Hit and run alert: RV smashes two cars then drives away
Talk about a jerk! The driver of this motorhome was turning it around last Saturday, August 5, in a Eugene, Oregon cul-de-sac. The family was away camping. The home security camera of Kristine Swinson caught the driver smashing into two cars as he turned, then driving off, a hit-and-run crime. Watch the video. Have you seen the motorhome?
Black bear attacks woman walking dogs
The Spokesman Review
A woman was attacked by black bear near the Priest Lake visitor center in Idaho while walking two leashed dogs. She released the leashes when the bear began to attack, and the dogs fled to safety. The woman, who chose to remain unnamed, suffered blood loss and required a total of 97 stitches. She was airlifted to a nearby hospital and is expected to survive her injuries.
Seattle to legalize homeless RV camping?
MYNorthwest
A Seattle city councilmember is readying an ordinance that would essentially legalize homeless RV camping throughout the city. The idea has plenty of opposition.
Dayton manufacturer expands Tommy Bahama partnership
Dayton Business Journal
Two of America’s iconic lifestyle brands, Airstream Inc. and Tommy Bahama, release a new 19-foot Airstream Tommy Bahama Special Edition Travel Trailer. The new RV has a suggested retail price of $75,900 and comes with Tommy Bahama bedding, a complimentary Tommy Bahama cooler, chairs and Marlin mug set.
Fourth-graders granted free admission to national parks
KPRC
Fourth-graders and their families are granted free admission to national parks and other federal lands for a year as part of the “Every Kid in a Park” initiative. Fourth graders were chosen specifically, as research shows children aged 9 to 11 are more likely to connect to nature and history. Printable passes are available online, and contain a unique code to prevent any copying.
DNA ‘sunscreen’ gets better, not weaker, over time
Scientific American
A DNA material developed by U.S. scientists is better at absorbing ultraviolet (UV) light the longer it is exposed to it, making the transparent film particularly great for protecting damaged skin from sunburn over long periods of time. The material is transparent to visible light, making it great as a wound covering and keeps the skin hydrated, which has been shown to promote faster healing. The material is currently undergoing biological testing and tests are being done to formulate it into a sunscreen lotion.
The deer are here to stay
City Lab
A 2014 aerial survey done in New Jersey found the deer population in Raritan Bay was up 9,000 percent in just 9 years. Towns and cities across the Northeast are seeing an ongoing resurgence of deer populations, as suburbanization patterns deepen and hunting practices fade. The Humane Society of the U.S. opposes lethal deer control as both inhumane and ineffective. To prevent human-deer conflict, they suggest gardeners switch to deer-resistant plants, use repellents, and put up fences that stop deer from crossing roads.
Overdue Casper residents fine; miscommunication blamed for concern
Casper Star Tribune
Four Casper residents are fine and heading home after they were thought to be missing after a camping trip in the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming. The residents were expected back Sunday afternoon and when they did not return, their family contacted authorities and law enforcement in nearby counties were notified. However, that was the result of a miscommunication; they were heading home on Monday without incident.
How does a solar eclipse affect animals?
MNN
Many wild animals are known to treat a total solar eclipse like an abrupt midday night. Songbirds, for example perform their typical dusk serenade and then quiet down for the night. When the eclipse ends moments later, they interpret it as morning and respond with a dawn chorus. This disruption is brief, and reportedly doesn’t throw off the birds’ internal clocks or migration.Â
Predicting eclipse visitation with population statistics
Great American Eclipse
Traffic, along with weather, will be the chief challenge for people wanting to see the total solar eclipse. The accessibility of the August 21 total solar eclipse is both a great benefit and a problem. The benefit is that for so many Americans, a total eclipse of the sun can be seen by packing a tent and taking a short road trip from home. The problem is the danger during the two minutes of totality — that traffic on the road will pull over at unsafe locations with distracted drivers behind them.