Yellowstone Science A quarterly publication devoted to the natural and cultural resources

The History of NPS Science · and Management The Absaroka Volcanic Province The Fastest Falcon

Volume 6 Number 2 Sce11es from rhe "visirors pleosuring ground." NPS photo archives. Rhetoric or Reality?

It's always interesting for an insider to the public which have garnered the most the Service are sometimes accused of hear someone else, someone like histo­ public and political attention in the past ~'crying wolf" about declining rian Dick Sellars, comment about how two decades, not any apparent lack of biodiversity or threats to cultural re­ Yellowstone appears from a distance of research and scientific decision making. sources and the need for more money, time, space, or in this case both. As he If parks are clean and rangers are smiling, staff, and time to manage such threats. talked with Yellowstone Science about can the resources really be in danger of Are scientists their own worst critics in his documentary history of National Park irreparable decay or extinction? decrying the state of their ranks and Service science and resource manage­ Interesting, as well, is park ranger Brian programs? Is it a matter of different ment, I had a sense that some things had Suderman' s read of Sellars' history. His perceptions-even between park rang­ changed very little, in public and bureau­ only criticism focuses on Sellars' failure ers and researchers-of what it means to cratic attitudes. Our fundamental values to credit rangers with a stronger role in conserve park resources? Or have scien­ as an agency and nation still strongly lean preserving resources through their pri­ tists failed to convincingly explain, to toward just what the title of Sellars' book mary assigned duties oflaw enforcement, the public as well as to other NPS em­ itnplies: preserving nature in the national visitor contact, and interpretation. ployees, the seriousness of resource parks... a fairly static condition in which Webster says to preserve is "to guard, to threats and just what future improve­ if all looks well, perhaps it is enough to keep safe from injury, harm, or destruc­ ment are needed to achieve "scientific" satisfy our constituents, the American tion; to keep up and reserve for personal resource management? landowners, and park visitors from other or special use ... " Certainly the park Such questions come more easily than lands. rangers of our history and present do so. answers ... so we continue to present fea­ Those of us prone to such contempla­ But it is common for the scientists and tures on research and preservation ac­ tions wonder about the popular image of professional resource managers in the tivities in Yellowstone, hoping to spread our parks and the friendly park rangers, NPS to say that we are a long way from knowledge and provoke some thought which usually rankhigh ifnot atop the list understanding and embracing science in among readers about what it means to of public agencies and their servants. It's our mission and our daily work. Is this preserve nature and culture in the decripitroads and facilities that serve rhetoric or reality? Voices in and outside Yellowstone. SCM Yellowstone Science Yellowstone Science A quarterly publication devoted to the natural and cultural resources Volume6 Number2 Spring 1998 Table of Contents

The Geologic History of the Absaroka Volcanic 2 Province Yellowstone's well-known features often obscure the older history of a vast volcanic field notable in its own right. A geologist sheds light on explosive events that rocked the landscape 50 million years ago. by Margaret M. Hiza

The Evolution of NPS Science and Natural Resource 8 Management: Rhetoric versus Reality The National Park Service has a long record of stewardship, but has also tended toward tourism development while science programs languished. A historian argues that scientific resource management was -and is still-lacking in parks.

Editor Interview with Richard W. Sellars Sue Consolo-Murphy Art Director Greater Yellowstone Peregrines 16 Renee Evanoff Once one of the most endangered birds on the continent, this fast-flying Associate Editor predator has made a remarkable recovery inside and beyond Yellowstone's Sarah Broadbent boundaries. Printing by Terry McEneaney, Bill Heinrich, and Bob Oakleaf Artcraft Inc. Bozeman, Montana Review 22 Preserving Nature in the National Parks: A History by Richard West Sellars. Reviewed by Brian Suderman

News and Notes 24

On the cover: A photo ofa El Nifio makes for Dry Snow Year • Lynx to be Listed Under Endangered Species peregrine falcon in flight. Act• Experts Discuss New Zealand Mud Snails• Study on Cougar-Wolf Photo courtesy Tom Interactions • Satisfied Anglers Maechtle. Above: a group Yi!ll~1:v~to~e~'$~iJ~-'~~ i~- published qri'attei:!Y;' an-d:'s~bnn'ssions are'w~lcoµte trOm all investigators ·of young peregrine falcons conductin£:_ ~~31 ~se~h _i~ the Yello:vstone area., Editorial correspondence should be sent _to the' in a hacking box before re­ Editor, -YeltO'Wstone ScienCe, Yellow_s~11e _Center for Resources, P_.O. _Box 168, -Yellowstone lease into Yellowstone Na­ > ..• .Nationa!Park, WY82190...... 1 tional Park. Photo courtesy Tue-, opillions expi~sse,d.Jn_- Yellow,;tonti ~ci_ence ar_e th,~ authors ¥11ght 4' 1998,._ th,e Y_ell,(l:WSton,e_As_~ociation for Natural Scie_nce, History & Education. story on page 16. Support0 foi Yell()wstone Sciencejs pn;vicled,_by,-tlie Yello',\lstone A_ss_ociation for Natunil Science, :Efistory & Educati~n,, _a_n~)l--P~fit_~ducati~n_al organization d_edicated to serving the park and its _Visito[s. For m?Ie infonn_ati_on_ about the'_:Y:~n~wstonC AssOCi:ition, including membership, write to I:\ _ ,-P_.o. B,ox:117_~ Yeiio\Vsfone Nation!ll Park, WY 8219~. ,';ti, _Yellowston'e'Science is,printed on ~ecycled paper with aliilseed oil~biised ink. Spring 1998 The Geologic History of the Absaroka Volcanic Province

By Margaret M. Hiza

Yellowstone National Park was estab­ to the region; many of the rocks in the of highly potassic volcanic rocks, first lished 125 years ago, primarily because park formed from volcanism that oc­ found and described in Yellowstone by unique geologic features of the curred 50 million years earlier. This ear­ Joseph Paxton Iddings in 1895. Also Yellowstoneregion are among the world's lier eruptive activity produced another uniquely preserved within the Absaroka greatest treasures. The high plateau voluminous deposit of volcanic rocks, province an~ nearly the entire volcanic rimmed by mountains, the world's larg­ the Absaroka Volcanic Province. The edifices oflargestratovolcanoes together est geyser field, and the altered yellow province is the largest volcanic field of with proximal and distal volcanic depos­ rocks of the Grand Canyon of the its age in the western United States, en­ its, well exposed in a terrain dissected by 2 2 Yellowstone are but a few features in the compassing 9,000 mi (23,000 km ) of glaciers. These ancient volcanoes are simi­ park which are the direct result of volca­ the greater Yellowstone region and lar in form to Mt. Rainier, Mt. Fuji, Mt. nic activity. Many readers are aware that roughly one-third of Yellowstone Na­ Kilimanjaro, and other modem stratovol­ part of the park is actually a large caldera tional Park (Fig. 1). Volcanological and canoes, but because they are old and that erupted violently only 600,000 years geochemical features within these older inactive, yet well-preserved with can­ ago, in one of the largest eruptions known volcanic deposits are not only unique to yons cut through them by glacial activity, in recent geologic history; it may still the region, but to the world. they afford geologists a unique opportu­ erupt again. This young caldera also pro­ The Absaroka Volcanic Province was nity to study the inner plumbing system vides the heat source responsible for the a region of interest for early prospectors of volcanoes (Figs. 2 and 3). Many of the largest geyser field in the world, and the who mined gold and silver associated exposed features of these stratovolca­ numerous hot springs of the Yellowstone with old volcanic centers. It is a region noes were described during the Hayden region. This heat comes from magma­ famous to geologists for the first recog­ Survey of the early 1870s. They were molten rock below the surface. nition and naming of the absarokite­ studied in detail by Thomas Jaggar and However, volcanic activity is not new shosonite-banakiteseries. This is a group J.P. Iddings during a subsequent expedi- 2 Yellowstone Science Figure 1. Map showing the dis­ lion by Alexander Hague and are the Absaroka Volcanic Province tribution ofvolcanic rocks ofthe origin for volcanological terms now used AbsarokaProvince in the greater the world over. Yellowstone region. One example is the "laccolith" of Mount Figure 2. Photo ofRampart vol­ Holmes, which is the first of its kind ever cano east of Trident plateau described (Fig. 4 ). Preserved within these showing re1nnant dipping lava volcanic deposits is a world-class conti­ flows on either side of volcanic nental faun al assemblage, including early edifice. Canyons which dissect primate species found nowhere else on II Yellowstone the volcano are the result ofgla­ the planet. Entire ancient forests from a National

' ~, 11 Pfilk ciation. period of earth's history which was one .t, Figure 3. Photo ofElectric Peak of the warmest known are also fossilized Idaho : I as seenfrom the su1nmitofGreys within the large volumes of ash and coarse 1' Peak in northern Yellowstone sediment. These deposits record a period Park. Electric Peak is a portion of dramatic climate change to the cooler 1------;:.-I . ' ' ofa volcanic edifice-relatedflow temperatures we experience today. How Sepulcher Mountain. These long this warm period lasted, and how "" rjuring early volcanic quickly it changed, is not known pre­ · the Absaroka Volca­ cisely but m~y become clearer as the age nce. All photos cour­ of the volcanic deposits become better esy Margaret Hiza. known.

