Park Rangers are in the process of rodent-proofing 91 cabins at Yosemite National Park’s Curry Village.Only wildlife could be seen roaming around Curry Village.
Since Hantavirus killed two and sickened four people who stayed there, visitors are taking precautions.
Jill Johnson lodged at campgrounds close by and brought masks.
The virus is carried in the feces and urine of deer mice and can become airborne.
“I don't really think the mice are gonna stay isolated to one particular area of cabins, not sure how that's affected,” said Johnson.
Kim Barrett is part of a bicycle group from San Jose that’s been coming up every Labor Day weekend for the last few years.
This year, the park looks and feels different.
“It’s definitely quieter, not as many people. We all brought up disinfectants and Lysol. Telling the kids to not wander around too far into the campground,” said Barrett.
“There’s not hysteria about it. Obviously when you say virus people are scared,” said husband Kevin Barrett.
Guests are cancelling reservations.
Rangers are staffing phones, taking hundreds of calls a day.
Site seeing buses… empty.
Park lines… there are none.
Rangers are passing out flyers explaining Hantavirus.
Park Spokesman Scott Gediman says the park is stepping up by rodent-proofing or retro-fitting cabins.
“What we were finding is some of the mice where able to get in between the canvas and so we put wood across these,” said Gediman
Gediman expects visitors do to their part.
“We have to coexist with the rodents the mice just like we do with the deer.
Which is not a bad thing; It's actually a good thing,” said Gediman.
The cabins are padlocked indefinitely.
Park rangers will continue reaching out to anyone who stayed here at Curry Village over the summer.
