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" F 7?? <? ,AU Yellowstone's Northern Range u*>.[hi Where Nature Takes Course Its UnitedStatesDepartmentoftheInterior NATIONALPARKSERVICE Dear Yellowstone Neighbors: Iurgedmystafflopreparethisnewsletterbecausetheconservationofparkresourcesistoo importantanissuelobeaddressedwithanythinglessthanthefullattentionofcitizenslikeyourself Yellowstone'sNorthernRangehasbeencontroversialformostofthiscentury,whetherthedebateis overelknumbers,bisonmanagement,predatorcontrol,orgrasslandecology Thepublicis watching,andhasimportanlquestionsthaideservecarefulanswers Thisnewsletterintroducesawealthofnew researchabouttheNorthernRangethathasbeen donebyrespectedscientistsfromadozenuniversitiesandmanystateandfederalagencies These researchfindingshavebeenpublishedinthenation'sleadingscientificjournals,whichrequirestrict adherencetoobjectiveresearchandrepresentthehighestscientific"court"intheland. Sciencehas taughtusthatawildlandecosystemcannotbejudgedbythestandardsofcommercialrangelands, andthattheverdictontheNorthernRangeistobefoundintheabundanceofplantandanimallife thatcontinuetothrivethereyearafteryear. It'salsoimportanttorecognizethatforYellowstone,asforanywildland.sciencecannot providealltheanswers WetreasureYellowstonepreciselybecauseitslandscapehasbeen determinedlargelybynaturalprocessesratherthanbyhumandecisions Questionsaboutits managementinevitablytouchupondeep-seatedvaluesthatarebasedlessuponfactsthanuponon howeachofusbelievesweshouldrelatetoournaturalenvironment Pleasegivethisnewslettersometime. Althoughnoamountofsciencecansettlesuchdebates, weintheNationalParkServicebelievethatonlybyunderstandingwhatwehavelearnedthrough researchcanwemovethediscussionabouttheNorthernRangeforward Sincerely. '^rcWv^fC Superintendent YellowstoneNationalPark When theU.S.Congressset America;someweresimplyshot. Whencontrol Yellowstone'sboundariesin 1872, effortsresultedintheslaughterofthousandsofelkin theprimarygoalwaspreservationof the 1960s,apublicoutcryledtohearingsheldby thearea'sgeysersandothergeothermalwonders; U.S.SenatorMcGee(Wyoming)andreductions littlethoughtwasgiventothemigratoryhabitsofits cametoanendin 1968. Atthattime,thenumberof wildlife,aboulwhichlittlewasthenknown The elkwinteringontheNorthernRangewasdownto pa—anreke'slkst.ihmbiaigtsheoendr,3ep8lr,eo0vn0at0gihgoonrmsa,zpirdnoegevriw,dilebdilsigufhmeomcmealrslheredaenpug,negaufnlodartes RTaoongMea?nyElkatHomeon the aabnodutlShi4rn,oc5ue0g0ht.hoeunt,twhieldUlniifteemdaSntaagteesrshaatveYeclolmowesttoone moose. Buteachyeartheaccumulatingsnowspurs recognizeeachspecies'abilityto"naturally"regulate mostofthemtolowerareaswherethewinteris Fordecadesitwascommonlythoughtth—atthe itsownnumberwhenwedonotinterveneunduly warmeranddrier,wherethereismoreopenrange elkwere"overgrazing"theNorthernRange that throughourlanduseandotheractivities. Whenthe andfewerforests. theywereeatingthevegetationmorequicklythanit processofnaturalregulationispermittedtotake Abouthalfofthe30,000elkthatsummerinthe couldrecoveranddamagingtheplantcommunities, place,there'sno"right"numberofelkforthe parkspendthewinteronanareaknownasthe includingwillowandaspen. Fromthispointof NorthernRange Instead,theelkpopulationfluctu- NorthernRange,whichcovers600squaremiles view,inordertomaintain"therightbalance" atesovertimeasitsbirthanddeathratesareaffected alongtheLamarandYellowstonenverbasins, betweenelkandtheirhabitat,theelkmustbe byacombinationotfactors,includingwinter overlappingtheboundarybetweenWyomingand reducedperiodically,althoughbisonandpronghom