Earlier this year, where most of the parks were closed because of the pandemic lockdown, an enormous number of wildlife were spotted wandering around the vicinity of Death Valley National Park in the U.S. Various groups of wildlife packed together. Deer, bobcats, and black bears are seen at the buildings, roadways, and parks practically teeming with tourists. Kati Schmidt, a spokesperson for the National Parks Conservation Association said, “This is something we haven’t seen in our lifetimes.” In addition to this, Dane Paterson, employee of a hotel, stated that, “It’s not like they usually aren’t here… it’s that they usually hang back at the edges or move in the shadows” after some of the staff noticed the abundance of wildlife not seen for the last century.

Similar behavior was perceived in Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone; however, the human-free break is coming to an end as the Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks begin their gradual reopening for tourists and guests. As protective measures, the staff installed protective equipment at toll booths, permit desks, and visitor centers. Furthermore, the park hired temporary staff to disinfect high-use areas. Although safety measures were implemented, re-opening of these parks may bring disadvantages especially to young animals born in peaceful settings, as stated by wildlife experts. According to Lindsay Rosa, a conservation scientist, people should take good care especially of amphibians as these animals begin their migration to breeding ground.