The Catalina Mariposa Lily. 🌸 This species of lily is native to Southern California & occurs in grasslands, & in open woodland & chaparral habitat such as the Puente Hills. We actively seek to preserve local flora so that you and future generations can enjoy their beauty!!

Here's my annoyance for the day: My insurance won't cover a drug my doc wants me on. Out of pocket cost is $2,000 a month (for ONE drug). I won't know for a few months if it is actually helping. So basically, I'm looking at a $6,000 commitment to TRY something. YIKES.

Spring is in the air! Did you know that a lot of the beautiful yellow flowers people see are actually not native to the area? They are considered non-native plants that originate elsewhere. Many of these non-native plants are on the Randall Preserve as seen in the video.

A12 #ParkChat Next week our friend Yosemite Conservancy join us as our special guest host. Remember they are the only host that’s brings their own Park naturalist. Please join us.

Q11 In addition to Katmai National Park , I’ve also visited Denali National Park in Alaska’s interior and Glacier Bay NP in the southeast. What are some parks on your bucket list that you still want to check off? Thanks for participating tonight everybody! #Parkchat

Q10 Summer Solstice day arrives in mid-June each year and is especially relevant in Alaska - where the sun may not dip below the horizon at all in places further north. What things bring a “ray of light” to your life? #Parkchat

Melanie S. 🌎 #BLM ✊ Anza-BorregoDesertSP E J Terren BabyBoomerSuperSaver Brett Lee Love it! Paulette Donnellon from Anza-BorregoDesertSP will join us on #Parkchat in a few weeks.

Q9 This is one of my favorite photos from Katmai NP I’ve ever taken; I particularly love the contrast between scarlet salmon, green water, and the golden bear pouncing on them. Do you have an example or photo that showcases contrasts in nature? #ParkChat

Q8 Salmon in Alaska, Bison Burgers in Yellowstone, Apple & Peach Pie in the Fruita Valley of Canyonlands NP – What other human foods are ‘indigenous’ or natural in our #NPS ? #Parkchat

Q7 There are many great bear moms in Katmai, some showing their cubs the world for the first time as they come out of the dens from hibernation. What was the first park you ever visited as a kid? #Parkchat

Q6 As coastal Alaska Brown Bears flock to salmon-bearing streams they use an olfactory bulb in their brain that is 5x larger than ours making them 2000x better than us at detecting scents! Do you have a favorite scent in the great outdoors? #Parkchat

Q5 When bears are in very close proximity to visitors – education is paramount. As a Katmai Bear technician, I'm trained in modifying bear behavior - including coaxing them out of common areas. What techniques do you use with your pets or animals to control behaviors? #Parkchat

Q4 Pumice and ash Katmai National Park from volcano Novarupta in 1912 created a “year without summer” and lowered global temperatures by 1.6 degrees F.
Where else have geologic events changed the shape of our NPS? #Parkchat
Article from our friend Chris McCloud
nps.gov/katm/blogs/bac…

Q3 My graduate research involves studying gut microbiomes in large mammals – how environment, physiology, sex, and species play a role in gut function. This essentially makes me an animal poop expert! What steps do you take for proper diet and gastrointestinal function? #Parkchat

Q2 Many of us know Katmai bears through the live bear cams on ‘explore.org’ and during Fat Bear Week when bears are going through ‘hyperphagia’ by gorging to bulk up before denning for the winter. Have you experienced bear activity anywhere in our NPS? #Parkchat

Q1 NPS.Gov lists 19 park unit sites in Alaska. Just getting here from the lower 48 takes some effort – then many of these places require significant planning and logistics to reach. Have you visited NPS sites in Alaska? Share your experiences. #Parkchat

Rylee has had some interesting work assignments in our NPS. From 2019-2021 Rylee worked as a bear technician at the incredible Katmai National Park. Tonight, Rylee will share about the Katmai coast, her wildlife projects and travel tips around our Alaska National Parks. #Parkchat

Welcome to a special “Bears, Volcanoes and Salmon-Living and Working in Katmai National Park” edition of #ParkChat ” featuring former Katmai National Park Bear Tech Rylee Jensen Please thank Bink for organizing tonight’s festivities too. Sign in and tell us where you’re at tonight.

Great job--mom. #30x30

30x30 California Power in Nature California State Parks Foundation

With the help of Bink #ParkChat presents former Katmai National Park Bear Technician Rylee Jensen She’ll be looking at “Bears, Volcanoes and Salmon-Living and Working in Katmai National Park. Fabulous guest and topic. See you at 9 PM ET tomorrow. Nature Tech Family 🏞️🚙📷