Vol 3, # 35

   Monday, March 29, 1999

YELLOWSTONE
WEATHER
Highs 40s, Lows 10s
Partly Sunny
 

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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- Although the controversies over Yellowstone's bison and wolves garner center stage in the press, Yellowstone continues to be the focal point of other controversies as well.

One of the "other" controversies surfaced again last week, when a federal judge suspended Yellowstone's contract with researchers who want to use microbes from the park's hot springs for commercial purposes.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth in Washington, D.C., ordered the National Park Service to first do an environmental study of the potential impact to the nation's oldest national park. The Park Service has said they will appeal the decision.

The judge's decision is in respect to Yellowstone's agreement with San Diego-based Diversa, a biotech firm that farms hot springs microbes for industrial uses.  Diversa had agreed to pay Yellowstone a sum of $175,000, plus a share in any profits realized from the commercial use of microbes found within the Park.

Yellowstone contains an abundance of microbes, some of which have the potential for commercial and medical applications.  Some microbes discovered in Yellowstone have already been put to commercial use, but as of yet, Yellowstone itself has not benefited from the discoveries and their applications.

Many feel that the Park is rightly entitled to share in the proceeds which its microbes might garner.  Others, such as Judge Lamberth, maintain that National Parks are not entitled to such commercial gain.

In truth, Yellowstone National Park should not be in such a position that contracts with commercial entities are viewed as a means of raising revenue.  Indeed, it is Congress' lack of interest in properly funding Yellowstone during the past twenty years which is to be decried.  If properly funded, Yellowstone National Park -- the first and foremost national park in the world -- would have no cause to seek funding from commercial ventures.

This entire situation could have easily been averted if Congress had been doing its job all along -- listening to the will of the American public and allocating enough funding to properly manage Yellowstone.

Are you concerned about the protection and preservation of Yellowstone?  We encourage you to write your congresspersons.

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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS

Ralph Maughan
Kim Steinbacher
Kevin Sanders
Steve Brashear
Clint Wilkes
Tim Gourley
Hon. Bob Gammage
Ruth Colter-Frick
Lee Whittlesey
Tom Mazzarisi
Russ Finley
David Monteith
Denise Elmer
Dr. Bob Bara

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo.(NPS) -- A new catalogue of educational courses available through the Yellowstone Association Institute is now available and includes more than one hundred short courses on the natural and cultural history of the Yellowstone area.

The Yellowstone Association Institute is a non-profit field school operated in partnership with the National Park Service. Its role is to provide in-depth educational experiences for Yellowstone National Park visitors. Most courses last from two to five days, and all are taught by expert instructors. The Institute has offered courses at Yellowstone since 1976.

Among the current offerings are courses on grizzly bears, wolves, bison, elk, birds, insects, amphibians, wildflowers, geology, astronomy, photography, wilderness first aid, nature writing, art and history. The Institute also offers horsepacking, backpacking, and kayaking courses in the Yellowstone backcountry and family courses at campgrounds throughout the park. Many of the instructors are college professors, and about a third of all courses are offered for graduate and/or undergraduate credit. Class size is purposely limited to ensure high quality instruction.

According to Institute Manager Pam Gontz, it is the combination of top-notch instructors, interested students, and the inspiring natural "classroom" of Yellowstone National Park that makes Institute courses so special. "Students experience the park in small groups, with instructors who join us year after year because they love Yellowstone and want to share it with others. They have fun, they see the park in new ways, and they go home with an even deeper appreciation for the wonders of this place - it is truly a remarkable experience," said Gontz.

The Institute program is headquartered at the historic "Buffalo Ranch," where the park's bison recovery project was centered early in the century. Students at this facility stay in cozy log cabins overlooking the Lamar Valley, a haven for bears, wolves, bison, and elk. Additional courses are based at the Old Faithful Inn and other historic hotels throughout the park.

To request a free copy of the new catalog, please contact Pam Gontz at the Yellowstone Association Institute, P.O. Box 117, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 82190 (307) 344-2294. Complete information including color photographs of classes in session is also available at www.YellowstoneAssociation.org.

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GLACIER NATIONAL PARK, Mont. (NPS) -- Chief Ranger Steve Frye asks spring visitors to be alert for signs of bear activity in the park. Park staff has received reports of bear activity in several areas within Glacier, indicating that bears are beginning to emerge from their winter dens.

Soon after bears emerge from their dens, they search for winter-killed wildlife and succulent vegetation, the primary sources of much needed food during spring for both grizzlies and black bears. Visitors are asked to be especially cautious of wildlife carcasses that may attract bears, and to take the necessary precautions to avoid an encounter. Do not approach a bear under any circumstances. An encounter with a bear feeding on a carcass increases the risk of personal injury. Bears will aggressively defend a food source, especially when surprised.

If precautionary measures fail and a bear charges, behavioural reactions can be used to defuse the situation in most cases. Bear pepper spray is a good last line of defense that has been effective in most of the reported cases where it has been used.

Bear spray is effective only at short distances (10-30 feet), and is adversely affected by wind, cold temperatures, and the age of the product. Take time to become familiar with your bear spray, the safety trigger, and holster. Carefully read the instructions and be aware of its limitations. If you decide to carry pepper spray, it must be immediately available, not in your pack. Remember that carrying pepper spray is not a substitute for vigilance and good safety precautions.

Some recent news stories have suggested that bear pepper spray is a bear attractant. These stories have arisen from the misuse of the product -- applying it to people, tents, packs, or other equipment. Bear pepper spray is not designed to be applied as a repellent, but is designed to spray at a charging or attacking bear, which has been a highly effective deterrent when used in this manner.

The purpose of Glacier National Park's bear management program is to ensure a natural and free-ranging population of black and grizzly bears. One important aspect of the management program is the separation of bears from unnatural food sources. Human foods are one of the chief culprits in the creation of problem bears. Visitors are reminded to keep food, garbage, barbecue grills, and other attractants stored inside or otherwise unavailable to bears.

Chief Ranger Frye states that park staff, along with other local, state, and federal agencies in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem constantly strive to protect the bear population through public education, enforcement of regulations for proper food and garbage handling, the relocation of problem bears, and visitor use management.

Visitors are asked to report any sightings or signs of bears to the nearest visitor center or ranger station as soon as possible. Permits for backcountry camping and information on day hikes are available at visitor centers and ranger stations.

For further information on spring conditions in Glacier National Park, call park headquarters at (406) 888-7800.

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BELGRADE, Mont. (YNET) -- The Yellowstone Net website has been selected as a finalist in Real Network's 1999 Streamer's Award competition.  Real Networks is the leading producer of multimedia-enhancing software for internet sites.  The Streamer's Awards are recognized as the academy awards for the internet.  Yellowstone Net's multimedia page, a creation of national park photographer Russ Finley,  is the section of the site which is in the award competition.

Some of the leading internet personalities, including Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon.com, will be judging the Streamer's finalists in the coming weeks.  The winners will be announced May 7 in San Francisco, an event which will be broadcast worldwide.

Yellowstone Net expresses gratitude for all who voted for the site, and great appreciation for Russ Finley and the tremendous amount of work he has put into making Yellowstone Net a true multimedia experience for the internet community.

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