severity,thequantityandqualityofavailableforage, Montana. Athirdofthisrangeisonpublicand havealsobeenblamedtorovergrazing. Asaresult emigration,parasites,disease,andpredationbyother privatelandsnorthofthepark,wherewildungulates ofthisbelief.Yellowstone'sgrazerswereonce animals. Elkarealsosubjecttohuntingwhenthey oftencompetewithlivestockforgrasslandinwinter. trappedandshippedtootherrangesacrossNorth leavethepark Sometimes referredto as "America\sSerengeti because ofthe large herds of wildlife thatgraze on its rolling expanse, the Northern Range has also been the stomping groundfor generations ofwildlife experts, politicians, andconcerned citizens who have wrangled overhow to best "manage" this natural treasure. Why the controversy? Althoughtheelkpopulation winteringontheNorthern Rangequadrupledafterreductionsstoppedin 1968, the fluctuationshavebecomesmallerastheyincreasingly reflectnaturalpopulationcontrolratherthanhuman interference. Thecurrentpopulationlevels, whichare determinedbyaerialsurreys, mayapproximatethenum- berofelkpresentontherangebeforesignificanthuman interventionbegan inthe 19thcentury. TheEffectofNaturalRegulationontheNorthern Range Inaworldwhereprogressisgenerallyassoc- AlthoughthenorthernYellowstoneelkdepend hascontinuedtoprovidearobustsourceofnutrition iatedwithourAbility10controlandshapeour inpartuponpublicandprivatelandsnorthofthe forlarge,healthyungulateherdsyearafteryear,and physicalenvironmenttosomeidealvisionoftheway park,itappearsthatthecooperativeeffortthathas despitecertainlocalizedimpacts,elkdonotappear wethinkthingsshouldbe.theideaofaccepting developedovertheyearshassustainedalarge, tohavehadanysignificantlong-termeffectsonthe naturalregulationhasbeenconirovetMal. It's thrivingelkherdthatisvaluedbyYellowstone overallbiodiversityofnativeanimalsandplantson Obviouslynotappropriateforallanimalsinallpark-., visitorsaswellasbyhuntersandotherwildlife therange Thechangesinvegetationthathave orinanysituationwhereitisnecessarytoprotect supporter. AccordingtotheMontanaDepartment causedsomeobserverstoraisealarmsarecithernot humanlifeorproperty Butthreedecadesof ofFish.WildlifeandParks,thiselkherdhasthe theresultofelk"overpopulation''orarepartoflong- experiencehaveshownthat,combinedwithregu- highesteconomicvalueofanyinthestate. termecologicalprocessessuchasclimateand latedhuntinginthesurroundingnationalforests, Buthowhasnaturalregulationolelkaffected predationthatweareonlybeginningtounderstand naturalregulationhascontrolledthesizeoftheelk therangeitselfandtheotheranimalswholivethere'' Someofthekeyresearchfindings,whichhave population. AlthoughthenumberofelkWintering Inresponsetothecontinuingcontroversyoverthe beensummarizedintherecentlypublishedbook. ontheNorthernRangehasincreasedinresponseto conditionoftherange,in1986Congressmandateda Yellowstone'sNorthernRange:Complexityand theconversionofmorethan10.000acresnorthof studyontheresultsofnaturalregulation This ChangeinaWddlandEcosystem,arereportedinthe theparkfromlivestocktowildlifeuseandincreased researchinitiative,oneofthelargestinthehistoryof articlesthatfollow Althoughthereisstillmuchthat migrationtothatland,ithasalsorespondedto theNationalParkService(NPS>.encompassing needstobestudied,andexpertswillcontinueto weathervariationsandotherenvironmentalfactors morethan40projectsbyNPSbiologists,university disagreeonsomepoints,thisresearchhasfundamen- Elkincreasedduringyearswithmildwintersandwet researcher.,andscientistsfromotherfederaland tallyalteredthenatureofthegrazingdebatein summers,anddeclinedafterthedroughtandfiresof stateagencies,hasmadesubstantialprogressin Yellowstoneandmayinfluencethemanagementof 