Yellowstone Science A quarterly publication devoted to the natural and cultural resources Never Running From a Fight: A Finley Retrospective Bear Predation on Bison Savage Christmas Volume 9 Number 3 The Nature of Change The familiar adage that the only con- Schullery, as founding editor from 1991 With these words I felt as if Paul was stant in nature is change is also true of the to 1996, and Sue, from 1996 to 2001, describing my feelings, too, along with human institutions charged with preserv- have each established a standard of ex- all those who have found themselves pas- ing nature. As this issue of Yellowstone cellence during their respective tenures sionate about this place. Science goes to press we are in the midst in this office that I will endeavor to up- In the very first issue of Yellowstone of great change, indeed. A new presiden- hold. Science, Paul wrote of helping the public tial administration and Secretary of the I bring to the position 16 years of “to celebrate, through the eyes and ears Interior now direct the future course of experience with the National Park Ser- and voices of the researchers themselves, our public lands. At the same time, after vice in interpretation and resource man- the knowledge and wonder they so often a distinguished 32-year career with the agement, 12 of which have been in Yel- find in this amazing place.” In Sue’s first National Park Service, Superintendent lowstone. As a young seasonal ranger at issue as editor, she wrote of sharing our Michael Finley has retired. We will miss Sequoia National Park, I learned from curiosity, enthusiasm, and inquisitive- his vigilance and his dedication to the then Superintendent Boyd Evison that ness for the natural world. In this tradi- protection of Yellowstone’s resources. good management decisions cannot be tion, I reaffirm the commitment of Yel- Some of his final thoughts and reflections made in national parks without good re- lowstone Science to providing the best from a parting interview are included in search. When I arrived in Yellowstone in information available on the park’s natu- this issue. We wish him well in his work 1984, I read Paul Schullery’s Mountain ral and cultural resources, and a bit of the on global social and environmental issues Time. In it, he observed, “Had Yellow- wonder, to our fellow stewards of Yel- as president of the Turner Foundation. stone, a hundred years old and thriving, lowstone in the park, in the scientific Finally, the position of editor of this been a person—a grand old lady, to fol- community, and to the public at large. I journal has also changed hands. Sue low the prevailing cliché—she would welcome any input you may have on how Consolo-Murphy has moved on to em- have been amused at this young ranger to make it the best publication it can be. brace new challenges as the Branch Chief with his sudden commitment to defend Each day spent in Wonderland reveals of Cultural Resources for the Yellow- her honor. And, because at a hundred that now, just as then, there is still so stone Center for Resources. I have ac- years of age she had seen many young much to learn. cepted this job with the utmost respect for men transformed by her charms, she could those who have preceded me. Paul have told me that I had a lot to learn.” RJA Yellowstone Science A quarterly publication devoted to the natural and cultural resources Volume 9 Number 3 Summer 2001 Table of Contents Savage Christmas: “...the best of times” 2 Christmas in August? This Yellowstone tradition, whatever its origins, brings joy to employees and visitors alike. by Leslie J. Quinn Yellowstone Nature Notes: Bear Predation on Bison 6 Two rare sightings of bear attacks on bison. by Nathan Varley and Travis Wyman Never Running From a Fight: Mike Finley Looks 9 Back on His Park Service Career In June, Mike Finley left Yellowstone after more than six years as superintendent. Before going, he shared some thoughts on his 32 years with the Park Service. Interview with Mike Finley Editors Roger J. Anderson News and Notes 20 Sue Consolo-Murphy The Dot Island Bear • Bison Symposium • Publications Available • Yellowstone Volcano Observatory Established • Parks Prepare SEIS for Winter Use • NPS Assistant Editors and Design Launches Review of Benefits-Sharing Agreements • Register for the Sixth Tami Blackford Biennial Scientific Conference on the GYE Mary Ann Franke Kevin Schneider Alice Wondrak Printing Artcraft, Inc. Bozeman, Montana Yellowstone Science is published quarterly, and submissions are welcome from all investigators conducting formal research in the Yellowstone area. Correspondence should be sent to the On the cover: Superintendent Finley at Editor, Yellowstone Science, Yellowstone Center for Resources, his desk, February 1997. P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. The opinions expressed in Yellowstone Science are the authors' and may not reflect Inside