The National Park Service is warning that it will close most US national parks if Congress fails to come to an agreement to avoid a government shutdown this weekend, and a popular social media campaign celebrating fat bears will be canceled.

The parks will close as the agency applies lessons learned from previous shutdowns to its closure plans.

“In the event of a lapse in the annual government appropriations, National Park Service sites will be closed. The parks depend on Congress and appropriations to pay staff salaries and keep the parks running. This means that the majority of national parks will be closed completely to public access,” a senior administration official said.

  • @kraftpudding
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    129 months ago

    What is fat bear week?

    • @[email protected]
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      129 months ago

      The bears in Alaska bulk up for hibernation. They come into the park really, really skinny and then everyone makes bets on who will put on the most weight. It’s a lot of fun.

    • @macarthur_park
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      99 months ago

      Choose the fattest bear of the year! Some of the largest brown bears on Earth make their home at Brooks River in Katmai National Park, Alaska. Brown bears get fat to survive and Fat Bear Week is an annual tournament celebrating their success in preparation for winter hibernation.

      https://www.nps.gov/katm/learn/fat-bear-junior-2023.htm

      I recommend checking out the above link for some chonky bear pics.

      • Deceptichum
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        39 months ago

        Eh I’ve been doing that for decades, these bears aren’t special.

    • snooggums
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      49 months ago

      A bunch of obese gay men eating nuts before their winter slumber.