1988 Since1990,annualtallpopulationesiimalc\ clarifyingthecomplexecologyoftherange. The wildlandrangesthroughouttheworld havefluctuatedbetween16.000and20.000 researchresultsdemonstratethattheNorthernRange What is Wildlife For? .4 ChangingView Theshifttowardnaturalregulationofwildlifeto deliberatereductionsintheelkpopulation. theextentfeasibleispartofalongevolutioninthe Bythe1960s,anincreasingnumberofecolo- "The natural resource policiesof publicsviewolthepurposeofanationalparkand gistswerechallengingthebeliefthattheNorthern the National Park Service are tlhieshreodle12o5fwyeialrdsliafego.WthheenprYiemlalroywsgtooanlewwaasstoesptraobt-ect RhearndgsesweeakstohveeirrgorwanzedpopTulhaetyiopnrolpevoesledsotothlaetttthheeirelk aimed at providingtheAmerican certainspecificnaturalwondersandhuntingwas numberswouldbe"naturally"regulatedbytheir people with the opportunityto permitted Theparkwasnotstaffedorequipped environment Thisview,whichhasbeenborneout enjoyand benefitfrom natural duringitscarhyearstopresentthewidesprcid byactualexperienceontheNorthernRangesinceelk slaughterofwildlifethatswepttheWestinthe1870s reductionsended,hasbecomepanoftheanswerto environmentsevolving through andearly 1880s.andmanyofYellowstone'swildhle thelargerquestion."Whatiswildlifefor?" Instead natural processes minimally tphoaptultahteipoanrskwceorueldnesaerrlvyedaescaimraetseerdvoiRrectoogrneistzoicnkgthe opflafnotcaunsdinagnsiomlaellyspoencitehse,ptrhoetegcotailonofofwiilnddliivfeidual —influenced by human actions." surroundingareawithjume.sportsmenandother managementhasbecometopreservethewholesetol NationalParkServiceManagement conservationistsgavewidespreadsupporttothe complexnaturalprocessesthatshapeanecosystem Policies. 1988 huntingbanthatwentintoeffectin1883. Inherentinthisapproachisanacceptanceotthetact Fromthenuntilthe1930s,wildlifemanagement thatsomeyearswillbnngheavywintermortalityfor waslargelyamatterofprotectingthe"good" someanimals,followedbyperiodsolpopulation animals(elk.deer,andothergameanimals)and growth eliminatingthe"bad"ones(wolves,coyotesand Justasranchersandfarmersseeyearlyvaria- otherpredators) Butastheprotectedanimals tionsingrowmgconditionsandthesuccessoftheir becamelesswaryotpeopleandeasiertosee.the crops,somustYellowstone'swildliferespondto park'swildlifebecamevaluednotonlyasasourceof changesinitsenvironment,whichmayincludefire. gamelorhuntersoutsidetheparkhutasanimportant Hoods,anddrought Butwhereanimalmortalityon visitorattractioninthepark,andbothpredatorsand aranchmaybeconsidered a"wasle."amongwild theirpreycametoberegardedasworthyofpreser- animalsiliscrucialtothesunw.ii.>iman)othei vation plantandanimalspecies Wenowrecognizethatplantandanimal communitiesmaychangesignificantlyfromoneyear landcentury>tothenextinresponsetochanging environmentalconditions Butforalongtime, biologiststhoughtnaturalprocessestendedtowarda stable-.talethatcouldbepredicted,withthegoalof maintainingsomeideal"balanceotnature"between predatorsandprey,grazersandtheirforage. Conse- quently,managementotYellowstone'sNorthern Rangewasexpectedtokeepanimalnumberssteady andminimizewintermortality,agoalthatrequired What Overgrazing? is ;"tThoemsey,sttehmefpuonicnttioinsitnhge,eocroasryesttehimn.gsIs /.v the Grass Greeneron the breakingdown? Arewegettingan OtherSideofthe Fence? invasionofunpalatableplants,or breakingdownsoilssothattheirrate reexsceeapArtlcthihnoodnurgothuhegphlNtaonryttesahroesnr,nugnRrgaarznaignzegedhdaopselossthsnooatwrnerettdahlualice,re,the oTsfheaentu'ttshraiwtehniatntrYeeIcl'ylmcollwiosnotgkoininseg.gaotTi.hnegArentfodoprIoedt,o?na'st