cover: The Continental Divide, either National Park Service policy or the views of the Yellowstone Center for July 1902. Could a storm at Old Resources. Copyright © 2001, the Yellowstone Association for Natural Science, Faithful have stranded stagecoaches, History & Education. Support for Yellowstone Science is provided by the Yellow- beginning Christmas in August? stone Association, a non-profit educational organization dedicated to serving the park and its visitors. For more information about the association, including membership, Above: Superintendent Finley making or to donate to the production of Yellowstone Science, write to wishes for Yellowstone’s future, 2000. Yellowstone Association, P.O. Box 117, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. NPS photos. Yellowstone Science is printed on recycled paper with a linseed oil-based ink. Savage Christmas “…the best of times” by Leslie J. Quinn The nature of Yellowstone’s seasonal operation dictates that most employees, irrespective of the quality of their experi- ence working here, will ultimately head elsewhere in search of career, family, and The back of this photo reads: “Walt — O.F. mechanic at this time. Christ- fortune. Often, for the rest of their lives, mas in July?” NPS photo archives, 1954. some chance lighting, sound, or smell may take them traveling back in time to a summer of bears, geysers, and lasting that one August 24 found a freak bliz- before. (The tale is rarely related using the friendships made in Yellowstone National zard descending upon the Old Faithful park’s touring cars or visitors’ private Park. For many of these former employ- area. Visitors at the Old Faithful Inn, automobiles.) In yet another rendition, it ees, part of their Yellowstone experience marooned by snows too heavy for their was a wagon train that was imperiled by included “Savage Christmas,” currently stagecoaches to brave, marveled at the the storm, in which case the decision to celebrated by the “savages” (as Yellow- weird weather and decided to make the celebrate Christmas was at least a better stone concessioner employees are histori- best of their predicament by celebrating one than that adopted by the Donner party cally known) on August 25. While also rather than lamenting the inclemency. under similar circumstances.1 celebrated as National Parks Day (the The winter-like aspect brought on by the This historical confusion notwithstand- date the National Park Service was cre- snow gave someone the idea that it looked ing, the tradition of Savage Christmas has ated), in Yellowstone it is a day on which like Christmas time, and the celebration become firmly entrenched. Each year as you can find Christmas trees trimmed in became one of caroling, stringing pop- the festivities of August 25 approach, the hotel lobbies, Christmas dinner served corn, and toasting a Merry Christmas to flyers are distributed at hotels around the in the concessioner employee dining one’s fellow travelers. The savages, park relating the quaint and charming rooms, and Christmas services celebrated many of whom returned to Yellowstone tale. However, the historical record, while around the park. in successive summers but were far from somewhat scant on the subject, does not But where did Savage Christmas come one another at Yuletide, were inspired support the occurrence of such an event. from? How did it come to be celebrated on by this impromptu revelry, and so the Furthermore, a number of accounts from August 25? These questions sent me to tradition of Savage Christmas was born former employees provide evidence that the Yellowstone Park Archives to peruse and celebrated in subsequent years up to Savage Christmas was not celebrated at what information might be found there. the present. various points in the past. These accounts While the information is by no means There are variations on the standard generally suggest that the celebration was voluminous, I was to find, ultimately, that tale, most concerning the year in which not taking place in the 1930s, or that it was (with all apologies to Mr. Dickens) Sav- the first Savage Christmas took place. at most just getting off the ground at that age Christmas is a tale of the worst of Some versions push it back into the late time.2 One long-term concession man- times and the best of times. nineteenth century, which would have ager claimed that the story was made up to our resourceful visitors enduring the rig- conceal the actual origin of the holiday, as According to Legend ors of the blizzard in the lobby of an Old I’ll explain later. Faithful Inn that did not exist until 1904. Of course, one cannot say that the snow- At first, the task seemed an easy one, as Other versions place it later in the twen- storm stranding did not occur merely be- all savages think they know how Savage tieth century, which would have them cause there are no records that it did Christmas began.