The Yellowstone
Net Newspaper Wednesday December 3, 1997 Vol. 1 No. 24 |
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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. (YNET) -- The Yellowstone bison story covers more than one hundred years of struggle and conflict surrounding one of America's most majestic animals. In the early 1800's, an estimated 65 million bison roamed throughout the continent of North America. However, market hunting and poaching had a devestating effect on the bison population; and by 1890, fewer than 1,000 remained! Even with the establishment of Yellowstone National Park, protection and sanctuary for the bison did not occur until the U.S. Army arrived in 1886 to protect the park's resources. Due to protection and manipulative management (transplanting bison to different parts of Yellowstone), there were approximately 1,500 bison in Yellowstone National Park by 1954. Beginning 1968, the manipulative management of Yellowstone bison was discontinued and the population was allowed to fluctuate based on environmental conditions (i.e. winter weather, food availability, etc). In the 1970's and 1980's, there were a series of cool, wet summers followed by mild winters. These conditions allowed for an abundance of grasses for the bison to feed on and a reduction in the winter mortality rate. In addition, snowmobiling in the park has helped more bison survive winters since the groomed roads cut down on the amount of energy that a bison uses to travel when compared to traveling through deep snow. By the winter of 1996 to 1997, there were approximately 3,500 bison in Yellowstone National Park. The bison (often referred to as buffaloe) is truly a majestic animal. An adult bull bison may be six feet tall at the shoulder and weigh 2,000 pounds. Females look like the males except that they are smaller and have more slender horns. Bison mate from July through early August, and the calves are born in April and May. During the spring and early summer, new-born calves can often be viewed in the Firehole area and Lamar Valley. Although viewing the young calves can be an exciting experience, it is very important that you do not get too close to the animals for observation or photographs. Bison may appear big and slow, but they can run up to 30 miles per hour. Yellowstone visitors are gored every year, because they venture too near in attempts to photograph the animals. Today, the Yellowstone bison still faces conflict and struggle. The most recent modern issue is the disease called brucellosis which can cause abortions in domestic cattle. Some bison as well as elk are infected with the disease. Although there are no documented cases of wild, free-ranging bison transmitting brucellosis to cattle in the wild, the possibility of transmitting the disease exists if domestic cattle come into contact with infected birthing material or a new-born calf of an infected bison. Due to a lawsuit filed by the State of Montana, a new bison management plan was developed. All bison entering Montana along Yellowstone's north boundary would be shot or shipped to slaughter. In addition, all bison entering Montana through the park's west boundary would be tested for brucellosis. Any bison testing positive for brucellosis would be shot or shipped to slaughter. Due to the management removals and winter-kill, the Yellowstone bison population in March of 1997 was estimated to be approximately 1,200 to 1,500 animals. That is less than half of what the population was estimated to be at the start of the 1996-1997 winter. Yellowstone National Park now has a new bison exhibit called "Where the Buffalo Roam". It opened on August 1, 1997 at the Canyon Visitor Center. The exhibit traces the story of the Yellowstone bison and features educational stations and two full-size dioramas with taxidermyspecimens. The exhibit also presents issues that arise when the wild bison confronts the modern world. Although the Canyon Visitor Center is closed for the winter, it will be open again for the summer season. If you are planning a trip to Yellowstone National Park for next summer, try to visit the new bison exhibit. Also, if you will be in Yellowstone during the late spring or early summer, stop by Lamar Valley or the Firehole area as they do present an excellent opportunity to view new-born bison calves. |
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I also enjoy visiting with the owners of High Country Espresso, Theresa and Kevin. I oftentimes saw them with their new baby this summer, an adorable little girl. Mandy and Amy's parents, Harold and Sonya, work for Amfac, Yellowstone's largest concessionaire. Amfac operates the hotels, corrals and many other facilities within the Park. Harold, Sonya, Mandy and Amy live in the family housing section in Mammoth Hot Springs. The town of Gardiner is just five miles away, right over the Park boundary. Yellowstone Net is a member of the Gardiner Chamber of Commerce. We want to do all we can to support this gateway town and the National Park Service. Gardiner School, which has about 300 students, is first grade through high school. Like many of the smaller towns throughout Montana, Gardiner has a eight-man high school football team. This year Gardiner won the Class C state high school football championship. Earlier in the fall, I attended one of the games. I was most impressed by the sportsmanship of the team and the fans. Derogatory remarks about the opposing team were not allowed, and parents were not allowed to deride their children for any mistakes they made in the game. (How many times have you heard a father belittle his own son during a little league or high school football game for some mistake the son made during the game? When I hear that, it really ticks me off!) On each team's program is a poem entitled, Please Do Not Curse That Boy. It is a great poem which everyone should read. Having met Harold and Sonya and seeing the caliber of the school which Mandy and Amy attend, it is obvious that they are well-mannered young ladies headed for a very successful life. And they are two of only a very few people who have had the privilege of growing up in Yellowstone Park! P.S. I was so impressed with the Gardiner football team, I joined the Gardiner Athletic Booster Club!
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Every Wednesday Clint Wilkes will offer a story of interest to
everyone who loves Yellowstone and the surrounding area. Some stories will be humorous,
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