park Service involved in any research or preservation activities?

The National Park Service is affiliated with a wide variety of scientists from many different fields who are performing innovative research into environmental preservation. The NPS recognizes that the hands-off management style employed throughout most of the 20th century is not sufficient, and now seeks to take a much more proactive role in preservation, not only at the parks but globally.

How can I get involved?

The National Park Service offers a variety of ways for citizens to become involved. One of the most common ways to help is to become a National Park Service volunteer. Volunteers in Fiscal Year 2005 contributed a total of 5.2 million hours.

Volunteers are needed in a surprising array of positions from campground host to gardener to historical re-enactor. Visit the National Park Service website at www.nps.gov for details on current opportunities.

Volunteers may be compensated in some way such as a free campsite, although compensation varies by park. If you log 500 hours within a year, you will receive a Volunteer Pass that works similarly to an Annual Pass for federal parks.

Youth programs for Americans aged 5 to 24 are managed in partnership with many agencies from the Scouts to Job Corps. The youth programs are designed to give children and young adults the opportunity to become more familiar with the national parks through a combination of education and work experience.

It is believed that the early experience with the national parks will build a lifelong respect and concern for the parks specifically as well as preservation as a whole.

Internships are available to students in a variety of majors. An internship provides hands on experience in the student’s field of study. Please visit the NPS website at www.nps.gov for information on applying for an internship.

National Parks can be an intriguing and beautiful experience for anyone. Learn more about what our national parks at Mike Selvon portal. While you are there leave is a comment at our National Park blog, and receive your FREE gift.

In aspiring to the quest of a free and inquiring mind I often get exposed to the unexpected and sometimes exotic. Such was my brush with Tepe. I have a few Tepes on my jungle ranch and, along with my jaguar and boa, felt it important to get to know my critters, responsible caretaker that I am and all that touchy feely soft side stuff. The agrarian reform law and my fellow ejido members have legally put me and mi senora in charge of what is allowed and not allowed on our jungle ranch. Including an ever expanding Tepe colony. But unlike the jaguar I had no inherent fear of the Tepe. That is until I saw how big it gets.

I won’t actually give you the “official” recipe for Tepe here; for that you will probably have to find a Maya like my friend Poot though as you will see it doesn’t require special sauces, seasonings or fancy cookware. After all it is a rat…and it’s all in how it’s cooked: underground, like a rat.

My authority is Poot, a jungle man who goes out everyday into the jungle. I really enjoy going into the jungle with Poot as there is a whole jungle world that is invisible to most of us climate controlled urbanites. Poot has taught me to respect, not fear, the jungle. The only animal the Maya men truly fear is the jaguar…and that is why they will often carry a shotgun when going deep into the jungle. They certainly don’t fear Tepe.

Odds are you won’t find a real jungle man in Cancun or Playa del Carmen because catching and cooking Tepe is a real skill and art that is quickly lost in the land of street tacos, supermercados and the Oxxo convenience stores of Chetumal or Tulum. And no simple mousetrap will do for this monster. He could eat a conventional trap. So the only ones that hunt Tepe are the Maya. And to find real jungle people one has to actually go to the jungle…just like going after the Tepe. Duh.

Poot doesn’t speak English nor I Maya but we both speak Spanish. When I first introduced myself to Poot he said, “Deal — that sure is a funny name”. I replied, ” Poot — that sure is a funny name”. We both laughed and became good friends. On my first trip to the ranch he asked me if I had ever eaten Tepe. I said no as I am from Veracruz and as far as I know we don’t have Tepe there. We have rats but not that big…At least I’ve never seen one and believe me if I had seen one I would have remembered it. Tepe is not the sort of thing one forgets…

Poot promised that before I caught my flight from Cancun back to San Jose I would eat Tepe. I didn’t pay it much attention but on the afternoon two days before our departure he shouted outside our palapa that he had trapped one and to come on over.

