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Fauna Series No. 1
Methods
Fauna of the National Parks
of the United States
CONSPECTUS OF WILD-LIFE PROBLEMS OF EACH PARK
YELLOWSTONE AND GRAND TETON
These two parks are treated together because their animal problems are not separate. It is to be greatly regretted that Yellowstone when originally established did not include the Thorofare Plateau and the intervening territory to the Teton Mountains, as well as sufficient winter range on both north and south sides of the park. Perhaps this seems an extravagant concept. But let it be recalled that Jasper Park in Canada has an area of 5,380 square miles – the approximate equivalent of Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon National parks combined. More than this, Jasper is contiguous with three other national parks, forming, in reality, one large park with an approximate area of 10,000 square miles, extending continuously along the Canadian Rockies for a distance of over 250 miles. There is not one national park in the United States which provides adequate range for its animal life. In a country expanding and developing as fast as ours there is great need for at least one area which will be adequate to protect and maintain a sample of our native wilderness life as a national heritage for all time.
FIGURE 48. – One of the newest parks takes steps to
prevent destruction of the
natural lake shores. Note old auto tracks
now cut off by log barriers.
Photographs taken July 9, 1931, at
String Lake, Grand Teton. Wild Life Survey No. 1920
The wild life of the Yellowstone-Teton area could be served best if the park were composed as follows:
From Eagle Peak, continue the east boundary of Yellowstone along the crest of the Absaroka Range to the point at which the Wind River highway, U. S. 87-W, crosses this crest; follow said highway westward to the Buffalo Fork of the Snake River; follow Buffalo Fork westward to the west boundary of the Teton National Forest; then continue southwestward along the west boundary of the Teton National Forest to a point approximately east of the southmost point of Grand Teton National Park; then west to the Idaho-Wyoming boundary, and north along this boundary to the Bechler River corner of Yellowstone Park.
In addition to the present Yellowstone and Teton Parks, this unit would include the Thorofare Plateau, the intervening summer game range west to Jackson Lake; the great wild fowl and moose breeding grounds in the Jackson Lake region itself, and would provide protection for fur-bearers and winter range for mountain sheep in the Tetons. More than this, it would provide one park unit in the United States sufficient in area and habitats to maintain the forms of animal life which can not exist anywhere else nor under any other conditions.
For many years the absolute necessity of providing winter range on the north side of the park has been so apparent that there is no need of treating it here. It is to be hoped that the purchase of this winter range will be consummated without delay because of the pressing need for winter forage and the maladjustments resulting from congestion of game at the present feeding stations.
It would be useless to detail each species of animal in the park more has been published about the wild life of the Yellowstone region than for any other park. The main types of faunal problems affecting the park as a whole have been treated throughout the previous part of this report. In fact, there is not a single type of problem discussed thus far which does not apply to Yellowstone. Nowhere in the national-park system is the unit character of the area more evident. To make the park coextensive with this unit faunal area would be to remove the fundamental cause of most of the difficulties. Then there should be a thorough investigation of the status of each species to determine the immediate factors operating to the detriment of the animal, and to devise means of correcting them. Of course, the problems of conflict between man and animal would still persist, though not to the same extent. To outline every type of faunal problem in Yellowstone would be to recapitulate discussion which has gone before. But an indication of the most immediate work to be done might be advantageous.
The bear problem was outlined, pages 68-70 and 82-84. In accord with the suggestions given there, an investigation is to be inaugurated.
FIGURE 49. – In our experience, the grizzly will
not leave its path to harm a
human being; neither will it brook
interference with its family life.
Photograph taken September 13,
1929, at Canyon Lodge, Yellowstone. Wild Life Survey No. 509
The fur-bearers can be advantageously treated as one problem. The status of the wolverine has already been outlined (pages 44-46), but there should be a thorough investigation of all the factors affecting the fur-bearers of the two parks to determine whether they are increasing or dwindling, and why; what effect they have upon rare wild fowl of the parks; whether they themselves need assistance or whether they are menacing some other form of life which is in danger of extinction (for instance, sandhill crane or trumpeter swan). In general, the fur-bearers' plight should be known thoroughly in order that they may be maintained in their normal position among the fauna of the region.