Mapping and Dating Old Rocks

Since the late 1800s, the rugged and remote nature of the region has restiicted geologic research to a limited number of studies that are still done by scientists traversing the park on horseback and on foot, as in the days of the Hayden Survey (Fig. 5). I began studying volcanic rocks of the Absaroka Volcanic Province in the greater Yellowstone region in 1990, as a graduate student at Montana State Uni­ versity. My early studies focussed on the sedimentary sequences, which were formed by similar processes as those wit­ nessed by many geologists during the well-known eruption of Mt. St. Helens in 1980. After this event, volcanologists began to study the sedimentary record more carefully because of a new aware­ ness of the dangers imposed by large volumes of sediment that are produced during volcanic activity. As my thesis study continued, I became increasingly aware of how little was known about the Absaroka Volcanic Province as a whole, even though it is located in an area. fa­ mous for its geologic features. Because so few studies had been done, it was impossible for me to assign an absolute age to the deposits I had been working on, or to compare them to rocks of the same age in other parts of the province. General age relationships be­ tween groups of rocks in the Absaroka Spring 1998 3 within K-bearing minerals in volcanic Figure 4. Sketch and rock. An alternative technique is to irra­ photo of Mount Holmes, diate the sample and thereby convert 39K illustrating the features to another isotope, 39Ar. This is the inno­ ofalaccolith, whichcon­ vation of the 40 Ar!"Ar method, which is sists of sedimentary lay­ more precise and accurate because it re­ ers pushed upward by an lies on proportions rather than absolute invading body ofmagma. abundances. Isotopic dates produced by 40Arf3 9Ar, used in this study, are com­ Mt.Holmes bined with geologic mapping and pub­ ,r'-~_,,Dome Mountain lished paleomagnetic data to piece to­ gether the sequence of volcanic erup­ tions that took place in Yellowstone Park. The sequence of eruptive activity in­ cludes the eruption of ash-flow and fall deposits. Thesedepositsresultfromlarge, explosive events that produce an erup­ tion column and plume (Fig. 6). Pyro­ Volcanic Province had been published in fundamental questions about why magma clastic flows also result from explosive 1972 by Smedes and Protska. Although erupts and where and why melting occurs eruptions, but move downhill across Iow­ this work was an excellent preliminary during volcanic activity. To answer these lying areas. These flows, as well as the study, it was based on only 14 isotopic questions, detailed mapping and sampling eruption column, contain hot volcanic dates, 10 of which were derived from of major volcanic centers for detailed ash, pumice, and other rock fragments. rock samples along the southern margin geochemical analyses is necessary. These However, deposits from an eruption col­ of the province from only two sample analyses can be used to constrain models umn are different, because as the erup­ localities. Only two samples within of melting based on our current knowl­ tion column collapses it forms a blanket Yellowstone Park had been dated, and edge of the chemical constituents of the of ash and pumice across a broad region, none of the rocks on which my study earth's crust and mantle. These models instantaneously. New data on the age of focussed had any age assigned to them. are then used to located magma sources. these deposits permit their use as re­ Even more astounding is the fact that the Another important aspect of my study gional stratigraphic markers, which con­ Absaroka Volcanic Province has never is a basic· understanding of the volcanic strain the stratigraphy and history of geo­ been completely mapped in detail. Only province-the sequence of eruptive ac­ logic events within Yellowstone. Im­ general maps based primarily on aerial tivity, which I present here. This new proved dating permits correlation of three photographs exist for much of the prov­ work includes significant revisions to age widespread ash-flow tuffs, and has led to ince today. relationships proposed by the earlier work a new appreciation of the catastrophic Much of this region has remained un­ of Smedes and Protska, produced by uti­ natureofvolcanismin theAbsarokaProv­ studied because of the rugged, mountain­ lizing more precise modem dating ;ech­ ince. Because the three ash-flow tuff ous nature of theAbsaroka Volcanic Prov­ niques. KlAr isotopic dating in previous eruptions took place within a short pe­ ince, which encompasses the largest por­ work is based on measurement of 4°K riod of time (geologically speaking) with tion of roadless area in the conterminous (potassium), which decays to 40Ar (ar­ many volcanic deposits between them, United States, including portions of four gon) with time. This dating method re­ the age data has also illuminated how wilderness areas, four national forests, quires very precise measurement of the voluminous eruptive activity took place and the eastern third of Yellowstone Na­ absolute abundances of K and Ar found during a brief period. tional Park. With the exception of the study by Smedes and Protska, the only other study of the entire province was Figure 5. Photo of author conducted under the supervision of Hague conductingfieldwork in the in the late 1800s. Unfortunately, most of same historical fashion as this early work was never published. earlier studies within the Geologists have long been puzzled as northern Absaroka Volca­ to what caused volcanism to occur 50 nic Province. million years ago in the greater Yellowstone region, producing the Absaroka Volcanic Province 1,500-km inland from the margin of the North American plate. Through my study of this enigmatic volcanic field, I address 4 Yellowstone Science nants of this ash-flow tuff are thick and about 50 million years ago, but most of ,----~~ extensive, and cover a large part of the the early deposits in this area were eroded c' ~ area which is now the southern Beartooth away. \., :lume __ .__.._. -)> Mountains and northern Yellowstone. It "'-\.... ~~· ' \_ _,:/ '\ \ \ I resultedfromalarge-scaleexplosiveerup­ Marking Time " r~Y' ' Ash-{low ' tion that produced volumes of ash which Eruptive"-\~ · • ' column / covered an even larger area in the past. A second large ash-flow eruption oc­ ' Preserved outcrops in the southern curred48.8 million years ago, depositing I,,, P~a tic flow Beartooth Mountains are several hun­ the Lost Creek Tuff and Pacific Creek ~' - dred feet thick. In Yellowstone, the tuff is Tuff. Although mapped separately in the most visible west ofSlough Creek, where past, they are now correlated based on Figure 6. Sketch showing eruption it appears as a deposit with distinctive 40Ar/3 9Ar ages and shared geochemical column, plume, andpyroclastic flow. light and dark bands which can be seen composition. Products of this second large when hildng along the Slough Creek trail. ash-forming eruption can be found across When the ash was deposited, some of it a broad regio·n, from the Hellroaring was hot enough to melt back together, trailhead and Floating Island Lake in the "New Age" Volcanics becoming welded. The welded portion of north to Two Ocean Pass at the southern­ the Slough Creek Tuff is black volcanic most margin of Yellowstone National· Eruptive activity of the Absaroka Vol­ glass overlain by very light-colored non­ Park-and beyond park boundaries. De­ canic Province began 53 million years welded ash, which gives this deposit its posits from large ash flows such as this ago (Ma) during a period of crustal exten­ striped appearance. one are important in determining strati­ sion, first recorded by movement along Lava flows on Sepulcher Mountain, graphic relations and geologic history, the South Fork detachment fault, which Crescent Hill, Buffalo Plateau, and Elk because they are widespread and pro­ cuts the Eocene Willwood Formation. Creek erupted from fissures following duced from an instantaneous event. They The WillwoodFormationis a deposit that the eruption of Slough Creek Tuff. represent a time line or marker bed which lies below the Absaroka volcanics, which Pryoclastic flows are also characteristic allows correlation of volcanic deposits are ofsimilar age. At about the same time, of this eruptive period. Much of this de­ above and below them. Geologists can smaller, scattered volcanic fields began bris was remobilized by water into volca­ use the age of two or more of these to erupt in a broad belt extending from nic debris flows, commonly called la­ deposits to estimate the volume of mate­ Oregon and Washington to the Black hars. This kind of mobilization typically rial erupted during a given period of time. Hills of South Dakota. Frain the onset, results from deposition of large volumes Immediately ·above and below this ash­ eruption in the Absaroka Volcanic Prov­ of fragmented material (mostly volcanic flow deposit, and correlated by its pres­ ince was highly explosive. Dacitic pyro­ ash) on steep slopes, which kills plant life ence, are large volumes of fissure-fed clastic flows of hot, flowing volcanic and chokes stream channels. Volcani­ lava flows that erupted near Sylvan Pass debris erupted from small, localized vol­ . cally induced rainfall, in addition to ash­ and the Mirror Plateau in eastern canic domes in northwest Yellowstone frlled river water, act to remobilize volca­ Yellowstone. Also correlated with this and produced ash-flow tuff and pumice­ nic debris into sediment-water mixtures ash-flow deposit, where it is found in fall deposits. These oldest known depos­ which resemble rapid! yflowing concrete. southern Yellowstone, are lava flows, its are at the base of Sepulcher Mountain. Deposits similar to those in the pyroclastic flows, and lahar deposits of Previously mapped as Lost Creek Tuff, Absaroka Volcanic Province have been the Langford Formation. A period of broad 9 an 4f1 Ar/3 Ar eruption age of 53.0 Ma produced during recent volcanic erup­ uplift followed, producing widespread indicates that these tuff deposits are four tions such as the 1991 eruption of Mt. tilting and erosion, exemplified by the million years older than earlier estimates. Pinatubo in the Phillipines, where mil­ erosional unconformity at the top of the This early event was followed by erup­ lions of cubic tons of debris were redis­ Langford Formation in southern tion of rhyolite ash-fall from the South tributed by lahars in only a few years Yellowstone. Deposits of the Langford Fork volcanic center, which can be seen following the eruption. In Yellowstone, Formation, ash-flow tuff deposits, and on the South Fork of the Shoshone River. deposition of lahar and strearnflow de­ this well-developed unconformity can be This eruption blanketed the Wind River posits produced the Sepulcher and Lamar seen along Pacific Creek, Two Ocean Range south of Yellowstone with ash. River formations, which are thick, coarse­ Creek, and from the Two Ocean Plateau Then, during a period of only two mil­ grained deposits containing numerous trail. lion years, eruption took place over a upright fossilized trees. These deposits broad region, encompassing the entire can be seen in the Lamar Valley sur­ Tracing the Tectonic Story province and producing most of the rounding theLamar Ranger Station, along Absaroka Volcanic Province deposits Icebox Canyon, on Sepulcher Mountain, An ash-fall deposit in the Two Ocean found in Yellowstone Park today. It be­ and on Bighorn Peak. Eruptions from Formation, now correlated with the Blue gan 49 .5 million years ago with the erup­ vents located in the Two Ocean Plateau Point ash-fall in the greater Yellowstone tion ofSlough Creek Tuff. Erosional rem- area of southern Yellowstone also began region, erupted 47.5 million years ago Spring 1998 5 Total eruptive material of A VP Age Distribution of Volcanic Rocks of the from49.5 to 47.5Ma ~ Absaroka Volcanic Province in Yellowstone National Park 3 80,000 km