seasonalproteincontentorvolumeofgrass,orthe agrazingsystem,thisisahealthy seedlingestablishmentorgrowthofbigsagebrush one." Howcanthisbe'1 F.Ikmoveacrosstherangeas — 1995interviewwithSamMcNaughton, fgroarsasgeisngducroinndgittihoeni!rdmiocstattev,ulsneelrdaobmlegprearziiondga(onrdbsand botanyprofessoratSyracuseUniversity generallymovingtohigherelevationsbeforethe plantsflowerandseed Inaddition,theeffectof processingplantsthroughanungulate'sdigestive tractisverydifferentfromplantsbeinglefttodiea-s height Mostoftheaspenthataregrowingoldon leavesandstemsontheground. Gra/ersenhancethe theNorthernRangenowwerejustgettingstarted Whenconcernaboutovergrazingfirstsurfaced chyocolviensgaonfdnubtyrisepnetsedbiyngtiullpintghethdeescooimlpwoistihtithoenir durinWghitlheeptehrisioedvifdreonmcethseugIg8e7s0tssttohattheth1e8s9p0asrseness inthe1920s,opinionsonhowtheNorthernRange process,convertingplantmattertofecesandunne ofNorthernRange'swillowsandaspenscannotbe cd"rosimhteoersuiltadi"cthllaoiivoekusstweoedcrk!eobeSacvsiaeelndutaiotsnetstrhahenagdoensnloygrcaalvzeaaeirdlaibbdyleeaof twhiatthaTtrhheeeiqrauipocpwkenlayrcaacnrycccealseosdfesbt.aheckNoirnttohetrhnesRyasntgeemiaslong ewgxroaposldsaeyisnevadengdseitsmaatpgileoybnrbhuyasshthbeeTsehinezesptoaufrdktihesedterfloakrngplleoyspsuslutaphtpaionornitt,ssits howunmampulatedwildlandgrazingsystems affectedbygrazing,butungulatesareonlyoneof theneedformoreresearchontherelationshipof workedorwhattheytypicallylookedlikebecauseby manycontributingfactors,theprimaryinfluence willowsandaspentootherplantsandanimalsonthe thatlimetheywerealreadygoneintheUnited overthelongtermisclimate. range. States,oftenreplacedbydomesticlivestockopera- tionswhichhaveentirelydifferentgoalsandeffects WhatAboutWillowsandAspen? WhatMakestheRiversMuddy? onthelandscape Butwildlifearenotlivestock, whichmoveprimarilywhenandwherehumans Researchhasshownthatabout oftheelk's Anincreaseinelknumbershasalsobeen movethem Wildungulateshaveevolvedwiththeir winterdietcomesfromgrassesandforbs.therest blamedtorerosionandheavysedimentationin range,whichhasadaptedtosurvivetheirgrazing fromwoodyvegetation Althoughsomeobservers NorthernRangenvers Todetermineiftherewas Consequently,awildlandrangedoeslook haveattributedadeclineinwillowsandaspenonthe anyscientificbasisforthis,ateamofresearchers differentfromacommercialrange;itsappearance NorthernRangetooverbrowsingbyelk.other IromgovernmentagenciesandTroutUnlimited dependsentirelyonenvironmentalfactors,insteadof factorsmaybeinvolved Wherewillowsgrowin mappederosivelandsintheYellowstoneRiver onclosesupervisionbysomeonewhoseprimary Yellowstoneisalmostentirelydeterminedbyaltitude drainagefromtheparktoLivingston.Montanafrom goalis(omaintainthehighestsustainablelevelof andprecipitation 99'/tofthepark'swillowcommu- 1985to1987 Theyfoundthatmostofthesediment livestockproduction Whatawildlandecologist nitiesarefoundinareasthaiareabove7.000feet thatmuddiesparknverscomesfromfoursteepand wouldconsidernormalgrazingeffects,alivestock and/orreceivemorethan20inchesofannual geologicallyunstableareassuchastheClrand managermightconsiderunacceptable Kirexample, precipitation,whichexcludesmostoftheNorthern CanyonoftheYellowstoneRiverandthehigher ranchersviewevidenceoferosionwithalarm Range Althougholdphotosshowthatsome elevationsoftheLamarRiverwatershed Innoneof becausesoilisaneconomicasset Butinawildland NorthernRangelocationshadmuchtallerwillowsin theseplacesareungulatessignificantsoilmovers. aasrepaoswshiebrleenwaittuhroaultphruocmeasnseisntaerrefteorefnucnectoiroencaosnommuicch