Park Employee Death Shakes Community

Our delicate relationship with the park’s four-legged inhabitants was underscored recently as 37-year-old NPS wildlife biologist Eric York passed away after contracting pneumonic plague from a deceased mountain lion. It is presumed that the deadly bacterium was transferred to Eric during his post-mortem examination of the animal’s carcass.

Plague exists naturally in northern Arizona, though human cases are extremely rare. His tragic death came less than a week after he began experiencing flu-like symptoms.

The York family has asked that donations be given to the Grand Canyon Association to go towards mountain lion research.

Eric York Memorial Page

About Mike Buchheit

Mike Buchheit was the director of the Grand Canyon Conservancy Field Institute for over 25 years, a professional landscape photographer and instructor, a freelance travel writer, and a popular lecturer on a wide variety of Grand Canyon-related topics. As a long-time resident, 3,000-mile hiker, and frequent river runner, the Iowa native has gained an intimate knowledge of the park that he called home.

As a long-time resident, 3,000-mile hiker, and frequent river runner, the Iowa native has gained an intimate knowledge of the park that he calls home. You can see some of his beautiful work on his Grand Canyon Prints website.