National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Natural Resource Vital Signs at Rocky Mountain National Park Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMO/NRR—2015/946 PHOTO CREDITS On the cover: elk, Ann Schonlau; limber pine, white-tailed ptarmigan, and Fern Lake fire, National Park Service. Where not otherwise indicated, photos in this report are courtesy of the National Park Service. NPS 121/128364, April 2015 b Natural Resource Vital Signs at Rocky Mountain National Park Natural Resource Report NPS/ROMO/NRR—2015/946 Mary Ann Franke, Therese Johnson*, Isabel Ashton, and Ben Bobowski National Park Service Rocky Mountain National Park 1000 Highway 36 Estes Park, CO 80517-8397 *Corresponding author:
[email protected] April 2015 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colo- rado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Report Series is used to disseminate comprehensive information and analysis about natural resources and related topics concerning lands managed by the National Park Service. The series supports the advancement of science, informed decision-making, and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series also provides a forum for presenting more lengthy results that may not be accepted by publications with page limitations.