The Next West
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v o l u m e 1 3 • n u m b e r 4 • f a l l 2 0 0 5 Groomed Roads and Bison: The Gates Report The ThermophilicNext FungiWest COURTESY ERIN QUINN/SONORAN INSTITUTE Marking Change ellowstone’s 8th Biennial Scientific Conference on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, Greater Yellowstone Public Lands: A Century of Discovery, Hard Lessons, and Bright Prospects, took place in October 2005. The conference was Ya thought-provoking and often inspiring opportunity for participants to discuss conservation in the twenty-first century. Dr. Charles R. Preston of the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming, served as the conference’s Program Committee Chair, and in this issue of Yellowstone Science he examines some of the changes taking place in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). His article explores how people can work together to retain this area’s natural amenities and the quality of life it offers, and why quick action is needed. Successful conservation efforts in the GYE will have to cross political boundaries. Mary Ann Franke’s article delves into the findings of a new research report commissioned by park managers to determine the effects of road grooming in the park on bison movements. Also in this issue, we com- memorate the life of U.S. Geological Survey scientist Francis J. Singer, two new books on wildlife conservation in the GYE are reviewed, and Joan Henson reports on fungi that may prove useful in the bioremediation of metal-contaminated soils. Change is often exciting, but brings new challenges with it. These are both exciting and challenging times to be involved in conservation in the Yellowstone area. NPS/JIM PEACO a quarterly devoted to natural and cultural resources volume 13 • number 4 • fall 2005 TAMI BLACKFORD Editor and Graphic Designer ALICE WONDRAK BIEL Construction along the Yellowstone River north of Yellowstone National Park. Associate Editor VIRGINIA WARNER Photo Editor FEATURES MARY ANN FRANKE Assistant Editor 5 Saving the Charmed Goose ARTCRAFT PRINTERS, INC. Thoughts on a new strategy for conservation in the “Next West.” Bozeman, Montana Printer Charles R. Preston 15 Do Groomed Roads Increase Bison Mileage? A new report makes recommendations for bison monitoring and management. Mary Ann Franke Yellowstone Science is published quarterly. Support for Yellowstone Science is provided by the Yellowstone Association, a non-profit 25 Fungi in Yellowstone’s Geothermal Soils educational organization dedicated to serving the park and its visitors. For more information Thermophilic fungi offer promise for bioremediation techniques. about the association, including membership, or to donate to the production of Yellowstone Joan Henson et al. Science, visit www.yellowstoneassociation.org or write: Yellowstone Association, P.O. Box 117, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. th The opinions expressed in Yellowstone Science 34 8 Biennial Scientific Conference Summary are the authors’ and may not reflect either This year’s conference explored 21st-century conservation. National Park Service policy or the views of the Yellowstone Center for Resources. Copyright © 2005, the Yellowstone Association Alice Wondrak Biel for Natural Science, History & Education. For back issues of Yellowstone Science, please see www.nps.gov/yell/publications. DEPARTMENTS Submissions are welcome from all investigators conducting formal research in the Yellowstone area. To submit proposals for articles, News & Notes to subscribe, or to send a letter to the editor, 2 please write to the following address: GYE Grizzlies Proposed for Delisting • Montana Bison Hunt • Editor, Yellowstone Science, P.O. Box 168, Yellowstone National Park, WY 82190. Draft NPS Management Policies Released for Public Review • YNP You may also email: [email protected]. Receives Propane Bottle Recycler • Agencies Complete Five-Year Yellowstone Science is printed on recycled paper Review of Bison Plan • Francis J. Singer’s Passing with a soy-based ink. 31 Book Reviews on the cover 31 To Save the Wild Bison by Mary Ann Franke Clockwise from top right: Robert B. Pickering grizzly bear, NPS/Jim Peaco; 33 Decade of the Wolf by Douglas W. Smith and Gary Ferguson trumpeter swans, Erik Hendrickson; Hank Fischer cyclists, NPS; sheep in the Beartooth Mountains, NPS. 37 From the Archives NEWS & NOTES NPS/JIM PEACO Yellowstone Grizzlies Montana Bison Hunt Begins Draft National Park Service Proposed for Delisting Management Policies Released On November 15, 2005, a bison for Public Review The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service hunt began on State of Montana lands has proposed to remove the Yellow- adjacent to Yellowstone National On October 18, the National Park stone grizzly bear population from Park (YNP) for the first time since Service (NPS) released the much-antic- the list of threatened and endangered 1991, when the Montana legislature ipated proposed update of NPS Man- species. When the species was listed in discontinued the hunt