Lava Creek Tuff 3 1,000km

I Figure 7. Volumetric comparison ofash­ *i WestYellnwstnn~ /low tuff produced by recent eruptions and total eruptive products from the Absaroka Volcanic Province, including the Yellowstone caldera eruption ofLava Creek Tuff which took place 600,000 years ago (modified after McBirney, 1979). and marks the end of widespread Absaroka volcanic activity in the park (Fig. 7). It is preserved on Two Ocean and Trident plateaus and can still be seen D <47.5!'.fa 10 15 Miles from the trail along Thorofare Creek. • 4!1·47.5Ma ---15 kllnm~ters This same deposit can be seen outside ~ >49Ma Yellowstone, as light-colored layers of volcanic ash on Ramshorn Peak, on the Figure 8. Map of Absaroka volcanic rocks in Yellowstone Park showing age north side of Highway 287 between Jack­ relations based on recent stratigraphic c_orrelations. son and Dubois, Wyoming. Estimating the volume of material erupted during the Absaroka period is not eruptions produced volcanic domes of volcanoes within the Absaroka Volca­ easy, because what remains today is an silicic lava (dacite to rhyolite composi­ nic Province. As the history of the vol­ erosional remnant of what was originally tion), such as Bunsen Peak and Meldrum canic field is pieced together, so is the produced. Any estimate must be based on Mountain (Fig. 8). Silicic lavas such as tectonic history of North America. The where we see remaining deposits belong­ these are very viscous and do not flow age data from this study is combined ing to the Absaroka Province, and assum­ very far, producing these thick deposits. with chemical analyses of major and ing that the area between these also con­ Most of the younger Absaroka volca­ trace elements and of isotopes of Nd tained material produced by this episode nic deposits in Yellowstone are limited to (neodymium), Sr (strontium), and Pb of eruptive activity. It is highly unlikely pumice, ash-fall, and light-colored rhyo­ (lead) from the volcanic rocks. This that the entire area now occupied by the lite flows on Two Ocean and Trident data is used to determine how and where younger Yellowstone caldera (c.a. 0.6 plateaus, which are interbedded with de­ the magma that erupted in the Absaroka Ma to 0.06 Ma) once contained volcanic posits from lahars. These deposits are Volcanic Province first formed, and rocks of the Absaroka episode, because typical of the last period of volcanic ac­ why eruptions occurred within the North the earlier volcanic rocks surround the tivity, which ended with the eruption of American Plate during this period. New caldera today. During the two-million­ Dunrud Peak rhyolite southeast of the stratigraphic information from my study year period between the eruption of park 43.7 million years ago. Although can also be used in the study of impor­ Slough Creek Tuff, which occurred 49.5 some of the youngest deposits in south­ tant fossil assemblages, and to docu­ million years ago, and the Blue Point ash­ ern Yellowstone have not been dated, ment a period of dramatic change in fall, nearly all of the Absaroka Province future work may allow them to be corre­ Earth's history. Understanding how the volcanism within Yellowstone was com­ lated with volcanic deposits in the sur­ Earth's climate has changed, and its plete, and probably more than 80,000 rounding region (Fig. 9). volcanic behavior in the past, enables km3 of volcanic material had erupted With continued research, lava flows us to better predict these types of behav­ (Fig. 7). Jn northern Yellowstone, the last and ash-falls will be traced to individual ior in the future. 6 Yellowstone Science ~allatin.. R~~~e YELLOWSTONE fARK _ Hearto~

Nom1al Dunrud Peak Rhyolite 43.7Ma Mt Burwell Dacite 45.3 Ma Rampart Volcano 46.6Ma Caldwell Canyon Rhyolite & Pinnacle HyaliteVo\canics Buttes Tuff 46.8 Ma & Mt Wallace Pumice and Ash-fall Lava Rows Rhyo\ite Flows & _-~ ~~~~~~·?-~~·~ ______1:3_h~~s-- ____ J_I______Reversed ------HH•··Illue Point Ash-Fall 47.5 Ma I TwO Ocean Ash-Fall 47.5 Ma----- 47.5Ma .../\/\..f\/\.. BuosenPeak ~ ~ 48 Ma (Ff) l Lava Flows Kinvin Center & Lahars Phelps Mtn Ptannigan Mtn 48.8 Ma ------.------· .: ost Creek Tuff 48.8 Ma I Pacific Creek Tuff 48.8 Ma---·------lndependance Mt Wallace Sylvan Pass Absarokite & Stock 48.5 Ma & Sepulcher & Mirror Plateau Shoshonite Flows Big Creek Stock Lava F]ows Lava Flows &Golmeyer

Nonna! Rhyolite Domes Crescent Hill LowerTrout Peak Rhyolite& Bk Creek Ptannigan Mtn Flows Absarokite Flows Lava Flows 49.5 Ma~------­ ------n•Slough Creek Tuff 49.5 Ma·····--- - Independance Sepulcher,Mtn Mt Wallace Langford Fm Sill&Flow Lava Flows Lava Flows Dike.50.2 Ma* South Fork Center & Breccia Wind River Ash-Fall 49.9Ma 50.SMa Pumice Fall-Out Rhyolite Tuff Ash-Flow Tuff 51.SMa 53.0Ma 52 Ma* Willwood Fm Ash-Fall

Figure 9. Stratigraphic relations ofvolcanic rocks within the Absaroka Province, with locations ofrock types and fonnations subdivided within Yellowstone Park and surrounding areas.

Table 1. Types of volcanic rocks found in the Absaroka Province.

RocKTYPE OCCURRENCE COLOR MINERALS

Absarokite Flows from prominent dark Black/dark grey Olivene/pyroxene cliffs Shoshonite Dark grey Pyroxene

Banakite Grey Olivine/plagioclase/ biotite

Dacite Thick flows form knobs, or Light grey/tan Plagioclase/ in explosive eruptions of hornblende/biotite ash-flow tuffs Ryodacite Tan/orange/pink Sanidine/biotite/quartz

Rhyolite Tan/orange/pink Sanidine/biotite/quartz

Margaret Hiza is presently a graduate versity in 1990, under a National Science student in the department ofGeosciences FoundationFellowship. Her research has at Oregon State University. Her Ph.D. also been funded by grants from GSA, research on the Absaroka Volcanic Prov­ AAPG, Sigma Xi, The Colorado Scien­ ince has been funded by the U.S. Geo­ tific Society Pierce Memorial Fellow­ logic Survey as an internship with the ship, and the J.D. Love Fellowship. She National Cooperative Mapping Division plans to graduate this year and hopes to in Denver, Colorado. She began working continue geologic research related to in the province while working on herM. S. geochemistry and volcanis1n within the in Earth Science at Montana State Uni- Yellowstone region. Spring 1998 7 Yellowstone Science Interview: Richard West Sellars The Evolution of NPS Science and Natural Resource Management Rhetoric versus Reality

