Home to five very popular national parks and other national monuments as well as thousands of federal employees, we in Utah are no stranger to problems posed during federal government shutdowns.

As the shutdown continues, it was reported by the Associated Press this week that some of the West’s most well-known parks have already become overwhelmed by trash, illegal activity, damaging behavior and … ahem … poop problems.

In less than two weeks, some of our most valued and treasured spaces have become a free-for-all, as reported by some of those who live and work in the areas — especially near Yosemite.

As of Jan. 2, the state updated visitors letting them know Arches and Canyonlands were closed to travelers, but that all other Utah parks were still open to travelers with limited services. Zion National Park and Bryce Canyon National Park were the only parks whose visitors centers remain open with outside funding through Jan. 5 and 10.

The shutdown has forced thousands of federal employees to be furloughed, leaving parks with little or no staff.

In this most recent shutdown, some parks have remained opened despite the lack of staffing and necessary upkeep, for likely fear of losing out on tourism dollars and feeling public backlash.

However, this decision to keep parks open while improperly staffed has already caused damage in a short time and begs the question if they should be left open at all.

As it stands, those that remain accessible during the government shutdown rely on the pure goodwill of visitors. If the last two weeks have shown anything, it is that that assumption was far too optimistic to believe and act on.

While we appreciate those who were able to remain on to help in various visitors centers for a short time, and provide other emergency services, these last couple weeks have shown it to be a precarious gamble to make in an effort to reap whatever tourism plans were previously made, with the hope that significant damage to the parks’ natural resources don’t take place. I’m sure visitors who booked previous trips were appreciative of still being able to visit to an extent; however, not all visitors have taken the shutdown into consideration as they visit.

Perhaps it is the situation of the few ruining it for all.

But, nonetheless, damage is taking place without the staffing and oversight necessary to operate, which is why we believe the state should not encourage future efforts to keep parks open during shutdowns unless funding for full staffing is being provided.

There is a reason our national parks have received such a designation. They are treasured lands that require oversight and upkeep because the visiting American public on their own have not and cannot be sufficient stewards. This time during the shutdown reinforces this.

Is it inconvenient to completely shudder national parks, monuments and other places managed by the National Park Service? Yes. But, the federal government shutdown itself is beyond inconvenient to all those employed and furloughed, and to those who use those services. If removed access to lands frustrates you, then we would recommend contacting your federal representatives to tell them how unhappy you are with the current lack of government functions.