You Could Be an Elk Rover for Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Looking for unique outdoor volunteer opportunities? Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) announced this week that it is seeking volunteers to be part of its 2025 Elk Rover team. Thanks to the park’s reintroduction efforts, there are now over 200 elk that call GSMNP home. To ensure the safety of both visitors and wild elk, the primary role of an Elk Rover is to educate park visitors on proper wildlife viewing and etiquette.
Volunteers will be required to attend an in-person training session in July and can expect to be on their feet for extended periods during their shifts. Their responsibilities will include assisting with traffic management, guiding and educating visitors, and answering general questions about the park. Elk Rovers are stationed at the Oconaluftee Visitor Center near Cherokee, North Carolina, and are encouraged to commit to at least one four-hour afternoon shift per week, Friday through Sunday. Those interested can reach out to the park’s Elk Rover Project Lead, Justin Cosmo.
WNC Nature Center to Host Brews and Bears 2025, Highlighting Bear Safety and Protection
WNC Nature Center, an organization based in Asheville that works to protect native wildlife and habitats through education and awareness, is hosting a Brews and Bears event today. The monthly series, which takes place on the second Friday of the month from June to September, features education-based bear viewing with safety tips from BearWise and Safe Passage Wildlife Crossing, while attendees walk the park with a drink from vendors and enjoy live music.
According to the center, all proceeds from ticket and beverage sales go towards the Friends of the WNC Nature Center, helping support various programs throughout the park, including animal enrichment and habitat renovations. Guests can get details and buy their tickets at https://wildwnc.org/brews-and-bears/.
Body of Missing Hiker Found in Shenandoah National Park
After a full-scale search operation in Shenandoah National Park (SNP) that launched this past Saturday, officials found the body of missing hiker, Robert “Bob” Bieri, 61, who was last seen off-trail near Lewis Falls on the day he went missing.
According to SNP, the trail to the falls is a 3.3-mile loop with a 990-foot elevation gain, making it a moderately difficult trek that typically takes four hours to complete. As of now, the official cause of Bieri’s death has not been released.
Cover photo: Elk Rover assisting with traffic management. Courtesy of NPS
