The Yellowstone
Net Newspaper Monday December 15, 1997 Vol. 1 No. 29 |
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PUBLISHER EDITOR IN CHIEF CONTRIBUTING WRITERS |
by BRUCE T. GOURLEY
The wolf, since being brought back to Yellowstone in 1995, has become the most controversial of all Yellowstone residents. The American public loves Yellowstone's wolves: for many Yellowstone visitors, seeing a wolf is more special than seeing a grizzley. Likewise, environmentalists are pleased that wolves once more roam the Yellowstone region. Yet, ranchers in the greater Yellowstone region are largely opposed to the presence of wolves in the region, as they fear the wolves will too often prey upon their domestic livestock. Many western politicians have sided with the ranchers. For their part, some of the wolf packs in the Yellowstone region have wandered from the Park and preyed upon livestock. The repeat offenders, although few in number, have been summarily killed in accordance with the guidelines of the wolf reintroduction program. Officials in charge of the recovery program have sought diligently to keep the wolves away from cattle and sheep in the area, and have by and large been successful in their efforts. The ruling against the wolves pleases ranchers who have long been opposed to the wolves' presence. On the other hand, the ruling is opposed by environementalists and is certain to raise cries of concern from the larger American public. In the middle is Judge Downes, whose rational for the ruling is rather interesting. According to Downes, the wolf recovery program has reduced protection afforded to wolves from Montana and Canada that naturally migrate into the Yellowstone region. In essence, Downes determined that the restrictions placed upon wolves brought into the Yellowstone region -- including the mandatory killing of wolves which repeatedly kill livestock -- violate the federal Endangered Species Act, which mandates full protection to wolves. Judge Downes has made it clear that once the reintroduced wolves are removed, native wolves -- which are already naturally migrating back to Yellowstone -- will be under the full protection of the Endangered Species Act, which will not allow the shooting of wolves for any reason. What is uncertain is whether or not Downes ruling will withstand challenges from the federal government and environmental groups. For now, the wolf recovery program is proceeding as if the ruling had not happened..
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A YNET Weekly Feature
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- This past year has witnessed the celebration of Yellowstone's 125th anniversary as America's first national park. Much has changed in the Yellowtone region since 1872. And yet, during this winter season of 1997, in the midst of arguments over the Park's proposed temporary closing of one segment of winter snowmobiling roadway in order to help prevent the continued slaughter of Yellowstone's bison, it is also quite evident that much has not changed since the 1870s. During the famous Washburn expedition of 1870 into the Yellowstone region, early Yellowstone explorer Nathaniel P. Langford told of a conversation which took place around a campfire on September 19, 1870, at the point where the Gibbon and Firehole rivers form the Madison. In the course of a discussion about what to do upon returning to civilization, a "general discussion" took place about how the members of the party could personally "profit" by establishing private ownership of key "sections" of land in what is now Yellowstone. After listening to the many get-rich-quick schemes, Cornelius Hedges stated that "he did not approve of any of these plans -- that there ought to be no private ownership of any portion of that region, but the whole ought to be set apart as a great National Park, and that each one of us ought to make an effort to have this accomplished." (Langford's Journal of the Washburn Expedition, pages 117-118.) We are thankful today that Hedges' advice was ultimately heeded and that Yellowstone was preserved rather than exploited for the sake of personal gain. The tourists who visit Yellowstone each year -- most of whom are not from the Yellowstone region -- testify to Hedge's wisdom so many years ago. Some three million tourists come each year to marvel over the wildlife, thermal features and simple "wildness" of Yellowstone. Those who came this year did not balk at paying a much higher entrance fee to see Yellowstone's wonders. Indeed, Yellowstone draws so many tourists these days that it has an estimated $2.2 billion economic impact. Politicians, officials and business owners in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho are thankful for the $2.2 billion economic impact of the Yellowstone region. They have come to depend on tourism dollars and tend to get understandably nervous in the face of perceived threats to the tremendous economic base that Yellowstone has become. They, like most all Americans, do want to see Yellowstone preserved and protected. Yet, some don't want to see anything happen -- regardless of its merits -- that could potentially hinder the ever-increasing flow of tourists to the Yellowstone region, even temporarily. Thus, widespread opposition among many politicians, officials and business owners to the proposed temporary closing of one segment of winter roadway in Yellowstone The fear is that the closing will temporarily stop some winter tourists from coming to Yellowstone. One governer in the Yellowstone region laments that his state might possibly experience a short-term 5% drop in tourism revenue as a result of the road segment closing. Accordingly, here in the winter of 1997, it seems at times that there is still too much attention being paid to short-term economic gain to be made off of Yellowstone rather than to the long term benefits -- including financial benefits -- brought about through diligently protecting and preserving Yellowstone. The result is that sometimes short-term economic gain becomes a priority over preserving and protecting the great treasure we call Yellowstone. There is often a lack of realization that treasures, if kept intact, continually grow more valuable over time. In reality, no one wants to see Yellowstone tarnished and worn. The snowmobiling industry in the Yellowstone region, for example, recently took tangible steps to cut down on the growing pollution problem in the Park during the winter months. And yet, as Cornelius Hedges saw so clearly 127 years ago, the economic impact of Yellowstone must be understood in a long-term context. Visitors who come to Yellowstone want to see the priceless wonders (including that great symbol of the West, the bison) the Park offers, and they are willing to spend significant sums of money to see these wonders. Yellowstone's status as America's greatest natural treasure does not come cheaply. We as Americans must understand that there is both a price to pay and great rewards to realize for keeping Yellowstone's wonders untarnished for both now and the future.
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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK (YNET) -- On Friday, a federal judge
ordered the removal of wolves released into Yellowstone through the wolf recovery program
which begain in 1995. Judge William Downes ruled that the wolf recovery program,
administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is illegal. However, Downes
placed a stay on his own ruling in the face of an anticipated challenge by the federal
government. Thus, the wolves will remain in Yellowstone for now, although their
long-term future is in jeopardy.
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.