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| MONDAY Dec. 18, 2000 Vol 4, # 78 |
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| MONDAY Dec. 18, 2000 Vol 4, # 78 |
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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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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- Five years ago, wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park. Wolves had not been present in the Park for some 70 years, and the federal government did not know if the wolf recovery program would work. By all indications, however, the program has been a resounding success, according to wolf program coordinators. Thirty-one gray wolves were originally released into Yellowstone, and five years later, the population stands at 185. The Lamar Valley Druid Pack alone this year had three litters and 21 pups. Now well established within Yellowstone's boundaries, the wolves are steadily moving outside of the Park. This migration leads to "phase two," as the Park boundaries themselves are not big enough to contain the wolf population. However, outside of the Park, problems have occurred as wolves encounter, and sometimes prey on, livestock. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service this year has counted over fifty livestock kills, primarily sheep. Wolf recovery coordinators expect and anticipate problems with livestock kills, and some wolves have been killed for aggressiveness towards livestock. A primary focus of the future is the resolving of wolf-livestock issues which occur outside of Yellowstone's boundaries, and wolf coordinators are optimistic that such issues can be addressed effectively. Late Breaking Wolf News from Ralph Maughan: Wildlife Services has finally trapped and killed what appears to have been a wild wolf that had killed at least 25 sheep over the last year-and-a-half. The dead wolf had occupied in a new location for Idaho wolves -- about 10 miles northeast of the southeast Idaho town of Soda Springs. The complete story is much more interesting, however, than the typical wolf-kills-sheep/wolf-is-controlled story. The wolf was thought to have left the area, but instead it was trapped and killed in late November 2000 after it resumed killing sheep this September. The animal was an 87-pound dark gray female. She appears to have been a wild wolf, but DNA tests are being conducted. The most likely source is from the Yellowstone area wolf population, but this is by no means certain. She could have been a privately released wolf or a wolf that escaped from the 1995 Ligertown debacle near Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. The story is more unusual in that she spent part of 1999 - 2000 hunting sheep and wild animals with a Great Pyrenees sheep guard dog that had begun killing and eating sheep rather than guarding them. (For the full story, click here.) (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 Russ Finley
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YELLOWSTONE
OPENS FOR WINTER SEASON
This winter season is notable in that it will be the last winter with full snowmobile access. Starting next winter, snowmobiles will be placed under new restrictions, leading to a gradual phase out of the machines by the 2003-2004 winter season. The only road open to automobiles during the winter months is the northern entrance via Gardiner, Montana, to the northeastern entrance at Silver Gate and Cooke City, Montana. To make your winter lodging and activity reservations, call toll-free 1-888-255-7710. |
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| GREATER YELLOWSTONE
COALITION BOSS RESIGNS Greater Yellowstone Coalition BOZEMAN, Mont. (GYC) -- Mike Clark, who led the triumphant campaign to protect Yellowstone National Park from a potential mining disaster, has announced he is leaving his job as executive director of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. In six and a half years as the most prominent voice for protecting Greater Yellowstone, Clark has put vision and energy behind a long list of landmark conservation efforts. Those efforts include: wolf recovery, land exchanges that replaced "checkerboard" ownership with large blocks of publicly-owned land, and the recent decision to restore clean air and quiet in Yellowstone Park with a new form of wintertime access. "Mike Clark has been a compassionate, articulate leader for GYC and a voice for the wildlife and wild places of this region that can't speak for themselves," said Stephanie Kessler, Chairwoman of the organization's Board of Directors. "Thankfully, we won't lose his optimistic, forward-looking ideas about creating a better future for all residents of Greater Yellowstone. He will simply be applying them in new ways. "Mike will leave GYC in excellent shape, with an outstanding staff and a reputation for credibility and effectiveness," Kessler added. "Our board has already initiated a nationwide search for a new executive director." Clark intends to stay in Bozeman and focus his energy on a specific challenge facing the region's environment and economy. "I want to spend time working to ensure that ranching survives in this region and determining how we can keep open spaces for both wildlife and people," said Clark. "If our big valleys become chopped up by subdivisions and 20-acre weed lots, this ecosystem will peel apart." Clark will help with GYC's search for a new executive director. The board expects to complete the process by spring. |
