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| MONDAY May 8, 2000 Vol 4, # 29 |
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| MONDAY May 8, 2000 Vol 4, # 29 |
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| Site Search | Support Yellowstone! Discussion Free Internet, Email, More Email Newsletter | |
YELLOWSTONE 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) -- Although Yellowstone National Park is certainly the oldest and most visible of America's national parks, there are hundreds of other Parks and Monuments administrated by the National Park Service. And although Yellowstone has some unique challenges and needs, there are other issues which Yellowstone shares with other national parks and monuments. Many of these issues revolve around the broader picture of understanding and preserving the environment for future generations to enjoy. The Park Service is sensitive to ongoing environmental issues, as indicated by the two Park Service press releases re-printed below. ----------- National Park Service employees donning their trademark green and gray uniforms are more environmentally friendly "green" these days. The NPS is the first government agency to incorporate environmental standards into solicitation for a new uniform supply contract. The new contract includes provisions to, "Ensure that environmentally preferable and energy efficient products, processes, and services are utilized in the design, manufacturing, packaging, and distribution of uniform components." Uniform orders will be submitted online, greatly reducing the number of printed catalogs and eliminating literally tons of paper and ink. The current uniform contractor, R & R Uniforms, Inc., has already created a fleece jacket made of 100 percent recycled content and is researching a 65 percent recycled-content cotton twill fabric for jackets and pants. Between 16,000 and 17,000 NPS employees wear uniforms. ----------- The Park Service will convene a conference for present and future leaders and stewards of the nearly 400 national parks and programs across the country on September 11-15, in St. Louis, Missouri. The primary goals of the conference are to focus the vision of the Park Service for the 21st century and to cultivate new leadership to meet the challenges facing the parks in the future. "Discovery 2000: The National Park Service General Conference," will be the first such conference held in more than a decade. The conference will feature program tracks on Cultural Resource Stewardship, Natural Resource Stewardship, Education, and Leadership. The keynote speakers will be John Hope Franklin, Edward O. Wilson, Maya Angelou, and Peter Senge. Franklin is a legendary figure among American historians. Wilson is acclaimed as one of the world's most credible advocates of protecting the planet's biodiversity. Angelou is regarded as one of America's most distinguished contemporary poets. And, Senge is the founder of the Society for Organizational Learning whose members are dedicated to building knowledge about fundamental institutional change. ----------- (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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WILDLIFE
UPDATE: OF BISON AND GRIZZLIES YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (YNET) -- For years, new Yellowstone employees have been shown video tape of bison charging and even goring tourists who approached too closely. One famous video is of a bison darting around a tree and attacking a tourist who mistakenly thought the tree afforded enough of a barrier. The truth is that bison are both faster than they look and more dangerous than many people think. And now a recent study conducted by Park biologist Tom Oliff has revealed what many Park employees, as well as many savvy Yellowstone visitors, have known: bison are actually more of a threat to Park visitors than are grizzlies. Since 1978, grizzlies have injured thirty people and killed two individuals in Yellowstone. However, during that same time span, there were 81 recorded bison attacks, of which one resulted in a death (in addition, another bison-related death occurred in 1971). The main cause of this large number of bison encounters is, quite simply, that far too many tourists approach bison too closely. Park regulations require that visitors stay 100 yards away from bears, but only 75 feet from bison. Many visitors, however, approach much closer than 75 feet. Some approach to within less than ten feet. Why? Many tourists are under the impression that the seemingly-docile creatures are not truly dangerous, seeing them merely as large cattle. Park officials, in response to the large number of bison attacks, are considering changing the rules and requiring visitors to stay at least 100 yards away from bison. Such a policy change would help communicate the dangerous nature of bison. In the meantime, if all visitors would simply obey the 75 feet limit, the number of bison attacks would likely drop drastically. |
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| EAST ENTRANCE NOW OPEN News Brief YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. -- This past Friday Yellowstone's East Entrance opened to automobile traffic. According to Park officials, some 100 vehicles entered the Park via the East Entrance on Friday. In addition to the opening of the East Entrance, the Old Faithful Snow Lodge and the Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel opened on Friday. This coming Friday, May 12, will mark the opening of the South entrance and Old Faithful Inn. In addition, the roads between the West Thumb to Old Faithful roadway and the West Thumb to Lake roadway will open on Friday the 12th. |
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| YELLOWSTONE HISTORY TALK
WEDNESDAY News Brief BILLINGS, Mont. -- The Yellowstone Corral of the Westerners will present a program featuring Doris Whithorn of Livingston, who will talk about Yellowstone National Park in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Wednesday, May 10 meeting will be held at the Radisson Northern Hotel in Billings. Doris and her husband, Bill, have authored a number of Western historical publications. The program starts at 7:45 p.m., with dinner being served at 6:45. The cost of the meal is $13.50, and reservations are needed by Monday, May 8. For reservations or for more information, call Jeanne at 406-252-2225 or Mary at 406-252-2622. |
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