When temperatures warm up and food is available, brown bears slowly begin to leave their dens. After 4-5 months of sleep and limited activity, male bears emerge first, usually from early to mid-March, followed by solitary females and females with yearlings or two year olds. The last to leave their dens are females with newborn cubs. Spring greens and winter carrion are first on the menu for these hungry bears. Photo of brown bears from Alaska’s Katmai National Park & Preserve by Gavin Danapong (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

National parks preserve some of the most unique landscapes in America. Visitors to Badlands National Park in South Dakota are often shocked at the sudden appearance of these colorful formations rising out of the surrounding green plains. The rock formations and amazing fossil beds give us important evidence of the dramatic natural history of the area. Just another reason why national parks are great outdoor classrooms! Photo by Andreas Eckert (http://ift.tt/18oFfjl).

America’s national parks include some of the most cherished natural landscapes and cultural sites in the world. Today is World Heritage Day and we’re recognizing a unique park with a global profile. Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is one of the few places on Earth where visitors can safely get an upclose look at an active volcano. Witness powerful natural forces at work as Kīlauea and Mauna Loa (two of the world’s most active volcanoes) continue to add land to the island of Hawaiʻi. Photo by Janice Wei, National Park Service.