Yellowstone and Other National Parks
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v o l u m e 1 3 • n u m b e r 3 • s u m m e r 2 0 0 5 Supervolcano and the Media YellowstoneGrand Canyon andHotel Art Elk Calf Mortality HAYNES FOUNDATION COLLECTION, MC 86 FOLDER 7 MONTANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY ARCHIVES, YNP, PHOTO ARCHIVES, YELL #88972 Sketch of the Canyon Hotel lounge, presumably by Robert C. Reamer. Haynes photograph of the lounge, circa 1920. Isn’t it Grand “If the Grand Cañon of the Yellowstone is one of the crowning works of Nature, so is the Grand Cañon Hotel, set out here many long miles from railway transportation, one of the crowning works of man.” —Gerrit Fort, The Grand Cañon of the Yellowstone, 1912 T’S NOT TO SAY that “they just don’t make ‘em like they by the eccentricities of this Wonderland, and places them in used to,” but something about reading Tamsen Hert’s arti- the context of art and conservation history. At the time of the Icle on the Grand Canyon Hotel makes me sad that this park’s creation, artworks were a way to bring the park to people building is no longer around for us to experience, regardless far away, and to encourage tourists to make the trip to see the of its structural deficiencies. This lodge, designed by architect park in person. Robert Reamer, held an aesthetic appeal. It was about arriv- In contrast, Jake Lowenstern’s article on the Yellowstone ing at a destination, a “luxury in the wilderness.” Today’s park supervolcano discusses the fear some foster of visiting the park managers continue to struggle with issues of whether to tear today. He considers the responsibilities of the media and sci- down historic structures or continue to commit the expenses entists in educating the public about one of the park’s more necessary to maintain them. These are complex choices, driven dramatic natural processes—volcanism. His article addresses by considerations that include nostalgia and cultural value as the question, What risks are reasonable to assume on a visit well as federal policy and financial implications. to the park? More than an architectural rendering, the sketch of the In this issue, we also try to shed a bit of light on another Canyon Hotel Lounge shown above is a work of art in and hotly debated question—are wolves responsible for the low of itself, although artists have more often found inspiration recruitment currently documented in the elk population? Or in the park’s natural wonders. In this issue of Yellowstone Sci- are there other explanations? ence, Peter Hassrick explores the role of artists in the creation We hope you enjoy the issue, and revel a bit in some of the of Yellowstone as the world’s first national park. He gives us beautiful work and illuminating research that this park has and a glimpse of a few of the amazing pieces that were inspired will continue to inspire. NPS/DANIEL STAHLER a quarterly devoted to natural and cultural resources volume 13 • number 3 • summer 2005 TAMI BLACKFORD Editor and Graphic Designer ROGER J. ANDERSON Advising Editor ALICE WONDRAK BIEL Associate Editor A post–wolf restoration elk calf mortality study is almost complete. Are bears or MARY ANN FRANKE wolves taking more calves? VIRGINIA WARNER Assistant Editors ARTCRAFT PRINTERS, INC. Bozeman, Montana FEATURES Printer 5 Yellowstone, Art, and Aesthetic Conservation Artists inspired by Yellowstone’s wonders assisted in the creation of the first national park. Peter H. Hassrick Yellowstone Science is published quarterly. Support for Yellowstone Science is provided by the Yellowstone Association, a non-profit 15 Supervolcano Truth and Fiction educational organization dedicated to serving the park and its visitors. For more information The Yellowstone Volcano Observatory’s scientist-in-charge turns about the association, including membership, an eye back onto the media. or to donate to the production of Yellowstone Science, visit www.yellowstoneassociation.org or write: Yellowstone Association, P.O. Box 117, Jake Lowenstern Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. The opinions expressed in Yellowstone Science are the authors’ and may not reflect either 21 The Grand Canyon Hotel National Park Service policy or the views of the Yellowstone Center for Resources. If ever there was an example of rustic glamour, it was the Grand Copyright © 2005, the Yellowstone Association for Natural Science, History & Education. Canyon Hotel. For back issues of Yellowstone Science, please see www.nps.gov/yell/publications. Tamsen Emerson Hert Submissions are welcome from all investigators conducting formal research in the Yellowstone 37 Elk Calf Mortality Post–Wolf Restoration area. To submit proposals for articles, to subscribe, or to send a letter to the editor, Surprising results from research on predator–prey relationships. please write to the following