Visitors to US national parks are forced to POO on the side of the road as toilets are closed during government shutdown

SOME of the US's most popular national parks have become "health hazards" following the partial government shutdown.

Human faeces and rubbish have been overflowing at the campgrounds of Yosemite and Joshua Tree national parks because there’s no staff on hand to clean up, according to new reports.

In California, tourists have been relieving themselves on the sides of the roads because Yosemite’s restrooms and visitor centres have been closed since December 22, when the shutdown began, .

Rubbish collection has also been temporarily stopped, even though the park itself remains open.

The makeshift toilet situation has forced two campgrounds to close due to the “health hazard” it creates, National Parks Service spokesman Andrew Munoz told the Times.

He said: “With restrooms closed, some visitors are opting to deposit their waste in natural areas adjacent to high traffic areas, which creates a health hazard for other visitors.”

Human poo and urine were found along Wawona Road - known as California Highway 41 - in the southern part of the park, which forced the closure of the Mariposa Grove and the Wawona and Hodgson Meadows campgrounds.

Dakota Snider, who lives and works in Yosemite Valley, called the disgusting display a “free-for-all” with the shutdown now in its second week.

The 24-year-old told the Associated Press: “It’s so heartbreaking.

“There is more trash and human waste and disregard for the rules than I’ve seen in my four years living here.”

Visitors were allowing their dogs to run off-leash and leaving bags of rubbish along the roads, according to Dakota.

He added: “You’re looking at Yosemite Falls and in front of you is plastic bottles and trash bags.”

At Joshua Tree in Southern California, rubbish bins were spilling over and fights were breaking out among campers on the grounds, with no rangers on hand to adjudicate, according to Ethan Feltges, who runs the Coyote Corner gift shop outside the park.

He and other business owners have pitched in to empty rubbish, stock restrooms and haul trailers onto park grounds.

Ethan also set up a portable toilet at his shop for the visitors who are still streaming in and out of the park.

He said: “The whole community has come together.

“Everyone loves the park. And there’s a lot of businesses that actually need the park.”

But some park visitors are taking advantage of the shortage of staffers to off-road illegally and relieve themselves in public at Joshua Tree.

The partial government shutdown is in effect pending an impasse between Democrats and President Trump, who has demanded funding for his wall along the US-Mexico border.

The shutdown has forced the temporary leave of some 800,000 federal employees.

Previously, Sun Online Travel reported that Brits won't be able to visit the US if they don't already have an ESTA.

Due to the government shutdown, ESTA applications may not be processed and the documentation is required if Brits are to enter the US under the Visa Waiver program.

This article was originally published by and was reproduced with permission.