From the first day we moved to our Maya jungle village palapa our neighbors have brought us food. (Occasionally our neighbors in the Bay Area bring us food but none has ever brought rat.) And since the wife is an excellent cook and our native Veracruz cuisine is world famous, she returns the favor. I like that. There is something nice about being social and there is something very social about food. And neighbors sharing Tepe with neighbors.

An interesting thing about the Maya, or at least in our little village, is they only kill animals in self defense or to eat. My guess this has probably been passed down from generation to generation for eons and that’s why my neighbors think that way. Makes sense. I know Poot pretty well and know the highlight of his day is when he heads out into the jungle…it’s his life. In the jungle he and the jaguar are kings. In Cancun or Playa the jaguar is stuffed on the wall and Poot is a day laborer. Poot said he would never leave the jungle. I bet the jaguar says the same thing. I have to leave because I can’t raise or hunt enough food to support us. Yet. Poot wants to teach me but I don’t think I could bring myself to stick my hand down into Tepe’s hole…

The jungle is absolutely brutal and unrelenting hence the expression ‘it’s a jungle out there.’ That’s why the Maya thrive in the jungle and soft first worlders like me don’t. We can’t. Well, usually not. Since the Maya are the poorest indigenous people in Mexico, they hunt to eat. I see them sometimes out on our ranch but I would never say anything if someone is hunting to eat. And in watching them I can tell you that hunting animals in the jungle is no fiesta. And I never have heard them brag about killing animals — even when drinking with my Maya pals in the cantinas where they will brag on just about anything else.

Those who feel the Maya children should go hungry and spare the critters are fools. Sorry. I love critters too and I will not hunt them but I will not judge a man who is feeding his family. Consider the alternative which happens all too frequently, especially in the remote areas of Quintana Roo and Chiapas and points south.

Obviously I’m not a sport hunter and not really even a hunter. Somehow I never really got a thrill out of killing animals and I killed a fair number back when we lived on the ranch in Veracruz. We raised oranges and I shot hundreds of small woodpeckers that would eat the oranges. The wife would pluck the birds and fry them up…three or four making a very tasty meal. I once shot a seven foot snake. I have killed a number of large chicken hawks. Never did kill any human chicken thieves or orange bandidos though. And never saw a Tepe. Nothing even close.

So for my money, the Tepe is one giant rat. Technically it’s not a rat as we urban dwellers know it…but it looks like a rat and has feet and teeth like a rat. It’s like a rat except it can get up to 10 kilos or 25 pounds. They are honkers. They live near marshes or swamps giving totally new meaning to the words swamp rat.

Poot makes a stone and stick trap at their den entrance and traps them. Zero cost. He’ll even pull them out with his hands, something a non-jungle man like me would never consider. He says he is always very careful as they can easily bite off a thumb. I’m still not interested. He kills the Tepe with his machete. That is one big rat. I will never have to remind myself to not stick my hand down in a Tepe hole. My fingers are fine the way they are…

He skinned the critter, cut it up, laid it on banana leaf stalks over very hot coals, placed a metal card table top over the fire and covered it all in dirt. No seasonings whatsoever. In a little over an hour we were eating Tepe, a cross between tender chicken and pork. With tortillas and habanero salsa… yummy! Poot prefers Tepe to other jungle animals. He says the meat is tastier and more tender than weasel or wild pig.

Once or twice a month he gets the urge for Tepe and he sets his traps. It might take him a day or two but sooner or later gets his Tepe. When he has money he eats chicken; when he has no money he eats Tepe. He never goes hungry though there are times when he only eats beans, tortillas and habanero peppers: the longevity diet. And a bit of Tepe. Maybe that’s why Mayan’s hair doesn’t turn gray…or fall out like mine.

If you ever get the chance to see or eat Tepe, take a look at the teeth on that guy and tell me he’s not one big rat. I was so impressed I put a whole Tepe photo album on my blog…who knows, maybe we’ll start a Tepe farm. Then again probably not.

Jack D. Deal is the owner of Deal Business Consulting. aRelated articles may be found at http://www.jddeal.com and http://www.freeandinquiringmind.typepad.com