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YELLOWSTONE |
IN THE NEWS TODAY: Protecting Yellowstone -- by Bruce Gourley Protest over Winter Use Plans -- News Brief Wolf Update -- News Brief Bison Update -- by Buffalo Nations AND Daily Environmental News -- from ISyndicate |
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ROAD REPORT PUBLISHER EDITOR-IN-
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 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) -- The National Parks and Conservation Association has named, for the second year, the nations ten most endangered national parks. Five of the parks listed last year remain on this year's list. Yellowstone National Park is one of those five. The NPCA named Yellowstone as one of the ten most endangered national parks in America this year primarily because of threats from winter snowmobile use, which causes high amounts of pollution and disturbs wildlife. Last year, Yellowstone's faltering sewage systems landed the park in the top ten list. Since that time, Congress has appropriated funds to begin work on replacing Yellowstone's aging sewer systems. The NPCA recognizes that many other issues threaten Yellowstone, but feels that snowmobiles presently pose the most danger. Snowmobile advocates, led by the Pocatello, Idaho-based Blue Ribbon Coalition, charge the NPCA with hating snowmobiles and seeking to restrict access to Yellowstone. Currently, Yellowstone National Park officials are leaning towards banning snowmobiles from the Park in favor of cleaner-burning snow coaches. County and regional officials are opposed to such plans. Rounding out the top ten most endangered national parks in America are: ** Great Smoky Mountains National Park -- threatened by pollution from power plants; ** Everglades National Park in Florida -- threatened by commercial developments; ** Denali National Park in Alaska -- threatened by proposed increase in snowmobile usage ** Haleakala National Park in Hawaii -- threatened by a nearby proposed airport expansion ** Joshua Tree National Park in California -- threatened by a proposed nearby landfill ** Stones River National Battlefield in Tennessee -- threatened by highway development ** Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona -- a major target of vandals and thieves ** Ozark Scenic Riverways National Park in Missouri -- threatened by mining permits ** National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom -- not enough funding allocated (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.) |
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS Ralph Maughan
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PROTEST
OVER WINTER USE PLANS YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. Wyo. -- Yellowstone officials last month announced that they are leaning towards banning snowmobiles from the Park in order to alleviate growing winter pollution. Snowmobiling would also be banned from Grand Teton National Park. In response, the five county commissioners from the counties surrounding Yellowstone have all voiced their disapproval of the Park's plans in a written letter. The five counties are Park and Teton counties, Wyoming; Gallatin and Park counties, Montana; and Fremont County, Idaho. Of the country commissioners, only one member from Teton County refrained from signing the letter. The commissioners charge that Park officials are moving too quickly with their plans and are not adequately incorporating feedback from county officials. Two years ago, Yellowstone officials agreed to include county officials as "cooperating officials" in the development of plans for a new park winter use plan. From the beginning, Park officials and county officials have been at odds over the Yellowstone winter use issue. Park officials contend that the high levels of pollution generated by snowmobiles greatly endangers the Park, while county officials view snowmobilers as an indispensable source of income for the nearby gateway communities. The Park Service will not be making a final decision regarding snowmobile usage in Yellowstone until late this year, at the earliest. |
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| WOLF UPDATE News Brief YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. -- The saga of wolf No. 9, the first of Yellowstone's reintroduced wolves to breed in the Yellowstone region, continues. In early 1995, she gave birth to the first litter of pups right about the same time that her mate was illegally shot near Red Lodge, Montana, just north of Yellowstone. She remained the alpha (dominant) female of the Rose Creek pack for many years, but last year she left the pack and was wondering alone in the Yellowstone region. Well advanced in years, it was assumed that she would soon die, as most lone, older wolves do. Earlier this year, however, No. 9 surprised wolf biologists when it was discovered that she had taken the position of dominant female in the newly-formed Valentine pack, located northwest of Cody and so named for the time of its discovery by biologists. Last week, however, wolf biologists noted that it now appears that the aging No. 9 has been removed to a subordinate position in the Valentine pack. No. 153, a younger black female is apparently the new alpha female. Older wolves, once they lose their hierarchy, are oftentimes forced to leave the pack. The fate of No. 9, once again, appears uncertain. |
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| BISON UPDATE News Brief WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. -- Spring is rapidly coming to the Yellowstone region, and with spring comes an increased number of bison leaving the Park in the vicinity of West Yellowstone to search for new, green grasses. On Thursday, state, local and federal officials, led by the Montana Department of Livestock, hazed fourteen bison back into Yellowstone in what was the biggest hazing operation since last spring. Snowmobiles were used in the hazing, with only a cow and her newborn calf being left behind. They will be hazed back to the Park when the calf is strong enough. The Montana Department of Livestock fears Yellowstone's bison because they can carry the disease brucellosis, which can cause domestic cattle to abort their calves. However, there is no evidence that wild bison can transmit the disease to domestic livestock. (Elk are known to transmit the disease to cattle, yet the Montana Department of Livestock shows no concern regarding diseased elk.) Federal officials have stated that Montana officials are over-reacting, but state officials continue to be adamant about their anti-bison campaign. State officials sometimes shoot and kill diseased animals which leave the Park (some 1100 were killed in the winter of 1996-97), but in recent years have sought to haze the animals back into the Park as their first option. Thus far this winter, no bison have been killed by Montana officials. |
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