We already love the National Park Service because they administer a system of extraordinary, wild, beautiful landscapes (and historical/cultural centers) that are forever preserved for our awe and appreciation. But our love just got more intense when we realized the NPS has an amazing sense of humor.
Last month, the NPS got attention for its tweet advising that it was not okay to push a slow-moving friend in front of a bear, even if the friendship had run its course. In the weeks since then, the park service has doubled down on clever social media posts. This weekend, a photograph of a turtle on a log while another turtle swims nearby carried the caption, “I’m sorry, Jack, there’s just not enough room…,” a reference to the iconic ending of Titanic. Since each silly tweet is followed by several more citing legit science, the thread then goes on to explain that turtles sunbathe, or bask, to regulate their body temperature, and that they bask for two to eight hours a day.
“I’m sorry Jack, there’s just not enough room…” pic.twitter.com/fkUDe0dvJG
— National Park Service (@NatlParkService) April 8, 2023
On April 5, NPS tweeted a photo of a petrified log with this caption, “At first I was a tree, now I’m petrified. Thinking all my wooden rings had turned to stone inside. I will survive...I will survive!” followed by emojis of musical notes and microphone. The thread then turned from the Gloria Gaynor song to discussing the Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona, along with a small joke about petrified wood being the scared kind of petrified.
At first I was a tree, now I’m petrified. Thinking all my wooden rings had turned to stone inside. I will survive...I will survive! 🎶 🎤 pic.twitter.com/jVSIxFE6rn
— National Park Service (@NatlParkService) April 5, 2023
An adorable tweet on April 4 stated that “The most popular porcupine hobby is needlepoint,” followed by, “A porcupine has around 30,000 quills on its body. (Not a hugger. We repeat. Not. A. Hugger)” then several more facts about porcupines and finally a terrible pun: “We apologize that it took so long to get to the point.” The NPS closed down the thread with an “awwwww” photo of a baby porcupine and the wonderfully arcane information that it’s called a “porcupette.”
Final thought: A baby porcupine is called a "porcupette.” pic.twitter.com/Fdt07FVnA0
— National Park Service (@NatlParkService) April 4, 2023
On April 2, tweets “needled” the Star Trek and Star Wars communities. The thread began with this tweet, “As the great Obi Wan Canoebi said, ‘You must do what you feel is right, of course.’ Canoeing can be peaceful or exhilarating – depending on when and where you do it. Parks offer many opportunities to get out onto the water. Have you canoed in a park? Did it feel right?” It was immediately followed up with, “For the record, we know it’s spelled ‘Kenobi.’ One of the great characters of Star Trek.” Despite the intentional misfire to outrage sci-fi lovers, the post had the doubtlessly desired outcome: people responded with photos of their canoe trips in various parks they had visited. These included Jackson Lake in Grand Teton NP, Wyoming; Santa Elena Canyon in Big Bend National Park, Texas; Juniper Lake in Lassen Volcanic National Park, California; and Merced Lake in Yosemite National Park, California, among others.
As the great Obi Wan Canoebi said, “You must do what you feel is right, of course.”
— National Park Service (@NatlParkService) April 2, 2023
Canoeing can be peaceful or exhilarating – depending on where and how you do it. Parks offer many opportunities to get out on the water. 🛶
Have you canoed in a park? Did it feel right? pic.twitter.com/AbrlRIubhi
And these were all just posts in April!
The National Park Service has incredible landholdings and an amazing sense of humor, and knows how to plan great canoe dates—we think we’re ready for a relationship. Let’s see if we can slide into their DMs.