Yellowstone National Park breaks visitor record - East Idaho News
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Yellowstone National Park breaks visitor record

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With three months still left in 2015, Yellowstone National Park is announcing a record-breaking year. Attendance is up more than 500,000 visitors than 2014, a 16 percent increase.

September’s numbers bring the total up to 3.8 million recreational visits in the first nine months of 2015.

Julena Campbell, Yellowstone Public Affairs officer, says the large numbers are a mixed blessing.

“We love the fact that we’ve got so many people coming to visit the national park. … But on the other hand, it does take a toll on park resources, and certainly on staff and other visitors too,” Campbell said.

Yellowstone had five people gored by bison this year after getting too close while taking a picture. Campbell said the record number of visitors makes it more difficult to remind people about safety measures.

Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Dan Wenk said a public awareness campaign, marketing and tourism promotions and lower gas prices helped spur the record number of visits to Yellowstone this year.

Listen to the audio above to learn what more people in the park means to the wildlife.

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