Richard West Sellars is a of absence from her job and Texas native who studied ge­ traveled as a volunteer with ology at Baylor University me for the better part of a year and has a Doctorate from the doing research around the University of Missouri at country: National Archives, Columbia. He worked for the NPS Harpers Ferry archives, National Park Service (NPS) the Bancroft Library, the Mu­ first as a seasonal ranger in seum of Vertebrate Zoology Grand Teton National Park, at Berkeley, a number of then with the Denver Service parks, and a few other collec­ Center. He got a permanent tions. position with the regional of­ I did quite a number of in­ fice in Santa Fe, New Mexico, terviews, but as it turned out I thinking, he said, "that I didn't use a lot of them. For wouldn't be there very long­ one thing, !had to be opportu­ that was in 1973-and I'm nistic with the interviews and still there!" He is the author do them when I had a chance of Preserving Nature in the to visit with people, and that National Parks (Yale Univ. was mainly in the very first Press, 1997), a study ofnatu­ part of the project when I was ral resource management in notthatfamiliarwith the ques­ the NPS. After speaking at tions I needed to ask. Thus I the October I 997 conference on People Office began preparing a history of natu­ was not always asking the questions that and Place: the Human Experience in ral resource management in the National I would want to know about later. Sec­ Greater Yellowstone, Dr. Sellars had Park System to be researched and written ondly, I really found out more than ever this conversation with the current editor in four months. before that oral history has its problems. andPaulSchullery, historianandformer That was 1987. lthought it was a very People want to remember things in a editor of Yellowstone Science, about his bad thing for the Service to try to do that certain way. Sometimes they are abso­ research. in four months-it would be shot down lutely correct. You're giving me a little immediately. Theniaskedforthe assign­ oral history right now [laughs]. But the YS: How did you get interested in his­ ment on a longer range basis, and I got it. documents are so much better. If you' re tory, specifically in writing a history of YS: Thus the publishing of Preserving talking to someone about the early 1960s resource management in the National Nature in the National Parks. Wbat types or the early 1970s, not only has it been a Park Service? of research did you use to write the book. number of years since that time, but they RS: For the first 15 years of my career, Did it include actually. interviewing might not really remember it all that well I was involved with historic preserva­ people, or was it all done from the docu­ because today they just see things in a tion. But I have some background in mentary record? different way. So I used the documents environmental history; in fact what hap­ RS: I spent about the first 15 months far more than oral history. The real ben­ pened was that after Alston Chase's book, doing background reading and documen­ efit of the interviews was to get me more Playing God in Yellowstone, came out, tary research. My wife, who is the re­ familiar with the subject matter, and with the Park Service decided it had better search librarian at the Museum of Inter­ the questions being raised and the con­ look at its own history. The Washington national Folk Art in Santa Fe, took leave cerns that people had. 8 Yellowstone Science YS: What were the questions you most wanted to answer? RS: I realized from the very first that I was not going to do simply a history where "this research project was done and that research project was done" and where "so many scientists were hired at this time and so many at that time." This was an administrative history of natural resource management; that's what the official definition of this book has been all along. But I would never give it that title-I want it to sell more than a dozen copies! I realized that I was going to have to look at natural resources management During the early days ofaggressive predator control this photo shows five men not by itself, but in the context of what posing with wolf carcass at the Soda Butte Soldier Station in 1905. else the National Park Service was doing, Photo courtesy NPS Archives (YELL 36953). asking the question that, if the Service was not conducting natural resource man­ on up through the time the Park Service tors as another special interest group: agement in tune with the ecological was established. The book begins with "I've got the Cody Chamber of Com­ knowledge of the time, what was it doing Yellowstone in 1872, which I consider merce hammering me about this; I've got instead, and why? What were its priori­ hands down to be the first national park. the Northern Pacific Raihoad bribing my ties, and where did natural resource man­ It's odd that some people argue that Congressman about this, and I've got agement-in particular, scientific natu­ Yosemite was the first national park, but these scientists, you know ... " And that ral resource management-fit in? in 1864 the federal government divested superintendent, because of the way his That's the reason the book deals quite itself of the responsibility to run that area. mandate had shaped up accidentally a bit with what I refer to in the introduc­ I see the Yellowstone act as a much more (sometimes purposely), it wasn't intui­ tion as de facto natural resource manage­ broadly developed statement of national tive to him that science should be his ment, which is to say intensive develop­ park philosophy and policy. I think of primary guide. It was almost a social ment in certain areas such as along the those who argue that Yosemite is the first victory for the-scientific community that South Rim of the Grand Canyon, which park and then talk about the campfire it worked out that way. Now, we see that altered the natural systems in that area story and the creation myth in 1870. Wait all with hindsight. I'm troubled when I considerably. Orin the Yosemite Valley. a minute. It doesn't make sense. see historians sort ofperverting that hind­ I looked at development as an impact on Yellowstone is clearly the first national sight and implying that that guy was natural resources and thus as a way of park, so I began with Yellowstone. stupid, or even that there was something managing them out of existence, or cer­ YS: I'm s_urprised how often I hear a sort sinister going on there. What I'm really tainly altering them considerably-and of retroactive judgmentalism. We are interested in is how these people worked setting up conditions with which later wandering back through our history and through what is essentially a value sys­ natural resource managers and scientists we unavoidably pass a lot of judgments tem, because their mandate was so muddy and superintendents would have to con­ on when "they" were right or wrong. In it wasn't going to tell them. tend. some cases, like the mistreatment of Indi­ RS: I think that it's important to consider So, I was looking both at development ans, we exercise a lot of outrage too. But the National Park Service Act and who its and at what we refer to as natural resource in other cases, like decisions about natu­ principal founders were: a borax mining management-the actual, direct. hands­ ralresourcemanagement, we tend to have executive, retired (Stephen Mather); a on approach to natural resources-trees, a smugness about how "we know so much landscape architect (Frederick Law and mammals, and whatever. The book betternow ."And there's a hardness to the Olmsted, Jr.); ahorticulturalist(J. Horace deals quite a bit with the developmental judgments that I think is inappropriate. McFarland); anda young lawyer (Horace impulses of the Park Service. What I'm getting at is this process by Albright). None of them had biological YS: You mention that people perhaps which more and more of us have come to training to speak of beyond horticulture. didn't even remember correctly to the recognize that science is just absolutely It seems pretry clear to me from their 1960s and 1970s. Did you go back to essential for all our decisions. correspondence that they were looking at whatever beginning documentation you But some superintendent in preserving the dignity and majesty of could find for resource management? Yellowstone in the 1920s could, intellec­ national park scenery, including wildlife, RS: Igo back to the 1870sandideal with tually, with a certain amount of integrity and that they were looking at this in gross natural resource management in the nine­ even, very comfortably feel differently terms rather than with the precision of a teenth century as practiced by Anny and about it and see the scientific crowd who biologist. civilian superintendents and their staffs, were lobbying him to stop killing preda- Their ideas tied into public enjoyment Spring 1998 9 very closely, which is mentioned at least cies], and the National twice in the NPS' act's principal state­ Academy Report [a 1963 ment of purpose. They were very con­ review ofNPS science pro­ cerned about that and about keeping the grams.] parks attractive to the people. That was YS: ButsomeofWright's one reason they would fight fires; it's one ideas had taken hold, such reason that they would kill predators to as restrictions on predator save the favored mammals. I think that it control. is important to note also that the 1916 act RS: That is a good point. did not mandate new management poli­ Changes had occurred, cies. The Service merely Continued with rather gradually. For ex­ policies used by its predecessors, the early ample, Wright's group had superintendents of the parks civilian and pushed for reviewing and Superintendent Horace Albright in 1922 celebrating military. I do not believe that the Organic altering the fire policies. amongst the accoutrements that reflected the thinking Act changed the policies whatsoever as NPS biologist Adolph of the day. NPS photo archives (YELL 37160). far as day-to-day management of the parks Murie was outspoken about went. I see the superintendents as doing a that. There is a wonderful set ofletters: a ers of wilderness. But Murie, Sumner, job that they thought was right and proper, debate between Lawrence Cook, who and others who supported wilderness were and they reinforced that in kind of a group was at that time chief forester for the not park leaders; they were biologists, way, among themselves. national parks in the West, and Adolph and they were down in the ranks. Park So, when the scientists came into the Murie, about the McDonald Creek fire in leadership felt that the Service didn't Service, about the very late 1920s but Glacier National Park in about 1936 or need this overlay of wilderness regula­ mainly the 1930s, they were truly insur­ 1937. It's an excellent debate; you can tions. Frankly, I believe, skipping ahead gents. They had a different point of view. see the two different policies and phi­ toward the present, that one reason some By contrast, the superintendents of the losophies working against one another of the major parks still do not have desig­ 1920s were mainly engineers; they were -the traditional forestry policy that Cook nated wilderness is that it has never been out of the developmental professions and espoused, and the more ecologically at­ a top priority in the NPS. Had it been so, they had the developmental impulse. They tuned policy thatAdolphMurie espoused. had the Service and the superintendents knew that if the national parks weren't But the Service rejected Murie' s argu­ been constantly working with their con­ developed for tourism the whole idea was ment. gressional delegations and their support likely to be lost, and the U.S. Forest And with the predator policy, Horace groups and made it a very high priority Service might gain control of the parks. Albright, for decades even after he re­ for the past 33 years, I think we would YS: Let's move to the late 1950s, when signed from the NPS in 1933, remained have more wilderness in the system than a bunch of things are about to happen determined to keep the parks' coyote we have today. soon but they haven't yet. A superinten­ populations down. There was plenty of YS: Yellowstone is one of those big dent in any big natural area right then­ support within the Service for killing parks without designated wilderness. I what might make him see those special coyotes-reflecting adherence to tradi­ suspect that a lot of people recognize that interest groups differently? tional ways-even after Albright himself wilderness is probably a purer classifica­ RS: Many of the values espoused by had promulgated a more tolerant preda­ tion than the way we manage our Mather and Albright and their followers tor policy in 1931. backcountry. We hear that the staff need and associates in the 1920s were still in YS: The primary movement for the pres­ the freedom to go out with chain saws, or place in the Service by the late 1950s. The ervation of wilderness actually came out helicopters, or whatever it is they're go­ effort that George Wright [the first NPS of the Forest Service. I never hear much ing to do. It seems funny that it's our scientist, who in 1929foundedandfunded about Park Service scientists or manag­ branch of the federal government doing out of his own pocket an NPS wildlife ers joining into that. Did I just miss it, or what the public in the West does to us­ division] and his fellow biologists had did the Park Service have this attitude saying, "we don't want those darned feds made to try to change the perspective had that I think we still have today, that we in here telling us how tq manage!" pretty much died out. There were still don't need that extra p~ece of legislation RS: It was the same way with the Na­ some very fine scientists in the Service, because we're already protecting our tional Environmental Policy Act of 1969; like Adolph Murie and Lowell Sumner. parks? we didn't want it. With the National His­ But as far as management itself goes, RS: The answer to that question is that toric Preservation Act, we supported the their perspective had not changed. The the Service did drag its feet on the Wil­ passage, but we didn't want to mess with change came begimting really in the 1960s derness Act of 1964-it opposed it for a those regulations. The Wilderness Act with the Leopold Report [a 1963 review long time. But also within the Service was really the first of the environmental­ of wildlife management in the national there were men-Lowell Sumner, Adolph era legislation whose implementation the parks that prompted a servicewide change Murie, Victor Cahalane, for instance­ NPS resisted. in natural resource management poli- who were very strong and early support- YS: Isn't an examination ofNPS culture 10 Yellowstone Science important to understanding our history? kind of filtration system. You succeeded knowing how historians view [our park] RS: What really happened, !think, is the because you agreed with what leadership from a more objective perspective. establishment in the 1920s under Mather believed. The scientists, by contrast, were RS: In the book, I use Y ellowstotie more of a dominant Park Service philosophy, a challenging the system. And so what hap­ than any other single park because I think culture that valued managing parks for pened to the scientists? You don't see it really was a trend setter in natural scenery protection and for public enjoy­ them rising up in the ranks. Carl Russell resource management. Also, it is the one ment. As long as the forests were green, became head of Yosemite, he was an park that continually draws public atten­ as long as there were elk grazing and a exception; he had a Ph.D. in wildlife tion, although others do, at times. But not fair number of visitors could see them, it biology, I think from Michigan. But by to exclude the influence of other parks: didn't really matter too much whether and large the scientists were kept out of for instance, fire management policy there was a high elk population count or upper level management. And they were changes emerging in Everglades in the a low count. This reflected a fundamental marginalized because they challenged 1950s when Bill Robinson began to ex­ set of values that the scientists would values that were already established un­ periment with prescribed burning. Simi­ soon challenge. The scientists faced a der Mather and that had roots in the lar efforts began a bit later in Sequoia. unified perspective among Park Service nineteenth and early twentieth centuries Fish management policies began to leaders-who were geographically spread before the NPS. change pretty much throughout the Sys­ out but philosophically unified-favor­ YS: When you said that scientists went tem, a little in the 1930s and some more ing scenery and tourism management. against mainstream management, are we in the 1950s. So you have these things And scientific knowledge was not a nec­ talking aboutthe big traditional parks, the interacting around the System; and yet on essary part of that. In fact, science chal­ Yellowstones and the Yosemites? the whole Yellowstone is probably the lenged that perspective. RS: By and large. That's where the one park where natural resource manage­ George Wright and the biologists of natural resource issues were played out. ment is always at least visible, and often the 1930s were effectively saying "you' re Yellowstone, Yosemite, and later, Ever­ at the forefront of public interest. not running these parks correctly; you're glades and the Great Smokies, for ex­ YS: Being put in that role so often and not doing the right thing. And these are ample. getting so much attention appears to gen­ the reasons why." That was a challenge­ YS: It goes back to the scenic and tomism erate tremendous resentment and jeal­ even though the Service was only 12 to 14 values; there was already perhaps a very' ousy in the culture of the Park Service. years old-to already established tradi­ strong economic constituency. I've seen some just bitter stuff against tions. The scientists were telling manag­ RS: Yes, for scenery and tomism man­ Yellowstone-vengeful stuff; I've actu­ ers that they were not handling their re­ agement. But the scientists were not into ally witnessed it. I'm curious if you've sources properly. that, particularly. Although I think they picked up on that. My next research project is a history of finnly believed that scientific natural re­ RS: Honestly I haven't. I've heard some historic site management. And in con­ source management was compatible with of that myself, not much of it, but I didn't trast to the scientists, historians and ar­ tomism, that it should be a matter of good come across it in the documentation. I cheologists and architects who emerged clear thinking and investigation about don't doubt its existence, though. in the Service in the 1930s-about the park development and management. YS: There's a legend about Horace same time that the wildlife biologists YS: Can we talk specifically about Albright walking into an office some­ were emerging-did not run into the same Yellowstone? Not just because it's the where-it's famous Park Service folk­ kind of organizational barriers in seeking first park and we're here but because I lore-and somebody had put up a sign to gain influence. And the reason, I think, think it's still portrayed as having been that said "that's the way we've always is that they were operating in a different the first for so many other things in the done it in Yellowstone." Apparently world-working in the archeological Park Service. For example, the Leopold Horace was really annoyed. When I first parks in the Southwest and the patriotic Report itself-one of the things that led came here I heard that [park superinten­ sites in the East. They were not telling the to it was the elk reduction here. dent from 1967 to 1975] Jack Anderson mainline, mainstream Park Service man­ RS: That was the principal concern that had the sign over his door and told his agement that they were managing the led to the report. chiefs, "Don't give me that excuse!" parks wrong. So by comparison they had . YS: I'm interested in your documenta­ [laughter]. That's the image of an easier time of it, whereas the biologists tion of how Yellowstone reflected trends Yellowstone as this place that's unwill­ were really insurgents; they were chal­ in the Park Service. We certainly still get ing to change, as opposed to a Yellowstone lenging tradition. criticized-I think very much-for our that gets stuck being the guinea pig all the Not only traditional ways of doing lack of use of science in resource man­ time. things, but if you were an individual who agement, and all that may be legitimate. RS: What attracts me to Yellowstone is had been hired as a ranger in 1919 and We don't hear much about how not just its scenery and the wonderful you made it to a superintendency in 1925, Yellowstone is viewed as either a good or things there are to see here, and the natu­ you gained status in part because you bad example of resource management or ral resources, but also its history. And thought the way the leadership did. You of using science to afford better deci­ that's most readily exemplified in the were drawn into the culture, through a sions. I have no way from "tJie inside" of buildings. Certainly the Old Faithful Inn Spring 1998 11 is a premier example of that. You imme­ per trail left by Albright and I often used stopped predator control, and I'm sure diately get a sense of the early national him as the voice of traditional manage­ Horace believed it! Forty years later it's a park years in some places in Y e!lowstone, ment. Even though he was outside of the great story. All you have to do is look at anditgives it a depth, that while Yosemite, Service, he was real close to the Service the record to know that "it wasn't like for instance, has some of, it's not as for the rest of his life, and shared main­ that, Horace." How did you take on the evident as it is here. Yellowstone is a stream NPS perspectives. icon that was Horace? fascinating, complex place historically YS: His visits were like presidential RS: I let him take on himself. Of course, and from a point of view of natural his­ visits! I have a feeling that deference to I'm the one who selected which docu­ tory as well. The historical factors might Horace, this non-government guy, had an ments to use. But I let him speak for not be the reason most visitors come here, effect on all these managers who wouldn't himself in the 1930s and '40s and '50s but I think it enriches their experience. take on anything that they thought would and into the '70s. And in most cases I left YS: On the other hand, that's compli­ annoy Horace. it to the reader to make a judgment about cated the mission. Now there is a vast RS: Had Albright been converted to Albright. But his positions were very outdoor museum of huge, expensive ob­ jects that we're saving, which changes ... the book provides an especially revisionist view of Horace Albright. the priorities of budgets and everything else, a lot. Now, no question about it, he was a builder of the system; he contributed RS: Such changes are expressions of the an enormous amount to advancing national park interests. But he public will, as stated in the 1966 National remained very, very conservative regarding natural resource manage­ Historic Preservation Act, which is an expression of concern about historic fea­ ment... Had Albright been converted to contemporary ecological tures in a big natural area like this. It's as thinking ...in 1935or1937or1940, and had he told the leadership of the much law, as strong a mandate, as for the· Service that "these wildlife biologists have a point.•. we really need to preservation of natural resources. YS: Without asking you to finger person­ take this into account," he could have had a more positive effect on alities, in your research did you find a natural resource management than the Leopold Report. clear correlation between who was su­ perintendent and his attitude toward sci­ ence or resource management? Is it largely contemporary ecological thinking, let's clear. personality driven, either by the presence say in 1935 or 1937 or 1940, and had he YS: At least in Park Service culture of a very strong scientist or manager? told the leadership of the Service that you' re not yet vilified for daring to cast RS: I think we have had a number of "these wildlife biologists have a point. .. we a little taint on Albright. superintendents who have proved very really need to take this into account," he RS: Twenty years ago I would have supportive of scientific resource man­ could have had a more positive effect on been ... agement in the parks. The problem is that natural resource management than the YS: I wonder if you think that, today at it depends upon the individual superin­ Leopold Report. He had enormous influ­ least, we in the Service understand and tendents; it's not a pervasiveServicewide ence on the Service. He was one of the embrace the need and value of science to attitude that we must have scientifically founders. He and [former director do better management? informed and intelligent management. Conrad] Wirth and [former director RS: Yes. I think it's advanced slowly. And in the age of ecology we now know George] Hartzog, were men who really We have obviously far more scientific that the only way to have intelligent man­ did contribute an enormous amount to input on decision making than we did in agement is to have ecological knowl­ expanding the National Park System, and 1963 when the Leopold Report was writ­ edge. We speak about this a good bit, but they must be given credit for that. But as ten; there is no comparison. At the same we don't necessarily do it. far as ecology goes, no. Hartzog made time, it's very clear-the Vail Agenda You mentioned personalities. I would some moves in that direction, and Albright makes it clear, the 1992 National Acad­ have to say the book provides an espe­ some, early on. But certainly not Wirth. emy Report [another review ofNPS sci­ cially revisionist view of Horace Albright. YS: I think it's a small enough agency ence programs] makes it clear-that we Now, no question about it, be was a that through force of personality some­ have not addressed our scientific needs builder of the system; he contributed an one like Albright could clog up, at least adequately. I think the Service is quite enormous amount to advancing national retard, the changes that might otherwise short of staff for natural resource man­ park interests.But he remained very, very have occurred. I think that's interesting agement, and while we've made conservative regarding natural resource history, because I'm not that convinced progress, we haven't made the kind of management. As it happened, I think he thatithappensall thatmuch, where some­ determined progress that we should have. spent half of his later life at the type­ one just through force of will and a strong And we haven't made the kind of writer; he was constantly corresponding typewriter keeps such tight tabs on "the progress that we made, for instance, in with the superintendents and directors children" for so long. Albright would at law enforcement. When that became a and whomever. So there was a great pa- times set himself up as the hero who high priority we jumped right on top of 12 Yellowstone Science it [snaps fingers]. The interpreters would say that they're hurting right now, too, ... I think the Service is quite short of staff for natural resource manage­ but in the 1960s there was a big push for ment, and while we've made progress, we haven't made the kind of interpretation and for living history and things of that sort. determined progress that we should have. And we haven't made the The Service will push for what it really kind of progress that we made, for instance, in law enforcement. When wants and toward where its heart really that became a high priority we jumped right on top of it... is. I explain in the book how a variety of programs evolved in the post-Leopold If we're a natural resource management agency ... we need a training era. And that the emergence of scientific program that is at least equal to that of law enforcement. Why not? resourcemanagementhad to contend with a Service that was looking in other direc­ tions and had other priorities. dents and other individuals in the Service in those positions and their career paths Now, I think we need a strong training who are related to those programs. have not been open to the upper-level programinnaturalresourcemanagement. YS: In 1992, the National Academy did management positions. As I understand If we're a natural resource management a wonderful job in listing all the people it, part of the resources career initiative is agency, which we continually say we are, who agreed that the parks needed sci­ that there will be a clear career path for we need a training program that is at least ence; they said we needed t_o find a way resource managers-cultural as Well as equal to that of law enforcement. Why to institutionalize science. It doesn't seem natural-to upper level management po­ not? to be happening in any formal bureau­ sitions. And there absolutely should be. YS: That's the question. It doesn't look cratic way. In fact, it appears that the Until that happens, and until people to me like the decision makers ever sat opposite has happened, because our sci­ . (mainly with master's degrees in the natu- down together over the past 30 years and ence has been taken away from us­ ral sciences) are provided with sophisti­ had some sort of gentleman's agree­ presumably to make it better, but I don't cated training that includes environmen­ ment-likemajor league baseball had for really believe that. How do we change tal politics, park management, and super­ 70 years to keep black people out of it­ then? vision-that is, not just in natural re­ to keep science on the back burner. It RS: I would like to see the National source management, but in how to be looks like it's one of those inadvertent Leadership Council [senior NPS manag­ upper level managers-until individuals priority things. Law enforcement, when ers from the regional and Washington with those kinds of backgrounds getin at it took off, was really easy to get funding offices] totally committed to the values the very top, I think that there's going to for compared to a lot ofotherthings. And that natural resource managers have and be a continual frustration with the Ser­ interpretation has always struggled, it's acting on those values on a daily basis. vice for not rising to its real potential as a always been expendable; it amazes me And I think that the way the service leader in the preservation of the natural that we have as much of it as we do. What change is if natural resource manage­ environment. were the things that kept science from ment is given access not just to the rank YS: The people who are in charge now, growing? Perhaps it's that there really and file positions but to leadership posi­ the leadership that isn't characterized by isn't a clear enough mandate there-it's tions throughout the Service in the parks those sentiments and by the natural re­ a mandate that has to be partly intuited and the central offices. I don't mean source managers' attitudes, how do they from another mandate, which is "do a necessarily they have to be directors, but respond to this criticism? What are their good job." they need to be in line authority at very positions? RS: The next-to-last chapter of the book high positions if indeed resource RS: Some of them will agree with it and deals with the "State of the Parks re­ management is our primary function. support change. Others will either op­ ports"-there were two of them (in about YS: Is that what's happening, slowly? pose it openly or behind the scenes. 1980-1981), and after that, I use a ques­ RS: Very slowly; quite slowly. Tradi­ There's a bit ofhistory to this. The Leopold tion that the 1991 Vail Conference on tionally the natural resource managers Report states-I have forgotten the ter­ national parks raised--one of' its four have been pretty much been dead-ended minology it used-that the big natural major concerns-the role of the National Park Service as an environmental leader. I wonld like to see the National Leadership Council totally committed If our primary mission is resource preser­ to the values that natural resource managers have and acting on those vation, why isn't that our primary focus? Where is our reality as opposed to our values on a daily basis ... the way the service can change is if natural rhetoric? For a top-notch preservation resource management is given access not just to the rank and file program, the NPS needs to have a very positions but to leadership positions throughout the Service ...! don't strongtrainingprograrn-forpeoplewho are already in the Service and for people mean necessarily they have be directors, but they need to be in line coming into the Service and for natural authority at very high positions ... resource managers and for superinten- Spring 1998 13 ing to help give us the answers? resource parks should be under people TheLeopoldReportstates ... that with biological training. And the report RS: I address this problem in the book. did not mean, I'm sure, only six hours in the big natnral resource parks How much the managers articulate this undergraduate school. And in my opin­ should be under people with bio­ among themselves, I'm not sure, but I think it's pretty clear to them that, with an ion that statement, if made to a superin­ logical training. And the report tendent who had come up through the infusion ofscience, management becomes ranger ranks and had a degree in recre­ did not mean, I'm sure, only six more costly, more time consuming, and a ation or something similar, and then be­ hours in undergraduate school lot more complex. And the problem with science is that it often raises more ques­ came a superintendent, it would be a ••. it's a t.hreat and a challenge to threat and a challenge to their traditional tions than it answers, or attempts to an­ leadership. And what I'm saying today is their traditional leadership ... ! swer. Ecology is just that complex. So I also a challenge, in the sense that I think think the Service needs to recon­ think that these factors have caused resis­ the Service should reconsider the nature sider the nature of its leadership tance, particularly since the Leopold Re­ of its leadership. port. But also in the George Wright era What really concerns me is that there now and in the future ... Why there was a resistance to scientifically should be natural science expertise and shouldn't Yellowstone ... have informed management because of such factors: cost, delays in decision making, resource management expertise near the someone with natural resource very top. I don't think it necessarily has to and restrictions on managerial authority. be the superintendent, but I would have it management expertise and a If scientists come up with a decision on right below the superintendent, and in strong background in the natu­ the northern range, or on the grizzlies, or the bison that goes against what the su­ line authority. Why should ral sciences in line authority, at Yellowstone-this is a world heritage perintendent deep in his heart wants to area; it one of the premier national parks the very least as a deputy super­ do, then it's a restriction on his freedom of the system because of its natural re­ intendent? to operate. It's a threat to traditional man­ sources-why shouldn't it have someone agement. with natural resource management ex­ You raised something that I would like pertise and a strong background in the have other things that they just regard as to go back to, briefly. I see Mission 66 as natural sciences in line authority, at the higher priorities? the principal turning point in national very least as a deputy superintendent? RS: You've said it. There is a vast array park history. With Mission 66 we were YS: We don't have a deputy superinten­ of competing priorities in the parks. And into very heavy development, well-funded dent, but the Director of the Yellowstone they're simply answering to others, and by Congress and moving right along. Center for Resources acts somewhat like science and natural resource manage­ And that put us even more clearly in a deputy superintendent. ment questions don't impinge on them opposition to the direction the conserva­

