Great Smoky Mountains National Park
National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior
SMOKIES GUIDE Be
ck
yN
ist
The Official Newspaper of the Smokies • Spring 2023
ic h o
ls , Ento
lo mo
g
Words with a Ranger Spring is a great time to observe wildlife in the Smokies, the vibrant green of new plant growth, and of course, the abundant wildflowers that carpet the understory. As an entomologist—a scientist who studies insects—I like to keep an eye out for pollinators, the roaming heroes of wildflower season. Pollinators are animals that transfer pollen from one flower to another as they drink nectar or gather pollen. Without them, spring wildflowers could not reproduce. This transfer of pollen fertilizes the plant, which will then produce seeds, ensuring the future survival of the species. Several different kinds of animals can serve as pollinators, including some birds and mammals, but more than 70 percent of flowering plants worldwide are pollinated by insects. Among the insects, bees are by far the most efficient and abundant of pollinators. We have documented 304 species of bees in the park so far, and over 200 of these have been discovered only in the last 25 years, mostly as a result of the ongoing All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, or ATBI. This diversity of bees is directly Continued on page 8
Crested dwarf irises are a common sight in park woodlands around mid-April. These petite perennials grow in densely formed clusters no more than nine inches tall. Image by Ryan Somma.
Park It Forward in 2023 Parking tags help pave the way for improved visitor services and park preservation
A
s of March 1, a valid parking tag is required for all visitors parking for more than 15 minutes in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Parking tags are not required for motorists who simply pass through the area or park for less than 15 minutes. Daily ($5), weekly ($15), and annual ($40) parking tags are available for purchase at automated fee machines and visitor centers as well as online at recreation.gov or smokiesinformation. org. Each tag is valid for use in a single vehicle and must include a license plate number matching the vehicle in which it is displayed. Tags must be displayed physically in vehicles; digital representations will not be accepted. Parking tags do not guarantee a parking spot in a specific location or at a specific time. Revenue generated by parking tags will help to improve visitor services
OUR PARK ON SOCIAL MEDIA
in the park and preserve the Smokies for generations to come. Park visitation has increased by 38 percent over the last decade to 12.9 million visits in 2022. These critically needed funds will supplement federal funding, grant monies, and donation dollars, providing an opportunity to address the rising costs associated with maintaining what is consistently the most visited national park in the country. All revenue generated through the sales of parking tags will stay in the Smokies to directly improve visitor experiences and help fund things like trail maintenance, custodial services, trash removal, historic cabin preservation, and staffing for increased ranger presence across the park. For more information about parking tags, scan the code at the right with your camera app or visit go.nps.gov/GRSMfees.
GreatSmoky MountainsNPS
86A-B68
PARKING TAG REQUIRED! Parking in the Smokies for more than 15 minutes requires a valid parking tag (annual tag pictured). For more info, scan code with camera app
GreatSmokyNPS and SmokiesRoadsNPS
GreatSmokyNPS