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IN THE NEWS TODAY: Protecting Yellowstone -- by Bruce Gourley Wolf Update -- News Brief Yellowstone DVD Released -- by Finley-JHoliday 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) -- Tomorrow the National Park Service will introduce a simple way that Yellowstone supporters (as well as advocates of other national parks) can lend support to the world's first and foremost national park: a new National Parks Pass program. The press release from the National Park Service follows: On April 18, 2000, visitors to Yellowstone National Park will have a new opportunity to enjoy their parks through the purchase of the new National Parks Pass-a new pass that will provide free admission for one year from purchase to all National Park Service units where a vehicle or per person entrance fee is charged. The pass provides an economical way for Americans to support and enjoy their national parks 365 days in 379 ways. "We are proud to be able to offer the National Parks Pass to our park community," said Superintendent Michael Finley. "The Pass is a great value and allows the public to see the wonderful diversity of this remarkable park while at the same time helps fund projects that improve the visitor experience within the park. It is especially appropriate that the introduction of the new pass coincides with Presidentially-proclaimed National Park Week 2000 (April 17-23), allowing park visitors the opportunity to experience the rich heritage, diversity, and spirit of all our national park units." The National Parks Pass will be sold for $50 at Yellowstone beginning April 18. A full 70 percent of the proceeds from the sales of Passes at Yellowstone will stay in the park to go directly to projects that help visitors experience and enjoy the area. The remaining 30 percent of the proceeds go to a national fund that supports projects at any of the 379 National Park Service units in the system. The Pass is also available at other parks around the country, online at www.nationalparks.org, or by calling toll free at 1-888-GO-PARKS. Along with the attractive credit-card size Pass, purchasers also receive a PopOut US Map showing all 379 National Park Service units, a Proud Partner vehicle decal, and a GoParks Newsletter free subscription offer. GoParks is produced by the National Park Foundation, which honors, enriches, and expands the legacy of private philanthropy that helped create and continues to sustain American's National Parks. Visitors can upgrade their National Parks Pass to a Golden Eagle by paying an additional $15 for a holographic Golden Eagle sticker to put on the Pass. The Gold Eagle Passport allows the permit holder and accompanying passengers to enter all federal recreation areas that charge entrance fees. For additional information on how to purchase the National Parks Pass, visitors are asked to call (307) 344-2107. (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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WOLF
UPDATE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. Wyo. -- Federal wildlife officials are considering a policy change in wolf control regulations in regards to Yellowstone-area wolves. The proposed policy change would allow ranchers the option of using rubber bullets to discourage wolves from harassing livestock. Current wolf management policies allow ranchers to intervene only if a wolf is caught in the act of destroying livestock, at which time ranchers are permitted to shoot to kill. The proposed change would allow ranchers to take preventive measures through the use of the non-lethal rubber bullets. Last week's conference in Chico Hot Springs, brought together by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Defenders of Wildlife, was an attempt to help biologists, wolf advocates and ranchers come together to discuss wolf recovery efforts. Yellowstone's wolves, reintroduced into the Park in 1995, are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Also last week, wolf biologists announced that wolf No. 9, the most well-known wolf in Yellowstone and the first female to give birth, is genetically responsible for an amazing 71% of all the Park's wolves. In other words, wolf No. 9 is mother, grandmother or great grandmother of nearly three-quarters of the entire Yellowstone-area wolf population. According to biologists, such numbers were previously unheard of in wolf populations. |
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| YELLOWSTONE
DVD RELEASED by Finley-Holiday Finley-Holiday Films is releasing "The Complete Yellowstone," accompanied by a host of interactive special features, on DVD. The program is a complete look at the history, geology, wildlife, and beauty of America's first national park. The stunning photography is by none other than Russ Finley, who has spent hundreds of hours capturing the park for award-winning Yellowstone productions. Viewers might recognize the narrator as character actor Joseph Campanella. Viewers will certainly notice the unrivaled quality of DVD, which has a picture resolution TWICE that of regular VHS tape. "The Complete Yellowstone" has been digitally remastered and features Dolby Digital sound, while interactive menus lead viewers to discover this DVD's special features: ** BONUS PROGRAM: "Bears of the Lower 48"-- a 30 minute program featuring Black and Grizzly bears. ** The Russ Finley Stills Gallery-- a collection of spectacular Yellowstone images. ** Yellowstone Music Video-- Russ Finley Photography set to the music of Beethoven. ** Chapter Select-- jump to any point in the program. ** Additional Resources-- where to find more information about Yellowstone online. ** DVD-ROM content--Yellowstone screensaver for customers with a DVD-ROM equipped computer. ** Internet resources-- one-click web access to Yellowstone Net, the National Park Service, and more! "The Complete Yellowstone" is available for $24.95 from Finley-Holiday Films (Stock #DV-04). Please call (800) 345-6707 to order or visit our web site at www.finley-holiday.com. Finley-Holiday Films, located in Whittier, California, produces a wide range of award winning video, DVD, CD-ROM, and color slide sets focusing on U.S. travel, national parks, American history, and space exploration. |
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| BISON UPDATE by Buffalo Nations WEST YELLOWSTONE, Mont. -- The Montana Department of Livestock (DOL) hazed more than 30 bison last week in an unsuccessful attempt to chase the animals into Yellowstone National Park. In a rash of separate hazing operations, DOL agents fired cracker barrel rounds from snowmobiles and four-wheeled ATVs as they pursued the bison. A lone bull who has been grazing near the Duck Creek capture facility since December was subjected to his second hazing operation in three weeks. DOL agents on snowmobiles chased the bull a few hundred yards into Yellowstone, committing multiple violations of park closures. This area of the park is closed to all human use at present to protect sensitive grizzly bear habitat, and is closed at all times to motorized use. Fresh grizzly tracks were observed in the immediate area as recently as Tuesday. BFC volunteer Alan Ramos was arrested on Thursday on two counts of obstruction for attempting to slow approaching vehicles as the DOL hazed 30 bison along Highway 191 toward the Duck Creek trap. The agents made no attempt to warn oncoming traffic. BFC video footage documenting the arrest was confiscated by Gallatin County Sheriff's Deputy Rob Burns. Ramos was released on $340 bail. "These events are further proof of the futility of hazing as a management tool," said Emily Kodama, a volunteer with the field campaign. A week ago the DOL hazed 14 buffalo back into Yellowstone, yet today there are nearly three times that number outside the park. Marcus Baker, who was present during the operation, further observed, "When they started hazing this morning there were eight bison outside the park. Now, after the operation, there are more than 40. It makes you wonder about the effectiveness of their operations." It appeared the DOL intended to haze the bison into the Duck Creek trap, despite recent assurances from Rob Tierney, DOL's director of bison management, that this season's actions would be restricted to hazing only. |
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