due to exten- agement Policies—the document that 1975, only 220–320 bears remained in sive negative publicity. The Montana provides park managers with policy the ecosystem, and these animals were Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission guidance to achieve the NPS mission jeopardized by loss of habitat and high approved the sale of 25 either-sex bison to preserve park resources while provid- mortality from conflict with humans. licenses for use between November 15 ing for their enjoyment by present and Since the mid-1990s, the Yellowstone and January 15, 2006; and 25 either- future generations—for public com- population has grown at a rate of 4–7% sex licenses for use between January ment. per year. Grizzlies have occupied 48% 16 and February 15, 2006. Sixteen of NPS Management Policies has been more habitat since they were listed, and those licenses were allotted to Mon- reviewed and updated several times in biologists have sighted bears more than tana’s American Indian tribes, and 10 the past, most recently in 2001. Among 60 miles from what was once thought licenses were awarded to the hunters other things, the revised management to be the outer limits of their range. drawn for last season’s proposed hunt. policies provide new definitions of The recovery of grizzly bears in the About 6,000 Montanans and 200 non- “unacceptable impacts” to resources Yellowstone ecosystem is the result of residents applied for the remaining 24 and “appropriate uses” of parks; pro- intensive scientific research, state and licenses. On October 11, 24 Montana vide more flexibility and tools to park federal cooperation to manage habitat residents were chosen. managers and recognize that each park and limit mortality, and the implemen- The hunt, which is administered has unique needs; recognize new chal- tation of regulatory protections over by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks lenges facing the NPS, such as Home- more than three decades. However, (MTFWP), was carefully developed land Security; and provide guidance in biologists believe the Yellowstone area to: 1) provide opportunities for a “fair- response to changing recreation uses grizzly population and other remaining chase” hunt; 2) provide for long-term and technology. grizzly bear populations in the lower 48 conservation of the bison population; To review and comment on the states and Canada are markedly sepa- and 3) be consistent and compatible document, visit <http://nps.gov/waso>. rate from each other, with no evidence with the Interagency Bison Manage- An “official comparison” of the old and of interaction with other populations. ment Plan, which, it should be noted, new policies is also available at <www. The proposal to delist the Yellow- does not require any cooperating nps.gov/policy/mp/comparison.pdf>. stone population of grizzly bears was agency to reduce the bison population There will be a 120-day public review published in the Federal Register on in order to manage the risk of brucello- and comment period for the proposed November 17. The proposal can be sis transmission. The YNP bison popu- management policies; comments are found at <http://mountain-prairie.fws. lation has grown to 4,900 animals, the due by February 18, 2006. Comments gov/species/mammals/grizzly/yellow- highest recorded in recent years. can also be submitted via e-mail to stone.htm>. The public can submit Hunters are able to pursue bison on [email protected] or via surface comments on the proposal to: Grizzly more than 460,000 acres, or nearly 720 mail to Bernard Fagan, National Park Bear Recovery Coordinator, U.S. Fish square miles of wildlife habitat available Service, Office of Policy-Room 7252, and Wildlife Service, University Hall for bison near West Yellowstone and Main Interior Building, 1849 C Street, 309, University of Montana, Missoula, Gardiner. Bison hunters are required NW, Washington, D.C. 20240. For Montana 59812. Comments can also to attend special orientation sessions further information, contact Bernard be sent by electronic mail to FW6_griz- devoted to the unique aspects of hunt- Fagan at (202) 208-7456, or via e-mail [email protected]. Comments ing bison. at [email protected]. must be received by February 15, 2006. 2 Yellowstone Science 13(4) • Fall 2005 NPS/JIM PEACO Yellowstone Receives Propane years of operations, determine if those Bottle Recycler tasks have been completed, and assess whether the agencies can progress to Yellowstone National Park can now the next step as outlined in the IBMP. recycle all small propane cylinders, Step 1 encompasses a set of 14 tasks, thanks to the recent acquisition of a including cooperation among the five Propane Bottle Recycler (PBR). The agencies, maintenance of spatial and PBR is the first of its kind, and was An empty, crushed steel canister. temporal separation between cattle and inspired by the realization that an bison, protection of private property, estimated 3,000 cylinders, used by visi- and conservation of wild, free-ranging tors to fuel such things as camp stoves, major campgrounds throughout the bison.