tthheel1a8s9t0csentthuarnythhaesybdeoennodwu.rimnogstdroofugthhetsdercaltihenretinhan ndoCfoanllseuqnugeunltalteys,,eivtesnnvitertshewoNourltdhestrinllRbaencgoemewere considerations,erosionisaninherentpartofthe periodsoflargeelkpopulations Nosignificant muddy,especiallydunngspnngsnowmelland landscape,whethercausedbythemovementof declineinNorthernRangewillowshasoccurred intensethunderstorms,andfollowingfireswhen animalsorlong-termgeologicalforces. since(959despiteaquadruplingofelknumbers. '.egelationisreduced Theseprocessesarepartofthe Insteadofassessingarangebasedonits Likewillows,aspenthrivemareasolthepark naturalfunctioningofawildlandecosystem. appearance,scientificappraisalsofbothcommercial whattheclimateisbettersuitedtothem,including Sedimentsmnversthroughouttheparkare andwildlandrangesdependonthemeasurementol ungulatesummerrangesandotherplacesthat >anhinthenormalrangeobservedinotherwestern criteriasuchasplantproductivity InNorthern receivemorethan25inchesofprecipitationayear streams,andtheLamarValleyisstillconsidereda Rangeresearch,theseevaluationshavebeendonehy A1995tree-ringstudyshowedthere'sbeenonlyone blue-nbbontroutfishery,companngfavorablywith comparinggrazedareastoareasinsideplotsthat periodsincetheearly IKOOswhenNorthernRange thatofothersportfishenesthathavenowildlife havebeenfencedtopreventgrazing aspenwereableloescapebrowsingandreachtree herdsgrazingnearby Other Wildlife on the Range ThequadruplingofthenorthernYellowstoneelk populationdoesappeartohavedecreasedsincethe herdsincereductionsstoppedin1968hasledsome 1960sand.althoughcompetitiveexclusionbyelk toquestionwhethertheincreaseinelkhascomeat cannotbeentirelvruledoutasatactor.thefiresof theexpenseofcertainotheranimals Butcompell- 1988andhuntingoutsidetheparkmayhavealso ing factoliik-and,ona level"plajingfield playedjrok- wherehumaninterventionU,,L'Snotgiveonespecies Pronghorn: Althoughonceabundantinthe anadvantageoveranother,doesnotmeanthai grasslandsofgreaterYellowstone,pronghornwere somethingiswrong Thepredominanceofelkis heavilyreducedbysettlementandhuntinginthe largelyaresultofitsabilitytosurviveonagreater 19thcentury,andbecauseofovergrazingconcernsin varietyofforagethanotherwildungulates But the20thcentury Theonlyresidentherdintheparkis changingenvironmentalconditionsdictatethatall thatontheNorthernRange,whereneitheritsrapid plantandanimalpopulationswillfluctuateovertime increaseinthe1980stoalmost600norUsmore andvaryindifferentlocationsmthepark Therange recentdeclineto200in1996appearsrelatedtothe expansionandmildwetclimatethatcontnbutedto sizeoftheelkpopulation theelkincreaseduringmostotthe1980salso Beaver: Becausethebeaver'spreferredfoods, lavoredmostotherungulatesontheNorthernRange especiallyaspen,havebeenonlymarginallypresent Predators: Elkprovidecrucialfoodformany (andthroughoutthegrealerYellowstoneecosystem), intheareatorthousandsofyears,mostof predatorsandscavengers,includinggnzzlies.black includingbison,pronghorn,bighornsheep,mule Yellowstoneisnotgoodbeaverhabitat. Intensive bears,wolves,baldeagles,cougars,foxes,ravens deei andwhite-taileddeei Onl> moosedeclined beaverpoachinginthelate19thcenturymayhave andmanysmallbirds,mammals,andinsects. Each duringthaiperiod contributedtoatemporaryspreadofaspen,which grizzlybearwithinthecalvingrangeotthenorthern Moose: Unlikeelk,moosedependonwoody afterwildlifeprotectionimproved,per—mitteda elkherdmaykillanaverageof15elkcalvesayear. nparianvegetationlormostottheirdiet,andsince temporarybeaverboombythe1920s atthesame Llkhullsareespeciallysusceptibletogn/zly thevcansurviveinsnowthatismuchdeeper,they limetheelkpopulationwasgrowing Butoncethe