Monday, May 04, 2009

Great Smoky Mountains National Park needs more Volunteers to assist with the Elk Program

For those of us who love the Great Smoky Mountains national park, nothing feels better than giving back to the place which means so much to us and for locals who live in the Smokies this is your chance as the park still needs more volunteers for the Elk Bugle Corp program.

Probably this first animal that comes to mind when you think about the Great Smoky Mountains national park is our beloved black bear which has been a visitor favorite since the GSM national parks formation 75 years ago.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park needs more Volunteers to assist with the Elk Program

North American Elk used to freely roam the Smoky Mountains until the 1800's where they were hunted to extinction, but thanks the Friends of the Smokies and other conservation groups between 2001 and 2002 a total of 52 North American Elk were reintroduced into the Cataloochee Valley of the Great Smoky Mountains national park.

The park service is looking for volunteers to join the Elk Bugle Corps to assist park rangers by giving park visitors information on the elk as well as responsible elk viewing practices and to help with parking and traffic management in the Cataloochee Valley.

Additional Volunteers are needed to help from May to November and work for at least 2 scheduled, four hour shifts per month. Help is especially needed on day shifts from 1 pm to 5 pm through the summer.

Anyone interested in joining the Elk Bugle Corp should call Mark LaShell the Cataloochee Park Ranger at (828) 269-3161 for training which will be held tomorrow at the Palmer Barn from 10 am to 4 pm. Volunteers are asked to bring their own lunch as there are no facilities at the park.

Related Elk in the GSMNP Stories

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