RS: As I understand it, he has control as much as, say 1 concession operations. tion movement was taking. They were over the research aspects. But does he YS: I've had a suspicion that part of it moving toward the Wilderness Act; we have much authority over park-wide bud­ was that when we have science, people were moving toward paving roads and get, planning, staffing operations, and so think it caused management so much building new visitor centers and other forth? Also, I frankly see protection as more trouble, or controversy. One of the kinds of development. So we found our­ one subset of preservation, and I don't reasons that we created Yello1'vstone Sci­ selves really at cross purposes. Not only know where the rangers in Yellowstone ence is because we kept hearing that that, no longer did the environmental are in all of this. I'm talking about a ''you have no science there. "But take the groups have theclubby, tweedy, bowser­ position that has authority over most ev­ Craighead controversy over grizzly bear club relationship with Park Service lead­ erything going on in Yellowstone. It's management [see Yellowstone Science ers they once had. It was a much more fortunate that your resources director has VI( I)]. Ah, we had some science there­ confrontational relationship. I quote Wirth built up a lot of strength here. If he were well, look what happened; that caused on this: "they [the environmental groups] to leave, who would replace him? How more trouble! Or the northern range and believe the Service is the enemy." strong and how effective would that indi­ that controversy-we've had lots of sci­ Then on top of that the Leopold Report vidual be? What I'm talking about is not ence there-that's caused us nothing but was dropped on us in 1963-it was, in the strength of individuals, but institu­ disagreement. If people are aware that effect, an expression of the conservation tionalizing this kind of thing throughout we have done research, they are not clear movement's concerns for the parks. And the system. that it helps in making decisions. that same year, the National Academy YS: The leadership which resists enough RS: Scientists don't come up with man­ came out with its first report. That's one science, are they just an aging subset of agement plans or decisions. instance where I used a bit of oral history. Horace Albright clones? What is their YS: They just disagree! So, does that I talked with Howard Stagner, who had rationale? Why do they not embrace it influence managers, either by thinking been high in the Park Service administra­ more? Do they just merely say, I'm too the scientists are going to cause us noth­ tion at that time, and he made it very clear busy with visitor use issues? Do they ing but trouble or they're really not go- that Conrad Wirth had suppressed the 14 Yellowstone Science decade or so, but in the future, after the I think that these factors have caused resistance ... to scientUically Clinton administration and after [Secre­ informed management ... : cost, delays in decision making, and restric­ tary ofthe Interior] Babbitt, I'm not sure tions on managerial authority. Ifscientists come up with a decision on how much determination there will be to make sure that it works for all the differ­ the northern range, or on the grizzlies, or the bison that goes against ent agencies involved, including our what the superintendent deep in his heart wants to do, then it's a agency. restriction on his freedom to operate. It's a threat to traditional YS: Twenty-some independent scien­ tific reviews have basically all said the management. same things since the l 960s-that we still need more and better science and resource management. If our culture had National Academy's 1963 report by not were reflected in the programs and in the demanded it, we would be getting there, publishing it, but simply putting it out in leadership of the Service. If you look at and obviously we're not. So perhaps it's typescript. He didn't want to share that the organizational charts across time you because there has not been either internal criticism with the public. will see the development-oriented pro­ demand from the Park Service culture or YS: I've never seen it cited. fessions-landscape architecture, for­ the external demand from Americans who RS: That is what Wirth wanted; he didn't estry, and so forth-moving right along still seem pretty darned happy with what want you to see it. at the top. By contrast, it was 15 years they are finding here. For many visitors a YS: It worked! Is it amazing that the from the time the Leopold Report was park experience is still a museum: "I've Leopold Report actually took hold as written until the time an associate direc­ got to see the elk, I've got to see the bison, much as it did? tor [for science and natural resources] I've got to see the wolves" .. .it's a collec­ RS: In the George Wright era, and ear­ position was created in Washington. That tion of things, artifacts, buildings. We lier, when there was criticism of the Ser­ came in 1978. During that 15 years, the certainly have not taught them about the vice it was mainly on the type of develop­ science programs (their organizational ecological processes and change. ment occurring and its appearance, not so status) would rise and fall. Starker Leopold RS: Yes, but you can'tdo that overnight. much its effect on ecology. There was was in for a year as chief scientist, and I think what we really wantto do is build little outside support or involvement with during that time science rose. It also hap­ an environmental ethic. An appreciation natural resource management, per se, in pened to rise under [tanner NPS direc­ of natural beauty-the moose, the elk, the 1930s in the parks. By the 1960s, that tor] Ron Walker and I think that was in the bison that visitors see, and the land­ had changed. There was an outside voice, part because Walker did not know the scapes, and the forests in national parks­ a very powerful voice, working in a very Service well; he wanted to rely on profes­ is for many people a threshold toward a well-organized, politically well-con­ sionals in the service, and he actually greater and deeper understanding of the nected way and becoming more powerful brought up the scientists. natural world, a greater ecological so­ as the decade progressed-concerned not YS: None ofus seem to have been terri­ phistication. That's one thing I certainly just with the appearance of development, bly enthralled with the recent creation of credit the Park Service and the national but with what development and public the National Biological Survey (NBS) parks with. And this influence comes use was doing to the ecological systems which then became the Biological Re­ through their interpretive programs and in the parks. So it was a different game. sources Division (BRD) of the USGS. through the presentation of the parks, and And the Leopold Report was backed by This came about by transferring all Inte­ through making the parks accessible, Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall. rior Department scientists from other through building this big circle-eight road YS: He was not in a position to suppress agencies including the NPS. Does your system in Yellowstone so that people can it, having already more or less endorsed it research come up into this period enough get out and see these things. It is an by setting it up. that you can comment on.whether this has interference in the natural system of RS: The Leopold Report had more influ­ been a significant happening? things, but it also opens it up to the public. ence on natural resource management RS: I mention it briefly. My feelings I do think that aesthetics is aroute toward than the National Academy Report did, were that the closer I got to the present the a deeper appreciation and understanding but the National Academy Report had more journalistic the writing would be. of the natural world. more influence on the organizational situ­ And I would have had to spend at least Again, I do not see ecologically in­ ation for the biologists. The Academy two more years on this project in order to formed management as being incompat­ argued for an independent biological pro­ get fully on top of the details of what had ible with tourism. I think it can be worked gram, one that was pretty much free from happened in the 1980s and the early 1990s. out properly. I think indeed if resource intetference from management. But I do mention the creation of the NBS preservation is our highest priority, then Organization is power, it reflects power, and then later the BRD. In my mind, it it should be reflected in our operations, it reflects priorities. In my book I discuss was a mistake to pull science out of the our budget, our planning, and things of organizational sociology and what the NPS, at this point anyway. The new ar­ that nature. And we could do so much values of the Service were, how they rangement might improve over the next better... ti Spring 1998 15 Greater Photo of adult peregrine coune:ry Bob Oakleaf Yellowstone Peregrine Falcons: Their Trials, Tribulations, and Triumphs by Terry McEneaney, Bill Heinrich, and Bob Oakleaf

