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| FRIDAY March 9, 2001 Vol 5, # 24 |
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| FRIDAY March 9, 2001 Vol 5, # 24 |
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| Site Search | Support Yellowstone! Discussion $7.95 Internet, Email, More Email Newsletter | |
YELLOWSTONE ROAD
REPORT PUBLISHER EDITOR-IN- |
YELLOWSTONE WOLF UPDATE by U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (USFWS) -- Another lama was killed southwest of Marion, MT (in NW MT) on the 23rd. The same group of 3 wolves that previously killed 1 of the 3 lamas, same owner, were responsible. WS and the Service set some traps to radio-collar a wolf and release-on-site but nothing was caught. The man’s remaining lama was given away since it appeared obvious that these wolves figured out how to kill lamas. The Sheep Mountain (and Chief Joe when they are in the Paradise Valley) are being intensively monitored during Yellowstone National Park’s bi-annual 30 day winter predation study that started March 1. Biologists from the Turner Endangered Species Fund are picking up wolf kills to get species, sex, age, and condition information to add to the data base for Park studies and to get more insight into the concerns of local residents about the potential impact of these wolves on elk and deer populations in this area. Sheep Mountain wolf #189 was found dead on the 2nd and his death is being investigated. Wolf #189 was 1 of 3 wolves that were held and conditioned to avoid cattle as part of a longer term cooperative Wildlife Services research program. Volunteers with the Wyoming wolf program are again tracking and following wolves in the Gros Ventre, Teton, and Sunlight Basin areas. Volunteers are investigating wolf kills and monitoring the potential effect of wolves on the winter elk feeding programs in Wyoming. Cooperators include the Service, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Teton National Park, National Elk Refuge, and several National Forests.
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CONTRIBUTING WRITERS AND COLUMNISTS Russ Finley
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WINTER ROAD
CLOSING UPDATE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. -- Currently, Mammoth to Norris, Norris to Madision and Norris to Canyon are all closed to oversnow vehicles. In addition, Mammoth Hotel, Dining Room and Fuel Station are now closed to visitors. On Sunday, March 11, winter visitor services at Old Faithful, Fishing Bridge and Canyon will also close to visitors. The next day, Monday, March 12, all remaining Park roads will close to oversnow traffic. Other roads leading to the Park will close in the coming weeks and months as follows: By about May 1 - Cooke City via Colter Pass to Chief Joseph Scenic Highway intersection Monday, May 7 - Chief Joseph Scenic Highway intersection via the Beartooth Pass to the Montana Stateline The Mammoth General Store and Mammoth Clinic remain open year round; and the road from the North Entrance to the Northeast Entrance of the park (Gardiner, Montana, to Cooke City, Montana) remains open year round to wheeled vehicles. |
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| BISON UPDATE by Buffalo Nations WEST YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Mont. -- We have had another beautiful, sunny week; but it's too early for spring! Yesterday, we watched a coyote walk right through a group of bull bison. The bulls barely looked up as the coyote slowly padded through, working up and down the banks of Duck creek. Although they are totally different species, the bison and the coyote share the common bond of persecution. Hundreds of thousands of coyotes are killed each year in the name of livestock protection, but they continue to thrive. Bison barely hang on in the wild, unable or unwilling to use the coyote's tricks for survival. The warm weather has brought about courtship behaviors in the area's bird life, and the bison are noticeably rambunctious. Shortly after the encounter with the coyote, the group of bulls moved down the creek and out of the safety of Yellowstone. With the Duck Creek capture facility within site, volunteers set up a 24 hour vigil along the boundary line. Our presence, along with a bit of gentle shepherding, has kept these bison out of the facility and the slaughter house for now. They say that as long as one bison remembers a good foraging ground, they all will remember. They have some sort of group consciousness, maybe they communicate telepathically. You can see them all move at once, and know they are connected somehow. So, as the snow melts on Horse Butte, and green shoots appear, the question is not: Will the herd come out this year; but when? |
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| WOLF FIELD JOBS AVAILABLE by National Park Service HELENA, Mont. (USFWS) -- The Service is advertising for 2 GS-7, 6-month field jobs beginning March 5. The application period closes March 16. The jobs involve locating, capturing, and monitoring wolves. The positions will go from May until November. Some assistance with reducing livestock conflict, including aversive conditioning or harassing wolves near livestock may be required. One position will be stationed in Helena, MT and the other in Lander, WY. Extensive travel and field work will be required. Public communication skills are a must. To learn more see http://www.usajobs.opm.gov/wfjic/jobs/1r7950.htm |
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