|
| . | . | . | ||
| Site Search | Support Yellowstone! Discussion Free Internet, Email, More Email Newsletter | |||
YELLOWSTONE |
IN THE NEWS TODAY: Protecting Yellowstone -- by Bruce Gourley Road Opening Update -- by National Park Service Wolf Update -- News Brief Bison Update -- by Buffalo Nations NEW! Daily Environmental News -- from ISyndicate |
|||
| . | . | . | ||
| Travel News: | ||||
ROAD REPORT PUBLISHER EDITOR-IN-
|
 PROTECTING YELLOWSTONEby Bruce Gourley Yellowstone is a national treasure which is owned by the American public. Protecting Yellowstone is the responsibility of the American public. This weekly feature will help identify and explore the issues which are crucial to the ongoing, healthy existence of the "Crown Jewel" of America's National Park system. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- Yellowstone officials recently announced details regarding the Park's fiscal year 2000 financial budget. With Yellowstone some $700 million in the hole in maintenance backlogs that include some of the worst roads in the entire United States (which have not been paved for more than half a century), Congress has given the Park some $30.2 million to work with this year. The disparity in these numbers is startling, yet they are indicative of a general lack of concern among Congress for Yellowstone's needs. Park officials cannot begin to take a bite out of the $700 million maintenance deficit with such a meager portion with which to work. In fact, they will barely have enough to do routine maintenance, much less address backlogged maintenance. Some $12.5 million (or 41%) of this year's budget towards routine yet necessary maintenance such as plowing the roads this spring, basic maintenance of campgrounds and trails, boardwalks and roads. Some $4 million (14%) will go towards protecting Yellowstone resources, including studies of Yellowstone's wildlife and fish. Visitor services such as hiring park rangers and fire fighting will command $9.7 million (32%) of the budget. Already, thanks to decades-long lack of adequate funding for Yellowstone, the number of rangers is far below past levels and the pay is basically minimum wage. Yellowstone's plight is indicative of the National Park System as a whole. While the United States economy roars along in prosperity as never before, the National Park system is neglected as never before. It seems as if Congress has an unlimited amount of money to throw around these days, yet our National Parks, one of the greatest legacies of our great nation, struggle with the few scraps that Congress throws their way. Yellowstone National Park, the world's first and foremost national park, is being ruined by the irresponsibleness of Congress. Yellowstone was set aside and preserved in 1872 for future generations to enjoy the Park's wildness and beauty. And yet if drastic changes do not take place, the 21st century may be remembered as the time in which Yellowstone -- and the entire National Park System -- became nothing more than a relic, forgotten and neglected. (Yellowstone Net provides you opportunity to voice your opinion regarding the various Yellowstone issues to your congresspersons and to editorial sections of magazines and newspapers by clicking here.) |
|||
| . | . | . | ||
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS Ralph Maughan
|
ROAD
OPENING UPDATE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. Wyo. -- Yellowstone's roads are now closed for spring plowing, with the exception of the northern roadway between Mammoth and Cooke City, Montana. This spring's updated scheduled road openings are as follows: Spring weather is unpredictable; roads may close temporarily due to snow or other safety factors. Snow tires or chains may be required. Weather and snow conditions permitting, the following roads will open for automobiles are: April 21 -- Mammoth to Norris Junction to Madison Junction to Old Faithful; Madison Junction to the West Entrance April 28 -- Norris to Canyon May 5 -- Canyon to Lake to the East Entrance; Tower Junction to Tower Fall May 12 -- Lake to West Thumb; Old Faithful to the South Entrance (Cooke City via Chief Joseph Scenic Highway will open when conditions permit) May 26 -- Long Lake gate via the Beartooth Pass to the East Summit, Montana State Line June 16 -- Tower Falls to Canyon over Dunraven Pass |
|||
| , | . | . | ||
| WOLF UPDATE News Brief IDAHO -- Federal wolf managers plan to kill the few remaining animals in the Twin Peaks pack near Challis. Although the alpha male and female were captured and removed from the area last month, the remaining three to four wolves are still killing calves at the Hurless' ranch. The pack has been killing calves since mid January, and four wolves have already been shot over livestock kills. In the past few years, on several occasions entire wolf packs have been destroyed for repeated livestock kills in the state of Montana. If the remaining wolves of the Twin Peaks pack are destroyed, however, if will mark the first eradication of an entire wolf pack in Idaho since the reintroduction of wolves into the greater Yellowstone ecosystem in 1995. |
||||
| TH | . | . | ||
| BISON UPDATE by Buffalo Nations WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. -- The bull buffalo who has been grazing in a meadow on the Gallatin National Forest since early January briefly returned to Yellowstone National Park a few days ago. The bull, who was the object of five unsuccessful Department of Livestock (DOL) hazing operations in January and February, crossed highway 191 and entered the park shortly after noon. Buffalo Field Campaign (BFC) volunteers stood by the highway and warned oncoming traffic of the bull's crossing. The buffalo didn't remain in the park long, however. Walking nearly a half mile into Yellowstone, the bison quickly turned around, came back into Montana, and started grazing along the highway, where it now stands. The bull's current position makes it particularly vulnerable to the DOL, who would have a much easier time hazing the bison along the highway to the buffalo trap at Duck Creek than they did when it was on the Madison, several miles from the highway. The bull is the only Yellowstone buffalo currently in Montana. On Monday morning we conducted an aerial survey of the park and found several hundred buffalo within a day's walk of the boundary. Buffalo have traditionally migrated to Horse Butte in the spring to calve, where the DOL has approval to construct and operate a bison capture facility until April 30. Thanks to pilot Reggie Goodwin and Project Lighthawk for donating their services and allowing us to get this bird's-eye view of the herd. We would like to thank Sandra Karpie's third grade class for all the hard work they put in to ending the buffalo slaughter. These students, from Alden, NY, conducted thorough research on the issue and wrote moving letters to local and national newspapers, organizations, and key officials involved in the slaughter of Yellowstone's wild buffalo. Efforts like theirs will ultimately lead to protection of the Yellowstone herd. With so many buffalo near the boundary, we are gearing up for a busy spring. During the National Week of Action for the Buffalo, to be held April 22-30 near West Yellowstone, citizens from around the country will join us to shut down the DOL. We are expecting more than a hundred volunteers for the non-violent week of training and action. If you would like to participate, or would like more information, please get in touch with one of our volunteer coordinators at the address below: Buffalo Field Campaign |
||||
| |
||||