predationduringthetallrut,andcoyotescantakeelk lendlowinterathigherelevationsthanelk Their heaverhadusedupthisfoodsourceandbegangoing thatareinpoorconditionorwhosemovementsare solitaryhabitsinforestedareasmakepopulation alterthewillows,thebeaverpopulationbeganto hamperedbysnow Moreresearchwillbeneededto estimatesdifficult,buttherearethoughttoheseveral decline AlthoughtherearefewontheNorthern determinedtheimpactofthereintroducedwolf hundredmooseontheNorthernRange The Range,beavercoloniespersistelsewhereinthepark packs,whichsubsistpnmanlyonelk. WhytheBuffalo Can7Roam How Does Natural Regulation Work? Thenaturalregulationofwildlifemayinvolvebothananimal'sinternal physiologyanditsexternalenvironment Tovaryingdegrees,wildlifepopula- tionsexhibit"selfregulation.'*whichmeanstheirgrowthtendstoslowdown—as thepopulationbecomesmoredenseandtoincreaseiftheirnumbersdecline a biofeedbackresponse Forexample,asmoreelkinhabitthesamerange,the cowscarrylessfaiandproducefewercalves,andthecalvesthatarebornweigh lessandarethereforelesslikelytosurvive. AsthenorthernYellowstoneelk populationhasgrown,researchershavedocumentedadeclineinpregnancyrates andincreasesmthewintermortalityofcalves,yearlings,andolderbulls Environmentalfactorssuchasclimateandprcdationalsoplayalargerolein controllingananimalpopulation Duringapredationstudydonefrom1987to 1990.aboutonethirdoftheelkbornontheNorthernRangewerelostwithinone monthtopredationbygrizzlybears,blackbears,coyotes,andgoldeneagles,and anaverageof20%ofthepopulationdiedeachwinter,mostlyfromundernutn- tioointheveryyoungandveryold ButwhileapolicyofnaturalregulationmayworkforelkontheNorthern Thepark'sbisonpopulationwasreducedtrom Range,it'snotappropriateinallwildlttemanagementsituations NationalPark oavbeorugtra1z.i5n0g0ctOonlceessrntshainn4t0he01a9n5i0msalasnidn1r9e6s0pso,nsaendto cSeerrtvaiicnecpiorlciucmystaanndcefesde—ralfolregeixsalmatpiloen,wtiollrecsotnotrienuweoltvoerseqaunidrenaitnitveervfeinsht,iotnoin thengrewtomorethan3,900bythemid-1990s As suppressexoticplantsandanimals,tofightfireinspecifiedsituations,andtocull theyhavetorcenturies,Yellowstonebisonsurvived bison Huntingonpubliclandsadjacenttotheparkcanalsoheusedtocomple- thewinterbymigratingtogeothermulareasand mentnaturalregulation Thechallengeistopaycarefulattentiontotheconse- lowerelevationrangesbothinandoutsidethepark quencesofecosystemprocesseswhileresistingthetemptationtostepinto"fixa Althoughsomepeoplesawthenumberofbison problem"thatmaybemorecomplexorofadifferenttypethanfirstappears. outsidetheparkinthelate1980sandearly1990sas evidenceotfoodshortagescausedbyovergrazing, researchhasshownthaitheincreasedmigrationis largelyaresultofthebisontakingadvantageot IfYou'd LiketoComment trailsnow groomedfoisnowmobileuse orObtain More Information Butbecausesomecarrybrucellosis,abacterial diseasethatalsoinfectsdomesticlivestock,for about30yearsbisonenteringMontanafromthe ThechangesthathavetakenplaceovertheyearsinhowYellowstonemanages parkhavehadtobeshippedtoslaughterorshot, itswildlandshavereflectednotonlyanincreasedunderstandingottheecological evenifonpublicly-ownedlandsuchasnational processesinvolved,butalsotheongoingpublicdebate NationalParkService forests. Unfortunately,theunprecedentedsnowand policyworksbestwhenithasthesupportofcitizenswhounderstandtheirstakein iceofthewinterof1997droveanunusuallylarge preservingthesenaturalresources. Ifyouwouldliketoexpressyouropinionon numberofbisonDOleavethepark,andmorethan howtheNorthernRangeshouldbemanaged,pleasesendyourcommentsto: 1,100werekilledmMontanabystateandfederal officers. NorthernRangeComments