If I am visiting a National Park and planning to hike or wander off on a trail, I try to check in with a Ranger to let them know if they see my car overnight or for days...I got eaten.

 

While in Yellowstone in the early 90s I had a chance to photograph one of the most magnificent elk I have ever seen. His name was Charger. He earned his name from protecting his harem from other elk, but most of all...photographers. Charger, on more then one occasion did not like the proximity of the a photographer to his girls. He would promptly "charge" after bugling and scoop up the photographer's tripod, lens and camera into his antlers and proudly strut off into the woods. I had seen several images of Charger strutting off with the equipment. I always wondered what happened to the equipment, did the Rangers get it after the rut, or do elk have an online auction site they use?

 

Charger

 

Several weeks after capturing this image I was back in Yellowstone photographing. When I checked in with the Rangers they asked if I had any recent images of Charger. I said I did and asked why. They said Charger had fallen victim to poachers about a week after I had left. I gladly gave them whatever images I could, as did many other photographers they contacted. Using all of the images collected and some on file, the Park Service was able to catch the poacher and successfully arrest and prosecute them. The last I heard was the poacher received 7 years in prison and a $100,000 fine.

 

When in the National Parks, be a good visitor to the area. Follow rules, regulations and develop friendships with the Rangers and employees. Simple gestures go along way to finding great areas to photograph, but even more so can help them to find those who break the laws.