New Phone Apps May Be Problematic
New phone applications are becoming available to help visitors to Yellowstone National Park know where wolves, bears or other wildlife have been spotted and improve their odds of also viewing the animals. The results potentially could be mixed; not only enabling visitors to experience more wildlife, but increasing wildlife jams along park roads. Park Spokesman Al Nash says, however, the actual effects of the new features are likely to be limited. Nash points out that to a degree, their success depends not only upon widespread adoption by users but the available of cell service – which he points out is limited in Yellowstone. Nash says the park does offer phone apps that aren’t as dependent upon immediate updates. Among those programs are those that can be seen on a website while planning a trip, and others that can be downloaded to an i-phone or player to help the user understand what they are seeing or help plan the next step of their trip. While those applications require initial connectivity, Nash says they do not require them while in the park.
