Crazy National Park Questions

Not Ready to Grow into Deer

We all know the saying, “no question is a stupid question.” I’m not sure that applies to national parks. I worked as a naturalist in Yellowstone’s canyon area during the summer of 1985. I almost got into serious trouble the first time I laughed at a visitor’s question. My boss warned me that I’d hear much sillier questions. Since then, I’ve made a habit of asking naturalists in other parks for their “goofy questions.” I’m including a few of those questions for your entertainment.

How long does it take for a deer to grow into an elk? (This is the question I laughed at for which I got reprimanded.)

What are those orange dogs running around with the bison? (Those would be baby bison.)

How many people did it take to plant all the trees in this park? (Depending on your belief system, God planted the trees or natural processes did.)

What are those baby bats flying around the nature center? (Those would be house flies.)

How many pounds of cinders did the park ship in for all these trails? (Volcanic eruptions provided all the cinders that maintenance crews turned into trails.)

While visiting Misty Fjords National Monument, on a boat, on the ocean: What elevation is this? WE’RE ON THE OCEAN!!!

How long is that 22-minute film? (Amazingly, it's 22-minutes.)

Redwoods National Park. Why are there all those dead Irish setters along the side of the road? (That would be bark sheds from the giant redwoods.)

At Madikwe Private Game Reserve, while watching a white rhino GRAZING near some zebra: Which animals do rhinos prey on most often? (They would be the world’s largest carnivore, and poaching them would be considerably more dangerous.

And my very favorite question I’ve heard, at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Does the water go all around the island?