It was a cold, red sunrise in May in the raven's neck to rise. To avoid mid-1970s. Snow was still on the ground, serious injury from the at­ especially under the lodgepoles. Yet Peli­ tacking falcon, the raven can Creek was open and teaming with dragged the teal from a sand­ waterfowl. As we stopped the car to ob­ bar through the sedges and serve a blue-winged teal, we rolled down eventually under a willow. the window to hear the wonderful bell­ After ten minutes of attack like call of the drake when, suddenly, the dives, the peregrine gave up. teal was silent, motionless, and alert. Then The sky was soon clear of the peregrine. great wanderings or migrations this bird we heard a far-off sound resembling a jet The raven, due to its size and demeanor, makes. coming closer. The sound got louder, was fortuitous, in this instance, to prevail. The history of the peregrine falcon is until the annoying noise, like a race car But for diminutive birds the size of a teal clouded with trials and tribulations. Be­ changing gears, passed over the car leav­ and smaller, the sky is seldom devoid of yond the beauty of the bird, the incredible ing a "Doppler effect" in our ears. In a peregrines, wandering marauders of the flight, the sensational action, there crept matter of seconds the beautiful teal was skies. This observation by the senior au­ an insidious problem that affected per­ airborne, and in a split second there was thor and a friend was a rare sighting then, egrines that would not be detected for an apparition of another bird that entered and since peregrines are uncommon even years. It first came to light in Great Brit­ our view. The energetic teal could no today they largely go unnoticed. But .the ain in the 1950s, when in a short time a longer be seen, but the teal's feathers times have changed, and so have their high percentage of breeding pairs failed were drifting in the airnotfar from where numbers. The information we present is to produce young. A budding biologist it flushed. When the commotion settled, an update on the history, ecology, and by the name of Derek Ratcliffe was be­ there remained on the ground the lifeless status of the peregrine in greater ginning a detailed study of the peregrine form of a blue-winged teal that was being Yellowstone. in Britain and through intensive investi­ eaten by one of the most majestic birds in gation crune up with a remarkable dis­ the world-a peregrine falcon. Unique Bird With a Clouded Past covery that surfaced around I 962. Five minutes after the peregrine had Ratcliffe observed a high incidence of begun feeding, another phantom image The peregrine falcon (Falco egg loss during incubation. appeared on the scene. Its entry was an­ peregrinus) has been admired by natural­ In eastern North America, a similar nounced by the screeching calls of the ists and falconers for centuries, due to trend was developing-nests were fail­ alert peregrine as it stopped feeding on their marauding habits, swiftness of flight, ing and breeding adults were not only the teal, and the introductory notes clearly striking colors, and extensive global dis­ declining but disappearing from tradi­ identified the intruder as a common raven. tribution. Ofall the birdlife on Earth, only tionally known eyries. The alarming The raven flew into the scene and stole the osprey and the common raven rival movement was so widespread that simi­ the lifeless teal from the falcon. In retali­ the peregrine in their global breeding lar problems were later identified in the ation, the peregrine began attacking the distribution and hence occur on all conti­ western United States by the mid-1960s intruding raven by reeling in circles, nents with the exception of Antarctica. and in the Arctic by the early 1970s. screaming, and dive-bombing. The raven The specific name peregrinus, or per­ Ratcliffe and his Blitish colleagues sus­ was so alarmed by the airborne falcon egrine, is a Latin de1ivation that means pected toxic chemicals when they found that it caused the hackle feathers on the pilgrim or wanderer, in reference to the high levels of chlorinated hydrocarbons 16 Yellowstone Science in the first peregrine egg ever to undergo some cases, destroyed food chains and ing to fledging usually takes 42 days. chemical analysis. Another important food webs, and negatively influenced The colorful appearance and demeanor event that occurred was the global assem­ ecological processes. The data gathered of the peregrine falcon s~ldom passes blage of peregrine experts at the Interna­ from other bird studies only strengthened unnoticed, but what gets the attention of tional Peregrine Conference held at Madi­ the case of the peregrine, which Jed to the field observer is the superb flying son, Wisconsin, in 1965, hosted by Jo­ more restricted use and the eventual ban­ ability of this avian marvel. Peregrines seph Hickey and the University of Wis­ ningofDDTinBritainandNorthAmerica hunt either from a perch, while in flight, consin. Evidence presented at this con­ by 1972. or employing a combination of the two ference pointed to a relationship that cor­ techniques. By perching on a vantage responded in time with the decline of the Life History of the Peregrine point, such as a tree or cliff overlooking peregrine in Britain and the wholesale large expanses of open space, the preda­ application of DDT (dichloro-diphenyl­ It is difficult to adequately describe a tor has a commanding view of the area trichloro-ethene) and dieldrin for agri­ peregrine in prose, for the bird evokes a and watches for prey victims that are cultural purposes. different image with different people de­ vulnerable being away from safe cover. Still, definitive evidence connecting pending on their degree of experience Peregrines can directly attack on the wing toxic substances to unusual breeding de­ and exposure with the bird. but have an added advantage if they can clines in peregrines could not be ad­ Peregrines are slightly larger than an get above their victims. The hunting fal­ equately proved. Ratcliffe, through his American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos). con, once maneuvered into position, has · persisten.ce to get to the bottom of the Adult females (also referred to as fal­ the ability to "stoop" or dive at fast speeds, problem, was instrumentalin making one cons) are typically larger than males, thus overtaking its victims. How fast they of the great avian scientific discoveries of weighing on average 30 oz. (850 grams), travel is open for debate. In level flapping the twentieth century. His curiosity kept while males weigh 20 oz. (567 grams). flight they typically travel 40 to 55 miles him revisiting his detailed observations Thus, males are also referred to as tiercels, per hour; however, the terminal velocity of the alarmingly high frequency of bro­ which means "one-third smaller." From of a peregrine in a stoop can be in excess ken eggs, of adults digesting eggs, and head to toe they are 15 to 20 inches (381 of 200 miles per hour. All prey are dis­ the inexplicable thinning and weakening to 508 mm) long. In flight their wings are abled by the striking feet. Smaller prey of eggshells. By visiting museums and 40 or more inches (1,106 mm) long, and species can be caught and killed in mid­ private collections of eggs collected be­ they are characteristically pointed in ap­ air, whereas larger prey are struck with tween 1900 and 1967, Ratcliffe was able pearance. Adults are dark blue or slate­ the feet and disabled or killed outright to measure eggs and pinpoint a remark­ colored, especially on the back, wings, and retrieved on the ground. ably short period, 1945 to 1947, when and tail. The cere (fleshy material cover­ The peregrine falcon is an incredible · there was a 20 percent decrease in thick­ ing the nostrils) and the feet are yellow to bird predator. The type of birds a per­ ness of peregrine eggshells. This egg­ orange in color. Adult peregrines have a egrine pursues depends on whether the shell thinning corresponded precisely to black helmet appearance on the head that pursued is another predator, a simple the time of heavy application of DDT and extends below the eyes, in contrast to a intruder, or vulnerable prey. Male per­ other insecticides on a broad landscape white throat and sides of the neck. The egrines typically pursue small prey that level. This strongly implied that one or mid- to lower breast is horizontally barred weigh 0.7 to 7 oz. (20 to 200 grams), more of these chemicals produced physi­ and gray-white, as are the belly, leg feath­ whereas females can pursue slightly larger ological complications for egg-laying ers, and undertail. Immature birds are prey ranging from3 to 35 oz. (lOOto 1000 female peregrines. Ratcliffe's findings similar in size and appearance, but have grams). Although these birds have been were quickly confinned by biologists in darker brown feathers in contrast to the called "duck hawks" for the way they North America conducting similar stud­ gray or slate-color of the adults; immatures pursue waterfowl, or "the great-footed ies. By 1969, the American peregrine have pale gray to yellowish feet and cere falcon" in reference to their large feet falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum) was and vertical streaking on the breast. used for securing prey, they have the listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and In greater Yellowstone, peregrines nest ability to kill a diverse array of birdlife. Wildlife Service. The supporting evidence on cliffs, often overlooking open coun­ Some prey species that have been ob­ over the years has proved that DDT and try. Each nest or eyrie consists of a simple served taken by peregrine falcons in its breakdown products, most notably scrape on a gravel ledge. Sometimes they greater Yellowstone include; yellow war­ DDE (a derivative of DDT), were respon­ will nest in an abandoned raven or golden bler, yellow-rumped warbler, western sible for eggshell thinning and breakage, eagle nest. They generally lay three to tanager, mountain bluebird, northern and related reproduction and population four eggs that are heavily marked with flicker, Clark's nutcracker, Wilson's declines in a wide spectrum ofraptorial red-brown splotches. Their incubation phalarope, common snipe, yellow-headed and piscivorous birds. Rachel Carson, in period is 33 days. These birds can be blackbird, red-winged blackbird, her monumental 1962 book, Silent Spring, easily disturbed during incubation, and Townsend's solitaire, red crossbill, cliff brought to light the fact that chlorinated eggs have been known to roll out of the swallow, tree swallow, green-winged teal, hydrocarbon pesticides not only killed nest when incubating females are sud­ blue-winged teal, cinnamon teal, killdeer, target organisms but disrupted and, in denly disturbed. The period from hatch- Franklin's gull, eared grebe, Caspian tern, Spring 1998 17 Photos courtesy Bob Oakleaf and black rosy-finch. We have witnessed a variety of en­ counters, most typically in pursuit of other peregrines for territorial defense, but golden eagles are also highly feared by peregrine falcons. Encounters with intruders such as common ravens and prairie falcons are quite common. More unusual sightings documented in greater Yellowstone include encounters with ~ rufous hummingbird in the Thorofare, chasing trumpeter swans out of a nesting territory in the Centennial Mountains, and a similar encounter with American white pelicans over Yellowstone Lake. Other oddities observed have been a me­ dium-sized fish brought into an eyrie in Biologists Heinrich, Oakleaf and attendents, who access cliffs by hiking the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and climbing, prepare to place young peregrines in a hack box. and a small fingerling caught by a per­ egrine in Hayden Valley. The breeding range of the peregrine encompasses approximately one-half of formerly ranged to Kansas, Arkansas, Peregrine History and Recovery in the North American continent and in­ northern Louisiana, Tennessee, northern Greater Yellowstone cludes the following areas: northern Alabama, and northwest Georgia. Gener­ Alaska, northern Mackenzie, Banks, ally speaking, the northernmost popula­ Yellowstone is unique in that it has a Victoria, southern Melville, Somerset, tions migrate most often to tropical re­ rich historical record documenting the and northern Baffin islands, and Labra­ gions, while populations in warmer cli­ existence of this species as early as 1914. dor south to southern Baja, California, mates are relatively sedentary and either Milton Skinner was the first to record the the coast of Sonora, Mexico, southern don't migrate at all or migrate short dis­ status of the peregrine in the park, but the Arizona, New Mexico, western and cen­ tances. information was so vague that it pro­ tral Texas, and Colorado. Less frequent Spring migration ends with the arrival vided little value regarding populations. numbers occur in the Sierra Madre Occi­ of adult peregrines in Yellowstone, be­ In 1924 and 1938, Edward Sawyer (a dental of northern Mexico, and at least tween late March and early April. They naturalist for the park) provided more usually depart this area in October, with meaningful data, giving us some refer­ late departures extending into Novem­ ence as to the existence and location of ber. Although wintering data is weak and nesting peregrines. In the 1960s, Jay incomplete, we do have some informa­ Sumner, John Craighead, Jim Enderson, tion worth sharing. Two band returns Bryan Harry, and a few others provided from peregrines banded in greater important pieces of information that con­ Yellowstone shed some light as to where tributed to the construction of the per­ peregrines spend the winter. One came egrine puzzle. Enderson kept a few from the state of Sinaloa and the other records ofnesting peregrines in the 1960s, was from the state of Jalisco in western while Sumner kept intermittent track of Mexico. Jim Enderson, a Colorado Col­ several known historical! y occupied sites lege biologist who has spent a lifetime from the 1970s through the early 1980s. studying peregrines, suspects their pri­ The Wyoming Game and Fish Depart­ mary winter range to be Mexico and ment monitoring some traditional eyries northern Central America. These band in the late 1970s and early 1980s and returns confirm that western Mexico is a found the sites to be unoccupied by per­ stronghold for wintering peregrines. Both egrines. However, due to the fragmented coastal and interior areas are equally im­ nature of the Yellowstone peregrine in­ portant, since they attract large concen­ formation up until the 1980s, we never trations of shorebirds and waterfowl and knew the total number of peregrine ey­ large flocks of passerines such as com­ ries that historically occurred in and mon grackles, brown-headed cowbirds, around the park. Due to the era and the Band returns confirm that Mexico is Brewer's blackbirds, yellow-headed technology of the time, this information astrongholdforwinteringperegrines. blackbirds, and red-winged blackbirds. just wasn't available. But the informa- 18 Yellowstone Science lion still proved to be extremely impor­ tant, especially when assessing the status of peregrines in the greater Yellowstone. The road to recovery for the peregrine started with the restricted nse of DDT in Canada in 1969 and a total ban of this pesticide in the United States in 1972. Coupled with. this major breakthrough was the establishment of The Peregrine Fund, by Tom Cade at Cornell Univer­ sity, in 1970, whose goal was to ensure the survival of the species. Three regional Figure I. facilities (in New York, Colorado, and California) were responsible for the cap­ Peregrine Falcons in Yellowstone National Park tive breeding of peregrine falcons. Later, Total Young Placed in Hack Boxes by Tbe Peregrine Fund the New York and Colorado facilities would be merged into one, called the Total Number of Young Placed in Hack Boxes World Center for Birds of Prey located in 12~------~ Boise, Idaho, under the superb direction 10 of Bill Burnham. Today, the center has a mission to rest

