As strange as it may seem, not feeding animals in the park greatly protects their welfare. When wild animals become dependent on humans for food, they lose their ability to forage and cease to be part of the balance of nature. The animals lose their ability to fend for themselves, leaving them at risk when handouts disappear at the end of the summer season. 

As strange as it may seem, not feeding animals in the park greatly protects their welfare. When wild animals become dependent on humans for food, they lose their ability to forage and cease to be part of the balance of nature. The animals lose their ability to fend for themselves, leaving them at risk when handouts disappear at the end of the summer season. 

As Enos Mills put it, "It is better to let the wild beast run and let the wild bird fly; each harbors best in his native nest, even as you and I." For more information about how you can help, please call (970) 586-1330. 

• Reuse and recycle plates and cups! Disposable items may make camp cleanup easier, but in the long run, whether they are thrown away here or in one of the mountainous landfills across the country, they become a perma-nent part of the landscape. Use biodegradable pack-aging, as well as aluminum cans and glass bottles that can be recycled.

• Pack a small litter sack with you when you hike and pack out more litter than you bring in. No one expects you to shoulder the burden of keeping the entire park clean, but there is a real satisfaction in knowing that you left the area in better shape than you found it.

• On a larger scale, there are programs such as Take Pride in America, in which groups can work together to clean up an area, improve hiking trails where erosion and overuse are taking a toll, or identify and remove exotic plants that might encroach on native species. Visit www.volunteer.gov.