Happy Halloween! We love Badlands National Park in South Dakota, but this shot of a lightning bolt in a purple sky over jagged rock formations looks a little spooky. Photo courtesy of Jake Woll.
Watching the weather at Yosemite National Park in California can yield some amazing views, like sun rays bursting unexpectedly from clouds. Of this moment, photographer Beth Young says, “The rising sun briefly broke through the clouds and illuminated the low-lying mist on the valley floor.” Sunrise photo courtesy of Beth Young.
A rolling carpet of autumn color covers the landscape of Great Smoky Mountains National Park on the North Carolina and Tennessee border. From mountaintop to valley bottom, the gorgeous colors of nature are calling you to explore this amazing place. Photo by Gary Fua (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).
Happy 130th birthday to Lady Liberty! On this day in 1886, the Statue of Liberty was officially dedicated, becoming a universal symbol of freedom and democracy. In 1924, it was designated as a National Monument. 305 feet above the ground, her torch has been a shining beacon on our greatest days and our darkest nights. Photo courtesy of Michael Bissel.
Happy birthday to President Theodore Roosevelt! As President, Roosevelt established 150 national forests, 51 federal bird reserves, four national game preserves, five national parks and 18 national monuments on over 230 million acres of public land. His words and actions were a massive contribution to the conservation movement and solidified his legacy as a champion of public lands.
Photo of Theodore Roosevelt at Yellowstone National Park courtesy of the Library of Congress.
Photo of Theodore Roosevelt National Park by Gary Anderson, National Park Service. Photo of President Roosevelt and John Muir at Yosemite National Park from Yosemite National Park’s archives.
Fall colors are in full swing at Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge. The refuge – located in southeast Maine and borders Canada – protects a wilderness of lakes, bogs, forests and more. Wildlife like moose, deer and songbirds thrive in the refuge’s diverse and picturesque habitats. Photos by USFWS.
Chicago – Illinois – USA (by Jovan J)
Napali Coast – Hawaii – USA (by Angela Sevin)
A colony of bats exit Bracken Cave in Texas. Photo by by Ann Froschauer, USFWS.
The Townsend’s big-eared bat by Ann Froschauer, USFWS.
California leaf-nosed bats by Kristen Lalumiere, National Park Service.
A colony of bats by Alan Cressler, USGS.
Called creepy, scary and spooky, bats often get a bad rap. These little creatures are an important species that impact our daily lives in ways we might not even realize – from pollinating our favorite fruits to eating pesky insects to inspiring medical marvels. We’re celebrating Bat Week and the heroes of the night with 13 awesome bat facts (and amazing photos): http://on.doi.gov/bats
Sig Nordal 