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| FROM THE BANKS OF THE
FIREHOLE by Matthew McLean This is the first and second in a series of articles written by Matthew McLean, Associate Editor of The Wyoming Companion and contributor to Yellowstone Net who is living and working in Yellowstone this winter. YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. -- (Part 1) Recently, I received a phone call saying that I had to call Yellowstone immediately because there had been a change in the winter opening date!!! I thought, ”Great!! Now I am going to be stuck without a job because they aren't going to open on time!” Well, it turns out that luck had different plans for me. I called them up and found out they just wanted to let me know that the park was opening on the 18th instead of the 15th so I would have three days of free time before I had to work. They were making sure this was okay with me. Well, needless to say, I think I will survive. So, that is how my first winter season in Yellowstone has started. Four months of winter wonderland are a welcome relief after getting used to the lackluster winters of Cincinnati for 13 years. It will be nice if nature cooperates and gives the Yellowstone region a good dusting of snow this winter. The past few years have been pretty mild according to some that I have talked too. But, someone also told me that if we get a nice snowy winter, it won't be long before I won't even be able to see out of my dorm room window. Now that will be interesting! So, what does this winter actually hold for me? Well, cross country skiing to work everyday should get me in pretty good shape. Also, for the first time I will have first-hand experience with winter vehicles and get to see what the snowmobile hubbub is all about. Without a doubt, though, the most exciting thing for me will be to watch nature doing its winter work with the geysers, animals, trees, and more. It will be something that I can't believe I have waited 23 years to do!!! I invite you all to join me in my winter adventure by following along in the articles I will be writing for Yellowstone Net and The Wyoming Companion. I will do my best to give those of you who can't make it during the winter to a place like Yellowstone a feel for what a wonderful (and cold!) experience it can be. Maybe by reading these articles you will be inspired to venture into the winter wilds of Yellowstone yourself someday. (Part 2) My winter adventure in Yellowstone began with a few days of cross-country adventure. Besides staying at two different places and traveling 1500 miles by air (400 by road) - I had to haul a couple hundred pounds of luggage with me. To be honest, my biggest concern was how I was going to be able to get everything down to Old Faithful. Surprisingly enough, the trip was very smooth and I managed to get all settled in with very little hassle. It is amazing to be in the park with snow. This past summer we had a pretty good snow in late September, but nothing like this. The depth of the snow at Old Faithful varies from one to two feet and, since it is winter, none of it is melting anytime soon. Travel is different in that most people are skiing or snowmobiling. I don't have my skis yet, so I am still walking. Believe me, it is not that easy to walk in this much snow. Another hazard of walking is paying attention to where you go because it is considered impolite to walk on the ski trails! So far, no cabin fever. It is getting dark between about 4:30 and 5 and most people don't stay out past that time. Once I start work, I will be able to establish a schedule that allows me to utilize my daylight hours to their fullest. I started work on Friday (12/15). Monday (12/18) is when we open and I will be working in either the Espresso Bar near the lobby or the Bear Den Gift Shop near the Geyser Grill. It will be interesting to meet and talk to all the people that come to visit Yellowstone in the winter. If any of you happen to come into the park, stop by and say hello! Until next time, take care and have a great holiday season! Matthew’s photos of The Old Faithful Inn during the September 22-23, 2000 snowstorm, and Lewis Lake Sunset are featured in The Wyoming Companion. Go to Matthew's website by clicking here. |
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YELLOWSTONE
NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (YNET) -- Today marks the start of the winter season in Yellowstone
National Park. Roads open at 8 am for all winter recreation, depending on snowfall
and driving safety. Popular winter activities include snowmobiling, snow coaching,
cross-country skiing and wildlife watching.