You’ve waited. You’ve counted the days. You cursed the Chinese government for not allowing me to use wordpress while I was overseas. Don’t worry though, I literally traveled half way around the world to bring you the penultimate installment of our epic series, THE CUTEST ANIMAL IN EVERY NATIONAL PARK. You’re welcome.
If you missed the first installment, a couple of things: 1.) SHAME ON YOU, 2.) You can find it HERE
Before we get started, a reminder about how all this works:
Next month I have a quick story running on Backpacker‘s website: THE TOP TEN CUTEST ANIMALS IN OUR NATIONAL PARKS.
This is a dangerous task. If I screw the list up the internet will basically destroy me, so I decided to first choose the cutest animal in every national park using the following rules:
1.) Smaller is cuter.
2.) Fatter is cuter.
3.) Fluffier is cuter.
4.) The animal must be native.
5.) NO SNAKES. Snakes are not cute.
6.) In the end, the list is completely arbitrary.
Since I don’t want to spoil the final TOP 10 list, I’ve marked those that made final selection as REDACTED. You’ll have just have to read the article when it comes out some time in June (which I’ll link to HERE and on the Lesser Places homepage).
Haleakalā: Hawaiian Goose
Image Credit: Pauline Eccles, Wikimedia
Not a lot of choices for native animals in Haleakalā National Park, but these little fluff balls more than make up for it.
Hawaii Volcanoes: Honu
Image Credit: Manuel Heinrich Emha, Wikimedia
Did you think it was possible to hold this much cute in one hand?
Hot Springs: Green Tree Frog
Image Credit: National Parks Service
This little guy makes it easy being green.
Isle Royal: Gray Wolf
Image Credit: dobak, Flickr
“Maybe we could cuddle so I can warm up?”
Joshua Tree: Hoary Bat
Image Credit: Daniel Neal, Wikimedia
Big ears and tiny eyes? Count us in.
Katmai: REDACTED
Kenai Fjords: REDACTED
King’s Canyon: Cougar
Image Credit: National Parks Service
Should you cuddle cougar cub? No. Do you want to cuddle cougar cubs? Definitely.
Kobuk Valley: American Marten Image Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
“Hi, I’m a marten. These flowers are for you.”
Lake Clark: Canada Lynx
Image Credit: National Parks Service
Because I’m all about that base.
Lassen Volcanic: Raccoon
Image Credit: Darkone, Wikimedia
God gave me this bandit mask so I could steal your heart.
Mammoth Cave: Eastern Spadefoot
Image Credit: Riechvaugen, Wikimedia
If any frog is going to turn into a prince it has to be this one.
Mesa Verde: Rufous Hummingbird
Image Credit: Ryan Bushby, Wikimedia
This entire list could have just been hummingbirds.
Mount Rainer: North American Porcupine
Image Credit: National Parks Service
This poor little guy probably hasn’t had a hug in a long time.
North Cascades: Mountain Beaver
Image Credit: Western Ecological Research Center
Mountain Beavers are also called giant moles. If you can think of something cuter than a giant mole, let me know.
Olympic: River Otter
Image Credit: Dimitry Azovtsev, Wikimedia
FACT: River otters love kisses.
Okay, I have to stop– we have already exceeded the daily recommended dosage of cute. I’ll be back with the final national parks, Petrified Forrest through Zion, before my story is posted next month.
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This is awesome! I especially love the caption for the Lynx! 🙂
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Thanks– It took forever to find the right picture for that one! I should have the last installment coming in the next couple of weeks…..
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Super! 🙂
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