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nAnniversarynof the Creation of the First National Park in the World!
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nOnnthis date in 1872, U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant signed into law anbill that created the world’s first national park, Yellowstone. Thisn2-million-acre park fills one corner of the state of Wyoming andnspills a bit into Montana and Idaho as well. It is famous for itsnmany geothermal features, such as bubbling mud pots and stunningngeysers, but another thing people count on when they go visitnYellowstone is seeing wildlife. n
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nAndnnot only is Yellowstone important for wildlife, the whole concept ofna national park is crucial and has helped to keep some wildernessnareas…well, wild! Now more than 100 countries have set aside landnin national parks, including China with its 208 national parks, andnAustralia with its 685 national parks!
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n(Wow!)
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nYellowstonenis one of the best places in the U.S. (aside from Alaska) fornwildlife, including the wildlife that people most want to see: largenmammals. There are 60 species of mammals in the park, including thengray wolf,
nlynx,
ngrizzly bear,
nbison,
nblack bear,
nelk,
nmoose,
nmule deer,
nwhite-tailed deer,
nmountain goat,
npronghorn,
nbighorn sheep,
nand mountain lion.
nlynx,
ngrizzly bear,
nbison,
nblack bear,
nelk,
nmoose,
nmule deer,
nwhite-tailed deer,
nmountain goat,
npronghorn,
nbighorn sheep,
nand mountain lion.
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nShe-e-esh,nhuh?
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nTrustnme, you’re going to see a few of these—but mostly herds of bisonnand elk, and a few deer. If you’re lucky, you might see a mountainngoat or a bighorn sheep. You’d have to be VERY lucky to see a moosenor one of the carnivores!
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nYellowstonenhas the largest public herd of American bison in the U.S. Itnalso has large herds of elk. As a matter of fact, there used to bentoo many elk, until the gray wolf was reintroduced to the area.
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nOfncourse, there are many other smaller mammals, plus fish, birds,nreptiles, and insects, in Yellowstone. It’s a great place fornanimals—and therefore a great place to go see animals!
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nForninfo on Yellowstone’s geysers…
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n…checknout this earlier post.
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nAlsonon this date:
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nDidnyou know…?
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