Atpresent,apublicdesiretohavebisoninthe YellowstoneCenterforResources Yellowstonearea,especiallyonpubliclands P.O.Box168 tihnetehnydpeodthfeotriwcialldlriisfkeocfonbsiesrovnatiinofne,ctiisngpictattetdleagwaiitnhst YellowstWoYneN8a2t1i9o0nalPark. brucellosis TheNPSandotherDepartmentofthe Intenoragenciesarecommittedtocarryingout Youcanalsowntethisaddresstorequestasummaryoftheresearchoracopyof researchthathasbeentundedtoincreaseour theresearchreport,Yellowstone'sNorthernRange:ComplexityandChangeina knowledgeaboutthebrucellaorganisminwildlife WildlandEcosystem (151pages). anditspossiblethreattolivestock,butwild brucellosiscannotbeeliminatedunlessaneffective bisonvaccineisdeveloped. What Lies Ahead for the Northern Range? "The most important message Muchhasbeenlearnedinthelast30years andthepublichavesupportedtheadditionof aboutnaturalregulationandaboutthelimitations rangelandsoutsideYellowstonetoimprovethe from this study [which com- suchapolicyfacesinanecosystemthatissubject integntyofmigratingelkandotherwildlife These pares sites overtime using ninotploancleystionctheetsheamgelacniaetrusrarletfroeracteesdtmhoatrehatvheanbeen ahcaqvueirheedlpreadngreesltaonrdesmaingdractoonrsyerpvaatttieornnseaansdemweinnttser photos dating backtothe 12.000yearsago.buttothemorerecentjurisdic- rangeformorethan5.000elknorthofthepark. This 1880s] isthattheYellowstone tiinocnrebaysimnuglltyipilnetegnsoeveursnembeyntpnavgaetnccileasnadnodwnteors ohtahseprrwoivledlnifteo,baenedcpolroogviicdaeldlynubemneerfoicuisalputboleilckand landscape is above all else Afterdecadesoffutileattemptstoimproveupon benefits. Asfuturedecisionsaremadeabouttheuse magnificently dynamic -there nature,theNationalParkServicebelieves(hatit's ofpubliclandoutsideoftheparkandaboutopportu- is no"correct"or"pristine" eicnoYleolgliocwasltopnreo'csesbseesstdientteerremsitnteotlheettfahteeroalngiets'splant cniotniseisdteorawchqautirpenmoonrteyliatnwdi,sthheesptuoblgiicvewitlolwnieldeldifteo fixed state to which the Park andanimalcommunities,insofarasthisispossible habitat ecosystem should be held, contrTahriy,saissnoonleaof"htahnedfseowffs'ucahpperxopaacnhs.esOnremthaein- regulUalttiiomnatieslnyg,h(thefoqrutehsetiNoonrotfhewrhnetRhaenrgenaitsuraaslmuch even ifthiswere possible... In ingwithallofitsoriginalcomponentparts, philosophicalasscientific InYellowstone,asin this sense the past serves as Yellowstone'sNorthernRangeprovidesoneolthe manynationalparks,decisionsmustoftenbemade only a limited guide tothe wthoerlcdo'msplmeoxsitticehsalolfenlgainndgsclaapbeoreactoolnoegsyfoDresstpuidtyeinthge weffitehctonolnylaanpdasrthiaelldunidnetrrsutstanfdoirnfgutoufrethgeeirneproastsiiobnlse. future because the intensity tremendousprogressthathasbeenmadein Becausecarefulscientistsdon'tpresumetohaveall and frequency ofthe pro- understandinghowitfunctionsasanecosystem, theanswers,thedebateoverwhetherandhowto cesses driving ecosystem theNorthernRangehasmuchmoretoteachus interveneontheNorthernRangewillcontinuetobe abouttheprocessesthatshapewildlandsandnative fueledbypoliticalprocessesandpublicpressure. dynamicschange." grazingsystems TheNationalParkService's ButitisthehopeandintenloltheNationalPark -From YellowstoneandtheBiologyof primarygoalwillthereforecontinuetobeto Servicethatanyresultingdecisionswillbesteeredby Time(inpress),byMaryMeagherand preserveitscomponentsandpreventunnecessary thebestavailablescientificinformation,andthatthis DouglasHouston interferencewithitsnaturalprocesses. informationwillbesharedwithallthoseinterestedin Throughoutthiscentury,theU.S.Congress participatinginthediscussion. un