address: Editor, Yellowstone Science, P.O. Box 168, Shannon M. Barber, L. David Mech, and P.J. White Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. You may also email: [email protected]. Yellowstone Science is printed on recycled paper with a soy-based ink. DEPARTMENTS 2 News & Notes on the cover: HRC Open to Public • Haines Collection Goes to MSU • YCR Thomas Moran, The Grand Cañon Volunteer Wins Hartzog Award • Bison Movements Study • of the Yellowstone, 1872. Boyd Evison Fellowship • Errata • Irving Friedman’s Passing U.S. Department of the Interior Museum, Washington, D.C. 45 From the Archives NPS/JIM PEACO NEWS & NOTES Heritage and Research Center YCR Volunteer Opens to the Public Wins Regional Hartzog The Heritage and Research Center Award opened its doors on May 18, 2005, and Superintendent Suzanne Lewis (left) and park archeologist is open during regular working hours, On July 12, Ann Johnson (right) congratulate volunteer John Reynolds, Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Yellowstone Cen- the NPS Intermountain Region’s representative for the Housed there are a research library, ter for Resources national George B. Hartzog, Jr., Award competition. museum collection, and archives, as volunteer John well as the park’s herbarium and arche- J. Reynolds was ology lab. presented with the award for the their time and talents to the NPS and The library is open Tuesday–Friday, Intermountain Region’s representa- pushed through legislation creating the 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The archives tive for the national competition for VIP program. After his retirement, he and museum collection are available the George B. Hartzog, Jr., Award for remembered the VIP program with a to researchers by appointment only. Outstanding Volunteer Service. Mr. generous donation to the National Park Appointments must be made at least 24 Reynolds has donated over 3,693 hours Foundation. This fund is used to sup- hours in advance by calling the main to the park’s archeology program over port non-monetary awards that honor number, (307) 344-2664. The library the past six summers. His always-ready the efforts of exceptional volunteers, may also be reached via this number. help, facilitation, and attitude have groups, and park VIP programs. improved and increased the productiv- Aubrey Haines’s Yellowstone ity of all those around him. Because of Bison Movements Study Collection Donated to his assistance in the field, the amount Available Montana State University of inventory and excavation completed was at least 20% greater than antici- An independent assessment, “The Most of former Yellowstone pated in project budgets, and larger Ecology of Bison Movements and Dis- National Park historian Aubrey areas of critically endangered, eroding tribution in and beyond Yellowstone L. Haines’s collection of historical sites (and the information they con- National Park,” has been completed documents and memorabilia has been tain) were salvaged. and is now available to the public. donated to Montana State University John’s popular articles in Yellowstone Produced by Dr. Cormack Gates, an and will soon be available to research- Science and the Greater Yellowstone internationally recognized expert in ers and students. Mr. Haines, the Report (a publication of the Greater bison ecology and management, the park’s first historian from 1959–1969, Yellowstone Coalition) have taught study included collaborative input from spent decades researching, collect- the public more about the importance more than 30 scientists, biologists, ing, and writing the park’s definitive of both archeological resources and and current and retired park staff, as two-volume history, The Yellowstone opportunities for volunteerism in Yel- well as 15 interested non-government Story, as well as several other books on lowstone. Several thousand dollars have organizations. The report addresses Yellowstone and other national parks. been donated to archeological projects how groomed roads influence bison According to Yellowstone National at least in part due to his efforts, and movements during the winter and Park writer Paul Schullery, Haines the archeology program’s cataloging provides management recommenda- “always had time to help other writers backlog has been reduced by 1,200 tions to the National Park Service to and historians. And in that same spirit, artifacts. address remaining information needs. the Haines family has given national George B. Hartzog, Jr., NPS Direc- In summarizing the report, Dr. Gates park scholars everywhere a wonderfully tor from 1964 to 1972, announced the concluded that “Road grooming is generous gift.” The Haines collection new Volunteers-in-Parks program on not the major factor influencing bison will become part of MSU’s Special Col- November 17, 1970. He recognized distribution and range expansion, and lections