America’s natural attractions are a resource that almost all treasure, but some groups of meddlesome visitors aren’t caring for our wilderness the way they should.
Waves of international tourists and selfie-obsessed hipsters have been flocking to America’s secluded natural wonders and the wear is starting to show.
Now, one of America’s unique treasures has been so overrun that it’s about to be gone forever.
Selfie-Stick Wielding Tourists Threaten America’s Natural Wonders
Tourist hotspots across the United States are feeling the brunt of careless tourists.
Proud American Traveler reported on this previously, and the problem has only gotten worse.
And all of this is coming to a head in the tourism-heavy state of Colorado.
In the mountains near Vail, Colorado, over 1,000 herds of elk would travel around the mountainside pines.
But ever since international tourists and selfie-stick wielding hipsters have flooded the area, population counts have plummeted.
It turns out that too much disturbance causes baby elk to die, either because the mothers are scared by tourists and invasive selfie-seekers and abandon their young, or because the fear of tourists dries up the mothers’ milk.
And with social media driven tourism showing no sign of slowing, experts are doubtful elk numbers will bounce back anytime soon – if at all.
This Social Media Trend is Causing the Destruction of America’s Prized Treasures
Since the rise of social media platforms like Instagram, the demand for unique and captivating photos has skyrocketed.
Millennials, hipsters, and international tourists are ramping up violations of well-established trail rules to get a “wilderness selfie” that will net them tons of likes and shares online.
But it’s all at the cost of America’s wildlife.
Where elk used to be spotted by the thousand, they are now found in numbers under a hundred.
These numbers are so shocking that some scientists predict the piney mountains of Colorado could soon become a “biological desert.”
New Tourist Trend Shuns American Tradition
Most Americans respect trail guides and park limits to enjoy our national treasures.
Pride in our nation and respect for established park rules keeps these natural wonders thriving.
Historically, families that spend their vacations visiting national parks and wildlife attractions are sure to stay on the trails.
These are usually families where respect for our nation’s outdoors has been passed down from father to son, mother to daughter.
But many of today’s tourists aren’t vacationers raised with proper values or following in their family’s footsteps.
These new tourists, typically single millennials, are making the problem of disappearing wildlife worse by violating trail limits, taking shortcuts through elk breeding areas, and trespassing restricted areas to take selfies that will make them famous online.
However, if this trend continues, the same wildlife that’s made these selfie-crazed millennials so popular on social media could be gone forever.
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