25 The future of the peregrine falcon in greater Yellowstone looks very promis­ 20 ing. By delving into the past we found that even though greater Yellowstone is 15 .. perceived to be a pristine environment, IO DDT was sprayed in and around the park in the 1950s to combat spruce budworm 5 3 3 3 3 4 3 infestations. The result of this effort con­ ttibuted to the demise of the peregrine 0 .L-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~--' and other top food chain consumers in 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1985 1984 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 this unique ecological area. The banning of DDT in 1972, coupled Year with the superb effort by The Peregrine Fund and their associates to restore per- egrines in the wild, changed the status of occurred in greater Yellowstone. Rein­ egrines. This site is the highest known the peregrine in a relatively short time. troduction efforts ceased in Idaho in 1994, peregrine eyrie in North America at this We are in consensus that the peregrine is in Wyoming in 1995, and in 1997 in latitude. Latitude plays a big role in plant ecologically recovered in greater Montana. Even though not all of the tra­ and wildlife distribution; treeline in Gla­ Yellowstone and other areas of its former ditional eyries in greater Yellowstone are cier National Park is at 7 600 feet eleva­ range in North America. It is just a matter currently occupied, we have located many tion, but is at 10,000 feet in Yellowstone of time before the U.S. Fish and Wildlife eyries that were previously unknown. and even higher still in Colorado. Eyries Service will reclassify the peregrine fal­ Also, we thought we understood the habi­ are lower in the more northerly latitudes. con as a recovered species no longer tat requirements of the species. But the For an eyrie to be this high this far north needing special protection under the En­ discovery of an eyrie at 10,220 feet on is remarkable. dangered Species Act. Once the species Colter Peale only emphasizes the wide Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming have is officially delisted, efforts will be made variation of nest sites available for per- benefitted from The Peregrine Fund's to allow designated public viewing areas 20 Yellowstone Science Figure 4. a common conservation cause. The achievement is a testament to the dedica­ Total Number of Wild Peregrine Pairs tion of concerned organizations, agen­ cies, and individuals. \Vyonring,l\.1ontana,Idaho But the ultimate triumph was the suc­ cess of this grand experiment of reestab­ Total Number Wild Peregrine Pairs lishing peregrine falcons into one of the 100-rc======;------, I•Idaho llilMontana llillWyomingl wildest places in the lower 48 states. The 80 _,_,_. ______peregrine falcon will go down on record as one of the great symbols of environ­ mental conservation in North America and in greater Yellowstone. We are proud to have played a part in it. •

