Roosevelt Arch at Yellowstone's north entrance.
Black bears in Yellowstone's northern range.

After the government shutdown went into effect at midnight Tuesday, I emailed the Yellowstone National Park media relations office and asked if all entrance gates would remain open during the closure.

I also wished the staff well, knowing that this had suddenly become an extra-tumultuous period for park employees, who answer to the National Park Service and, at the top, the Department of the Interior.

Because of this, I did not expect a response.

But on Thursday a response arrived in my in-box, not from the park but from the DOI press office. I was suspicious because the response was so openly political, aside from an assurance that “DOI will keep parks open.” But the email address matched that of the DOI press office.

The response:

“The Department of the Interior will keep critical services open and running for the benefit of the American people despite efforts by Congressional Democrats who are trying to close our parks, stop U.S. energy production, and prevent our first responders like our law enforcement from keeping our streets safe and our wildland firefighters from fighting wildfires.

“The Department hopes Congressional Democrats will get serious and agree to fund the government because every day this shutdown continues it is hurting the American people even more.”

ALSO: Yellowstone wolf killed by Montana hunter, will others suffer same fate?

Democrats would undoubtedly take exception and provide counter arguments, perhaps including context to support their arguments. But this isn’t the place for that. I'm sharing this because it was such an unusual response to a simple question about one national park.

As for Yellowstone, I’ve heard from guides that all park gates are open, and that bears and other critters are being spotted.

But one guide informed me that on Wednesday, while entrance gates were staffed, employees were not collecting entrance fees. (I have not confirmed this.)

Another guide told me he saw people walking dogs on Yellowstone boardwalks, where rangers seemed absent. That’s forbidden in Yellowstone, where dogs must remain under physical control of their owners at all times.

Dogs are only allowed on short leashes in developed areas and on roadsides. They are not allowed on boardwalks, hiking trails, or in the backcountry.

But these are strange times, and figure to be for as long as the shutdown continues.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Media inquiry regarding Yellowstone access generates attack on democrats

Reporting by Pete Thomas, For The Win / For The Win

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect