Big Bend National Park Welcome to Big National Bend Park! the Paisano Big Bend
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National Park Service Big Bend National Park U.S. Department of the Interior Texas Big Bend National Park Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River Visitor Guide The Paisano Volume 34, number 1 2014 C. BALLOU Central Texas Whipsnake (Masticophis Taeniatus Girardi) 6 What to See & Do 10 Campgrounds 11 Backcountry More Inside... Find out how to make the most of your time in Interested in camping in the park? Learn more Learn more about opportunities to enjoy Big the park. Includes detailed maps of the Chisos about the three developed campgrounds as well Bend's wilderness including: primitive camping, Birds and Bird Watching ......................... 8 Basin and Rio Grande Village. as RV hook-ups. backpacking, river trips, and horseback riding. Border Information ................................. 3 Day Hikes ............................................... 7 Feature Articles ....................................... 4 In the News ............................................ 2 Information and Services ....................... 12 Keeping Wildlife Wild ............................. 9 Night Skies ............................................. 8 Park Partners .......................................... 2 Welcome to Big Bend National Park! Safety ..................................................... 3 Weather and Climate .......................... 12 Welcome to Big Bend National Park and the uninhabited land. At first glance, the desert Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River! Over appears to be desolate and barren. One 800,000 acres await your exploration and might feel alone in the wilderness of Big enjoyment. Bend, but even here you are surrounded by life. From an elevation of less than 1,800 feet along the Rio Grande to nearly 8,000 feet in From the forests of the Chisos down to the the Chisos Mountains, Big Bend includes floor of the desert, over 1,200 types of plants massive canyons, vast desert expanses, thrive in the park and support ecosystems forested mountains, and an ever-changing full of pollinators, herbivores, and other river. Here you can explore one of the last wildlife. remaining wild corners of the United States. Take a drive along one of Big Bend's roads, R.WONITE In fact, early explorers found the Big or hike a scenic trail, and discover just how Bend Region to be so remote, so wild, that much diversity and life there is in the desert! Superintendent’s Message they called this area El Despoblado—the It is my honor to welcome you to Big Bend, a magnificent corner of this country that ™ we have the privilege to preserve and share. A Fulfilling these two missions is an ongoing C I balance we work to achieve, and we’ve made R some exciting advancements. E M In April 2013, we celebrated the opening of A the Boquillas Port of Entry. Now visitors can enjoy cross-cultural experiences and build R relationships like we previously appreciated To: To: in this border region. OU Y Another exciting project is the Fossil E X Discovery Trail Exhibit. Friends of Big Bend T C National Park have raised a half million dollars for this project, and continue to IEN partner with us as we create the educational R display that will bring our world-class ational Park, ational Park N N E specimens to light. Visit bigbendfriends.org to become a part of this project. XP Box 129 O Big Bend Big Bend 79834 P E C. BALLOU Superintendent Cindy Ott-Jones Boulders at Balanced Rock National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Big Bend National Park In the News Rio Grande Wild & Scenic River The National Park Service was established on August 25, 1916. “to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wildlife. and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such ALLOU B manner and by such means as will leave . C them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.” Chisos Basin? Do human behaviors attract your exact location, time of day, and weather Authorized by Congress in 1935, and Mountain Lion established in June 1944, Big Bend mountain lions to an area? A primary goal of conditions. Then, report your sighting in National Park preserves the most Research in Big Bend the research is to help park managers reduce detail as soon as possible. Wildlife sighting representative example of the Chihuahuan human/mountain lion conflicts in the park. cards are available at park visitor centers. Park Ranger Ali Paul Desert ecosystem in the United States. The research team consists of experienced You have an excellent opportunity to With every hike in a national park, every Park Mailing Address scientists from the Borderland Research experience the dual mission of the National family trip to a historical site, we fulfill one Big Bend National Park Institute of Sul Ross State University in Park Service in action as we learn more half of the National Park Service’s dual PO Box 129 cooperation with the National Park Service. about Big Bend’s most famous resident—the mission—to provide for the