The spread of the coyote has already been treated (pages 47-49) and its present control in Yellowstone advocated. However, there is need of definite information about the coyote to know exactly what it is doing to the rest of the park game, i. e., the extent of its winter kills, its menace to all ungulates and ground-nesting birds during breeding season, whether it is responsible for the precarious status of antelope and mountain sheep in the park, whether it is displacing other fur-bearers, or whether its damage is greatly overestimated. The complete role of the coyote in relation to the park fauna should be definitely known as soon as possible.
The wolf is gone; but if suitable range and protection could be procured for all native animals of the park, the wolf might then have a place.
Mountain lion and lynx have been controlled in past years until their present status is doubtful. The same investigation outlined for the coyote should be undertaken in relation to mountain lion and lynx, with the view of determining exactly what their status is in order that any further management may be conducted advisedly.
The white-tailed deer is gone. Before any attempt is made to bring it back, there should be thorough study of its habitat in and near the park. If the park was only the fringe of its range, it might be very unwise to attempt to reestablish it unless it could be self-sustaining, or until enough of its range could be procured.
Elk, deer, sheep, and antelope, as well as the buffalo, are all sustained in winter by artificial feeding. The undesirable phases of this practice and the possibility of its harm to the animals have already been pointed out. Nevertheless, winter feeding is absolutely necessary as a present emergency measure and until adequate winter range is provided. The present available winter range already shows unmistakable signs of overgrazing. It would be inadvisable under these circumstances to increase the elk herds until range conditions can be improved. The carrying capacity of the range must be ascertained and the elk held within this limit. Mr. M. W. Talbot, senior forest ecologist, California Forest Experiment Station, and Mr. George F. Baggley, chief ranger, Yellowstone National Park, have both pointed out the necessity of an immediate range reconnaissance being conducted in the Yellowstone winter-range area. With the original character of the range becoming more obscure each year, the urgency of this investigation can not be overemphasized.
FIGURE 50. – Canada geese adjust themselves to man's
presence in Yellowstone and
flourish in large numbers. The wary
sandhill crane, on the contrary, shun the developed
sections.
Photograph taken September 18, 1929, in Lamar Valley,
Yellowstone. Wild Life Survey No. 385
Concerning the animals themselves, Mr. W. M. Rush, formerly in charge elk study, and Mr. O. J. Murie, biologist, Bureau of Biological Survey, have both conducted extensive investigations of the elk herds in the region. But further research is necessary to determine the factors limiting mule deer, antelope, mountain sheep, and moose in these two parks. Especially is the status of the latter three obscure. They are so rare over most of their former range in this country that their protection in this region is vital. The mountain sheep of the Tetons, according to Superintendent Woodring, normally range on the west side of the peaks because the prevailing winds keep this side free from snow. However, this area is occupied by domestic sheep, and the mountain sheep are forced to exist in the remaining unsuitable range. If the Teton boundary extended to the Idaho line, as has been suggested, this unfortunate situation would be corrected.
FIGURE 51. – The pronghorn stands on the horizon in
Yellowstone.
At present it barely holds its own under adverse winter
range conditions.
Photograph taken June 26, 1930, at Lamar River,
Yellowstone. Wild Life Survey No. 852
The status and investigation of the trumpeter swan is outlined, pages 28-31.
Five pairs of sandhill cranes (Grus canadensis tabida) were seen in the region last summer. Two pairs were known to nest in Yellowstone Park. A nest with two eggs was found in the Bechler River region, and a pair of adult cranes with one young were seen by Tern Lake. This is by no means a complete census, but it is at least a definite record. The same research outlined for trumpeter swans should be conducted for sandhill cranes.
The problem of the American white pelican in Yellowstone has been outlined, pages 78-79. There should be a complete investigation of the fish-parasite relations in Yellowstone Lake. Notable work has been done by Maurice C. Hall, Henry B. Ward, and Lowell A. Woodbury. But the importance of mergansers, ospreys, gulls, cormorants, grebes, bears, and other fish-eating animals has not yet been determined in relation to the pelican problem. Further work needs to be done. After all, the parasite problem might not be solved by removal of pelicans from Molly Island.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN PARKS
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Last Modified: Tues,
Feb 1 2000 07:08:48 pm PDT
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