Death Valley's Kangaroo Rats never need a drink of water

Kangaroo Rats can live their entire lives without drinking a drop of liquid, a very handy ability when living in the Death Valley and other desert areas. All of the water they need to survive can be metabolized within their bodies from the dry seeds they eat. They also conserve moisture; their kidneys can concentrate urine to five times that of humans.

Kangaroo rats avoid the intense heat of the day in underground burrows that are both cooler and higher in humidity than outside. Water vapor in the humid air is reclaimed by special membranes in their nasal passages, and is also absorbed by the food stored within the den. They may even plug the burrow’s entrance with dirt to keep out heat and intruders.

National Park Service Funds Trail Projects in 10 States and DC

The National Park Service has awarded $340,000 to eight projects that will link existing national historic and scenic trails to national parks and other Federal facilities.

The annual “Connect Trails to Parks” awards will develop or enhance trail connections. They will also fund educational services, informational waysides, bridge and trail designs, and planning services.

“These grants will help upgrade trails and expand access to national parks and national trails,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis. “Trails are increasingly important not just as places to exercise but as places where we can unplug and rewind, places where we can explore and commune with the outdoor world and learn about our heritage.”

The National Park Service plays a vital role in operating the 54,000-mile National Trails System. The Trails System dates to a 1968 law that created the Appalachian and Pacific Crest National Scenic Trails. Today, the National Trails System is comprised of 11 national scenic trails (NSTs), 19 national historic trails (NHTs), and more than 1,100 national recreation trails (NRTs).

Each “Connect Trails to Parks” project must cost $100,000 or less and be slated for completion by the end of next year. The program was established in 2008 to increase awareness, appreciation, and use of the National Trails System as it approaches its 50th anniversary in 2018. For more information
visit the National Trails System website.


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