enjoyment Big Bend National Park, TX 79834 The research is being funded by grants, and mountain lion. of the resource. What we often don’t see scientists will work under a special permit. Phone is the fulfillment of the other half—the Scientists will use NPS-approved methods, 432-477-2251 conservation and preservation of precious including the use of radio and GPS collars, resources. National parks are not just places to collect data. Backcountry wildlife tracking Park Websites for recreation; they are living museums, as cameras will be installed in the park in www.nps.gov/bibe/ well as unique scientific laboratories. They www.nps.gov/rigr/ areas determined to be good lion habitat. are places for discovery because, in order to Cameras may also capture black bear images, protect our resources, we must know them. On matters relating to the Paisano: and scientists hope to collect data on how Currently underway is a new study focused National Park Service mountain lion and bear populations affect on our large predator, the mountain lion. Editor, The Big Bend Paisano each other. Raymond Skiles, Big Bend’s PO Box 129 Wildlife Biologist, will be the liaison for the The purpose of the new study is to gain Big Bend National Park, TX project and will help guide the research. 79834 valuable insight about human and mountain [email protected] lion interaction in Big Bend National Park. One exciting aspect of the study is that The study will examine the lion population visitors can assist scientists with their work. The National Park Service cares for the and collect data on its size, density in certain Visitor reports and photos of lions or signs of special places saved by the American areas, denning locations, and hunting their scat and tracks could prove beneficial people so that all may experience our habits. The study will also attempt to learn heritage. to the study. So, what should you do if more about mountain lion interactions with ONITE you spot a mountain lion? First, enjoy the W . humans by tackling important questions: R EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™ experience—you’ve just had a rare sighting! Do cats use hiking trails? Are they more Remember the behavior you witnessed, note Mountain Lion in the Chisos Mountains or less active in human-use areas like the Support Your Park! Park Partners Become a member and create a lasting Big Bend Natural History Friends of Big Bend Volunteers in the Park relationship with Big Bend National Park. Association Founded in 1996, the Friends of Big Bend Approximately 260 volunteers contribute National Park is a private, non-profit 50,000 hours of work every year in Big Bend Do more with your dues! The Big Bend Natural History Association organization with a mission to support, National Park! Whether staffing visitor Purchase a dual annual membership in (BBNHA) was established in 1956 as a both Big Bend Natural History Association private, non-profit organization. The promote, and raise funds for Big Bend centers and campgrounds or patrolling (BBNHA) and Friends of Big Bend National Association’s goal is to educate the public National Park in partnership with the backcountry trails, volunteers protect Park (FBBNP) for only $100. and increase understanding and appreciation National Park Service and other supporters valuable resources and help visitors learn of the Big Bend area and what it represents in who value the unique qualities of this about, and more safely enjoy, Big Bend Member Benefits terms of our historical and natural heritage. national resource on the Rio Grande. National Park. Membership benefits include a 15% BBNHA champions the mission of the discount in BBNHA bookstores; a 10% National Park Service in interpreting the The Friends of Big Bend National Park has While you might not notice volunteer discount on most seminars; a subscription scenic, scientific, and historic values of Big funded a range of critical projects, including contributions at first, look around and you'll to the Big Bend Paisano; a current Big Bend, and encourages research related to wildlife research programs, the purchase of be surprised how many volunteers you see. Bend calendar; discounts at many other air and water quality monitoring equipment, It is primarily volunteers who provide visitor association bookstores in other national those values. and the construction and renovation of the information at campgrounds, and at four of park sites; and the opportunity to support park infrastructure. the five visitor centers in the park. They keep scientific, educational, and research The Association conducts seminars, and programs in Big Bend. publishes, prints, or otherwise provides the campsites, backcountry roads, and trails books, maps, and interpretive materials on Get In On the $30-Per-Plate Fund-Raiser in pristine condition, assist with maintenance Annual Dues the Big Bend region. Proceeds fund exhibits, Big Bend custom license plates are available projects, and are considered the eyes and • Individual $50 films, interpretive programs, seminars, for your car, truck, or motorcycle from the ears of the park.