BEN REIFEL VISITOR CENTER ON SUMMER HOURS

The Ben Reifel Visitor Center of Badlands National Park has gone to its expanded summer hours of 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. This is a one hour reduction from previous years due to a reduction in seasonal park naturalist staff. The park movie, Buried Fossils, Living Prairie, is shown on the hour and half hour. Additionally, a full schedule of ranger programs are available throughout the park. The Big Pig Dig is also open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Stop at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center for directions to the Pig Dig, program information, to view exhibits, or support Badlands Natural History Association (BNHA), the park's non-profit education partner. BNHA operates a large bookstore in the Ben Reifel Visitor Center.

The White River Visitor Center, located on Pine Ridge Reservation approximately 22 miles south of the town of Scenic, South Dakota, remains closed as the park works toward elimination of a rodent infestation. Once reopened, the White River Visitor Center will resume its hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The park management team has worked with the South Dakota State Epidemiologist to insure a safe visitor space and working environment for employees. A high density of mice in structures closed for extended periods of time is conducive to a pulmonary disease known as hantavirus."Fortunately, we have not had any cases of hantavirus near the park. It is a very rare ailment," states Chief of Resource Education Marianne Mills. "There have been cases within the state of South Dakota, which led to a temporary closure of the facility to rid it of a high concentration of rodents. We have taken precautionary measures out of a commitment to safety and environmental concerns."

For more information about all activities in Badlands National Park, visit the park website at http://www.nps.gov/badl