Terry McEneaney is the staff orni­ 20 thologist for Yellowstone National Park. Bill Heinrich is the species restoration managerforThePeregrine Fund's World 1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 Center for Birds ofPrey in Boise, Idaho. 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 Bob Oakleaf heads the non-game pro­ gram for the Wyoming Game and Fish Year Department. These and 1nany other Figure 5. biologists and cooperators fanned a cohesive team to help bring back the Total Number of Wild Peregrine Young peregrine to greater Yellowstone. \Vyonring, l\.1ontana, Idaho Total Number of Wild Peregrine Young 120 -rr======;---=------, I•Idaho llllMontana BWyomingl 100 ------·------

80 ------

60 -

40----

20 -

1980 1982 1984 1986 1988 1990 1992 1994 1996 1981 1983 1985 1987 1989 1991 1993 1995 1997 Year in places like Yellowstone. But monitor­ Yellowstone required teamwork. The ing efforts need to continue to ensure the primary credit needs to go to The Per­ survival of this remarkable species. This egrine Fund and its staff. Although not wijl require a long-term commitment by everyone can be mentioned, key people state and federal land management agen­ that quickly come to mind for their hard cies. work and dedication include: Barb Although the peregrine had its share of Franklin, Ed Levine, Brian Mutch, Dale trials and tribulations, triumphs came from Mutch, Dan O'Brien, Dan Stevenson, the partnerships that were formed be­ Jim Willmarth, and the countless number tween individuals working for a common of hack sites attendants. It was also grati­ cause. The success of the peregrine fal­ fying to find state and federal and non­ con recovery program in the greater profit organizations working together for Spring 1998 21 Book Review Nevertheless, in the early 1930s there were many Preserving Nature in the National Parks: vocal wildlife biologists A History by Richard West Sellars. Yale urging the Park Service to University Press, New Haven, Connecti­ start changing some poli­ cut, 1997, 364pages. $35.00(hardcover). cies for the benefit of wild­ life and ecosystems, in­ Ever since the National Park Service stead of merely "preserv­ (NPS) was established in 1916 there has ing the scene" or manipu­ been a constant debate over which com­ lating nature for the amuse­ ponent of the mission should be domi­ ment of visitors. In 1933, nant-preservation or public enjoyment three NPS wildlife biolo­ and use. In Preserving Nature in the gists published a report that NationalParks, Richard Sellars immerses became known as Fauna the reader in the history of National Park # 1. This document, which Service management and how, more of­ became official policy, ten than not, development for ever-in­ "proposed a truly radical creasing visitor use has won out over the departurefromearlierprac­ preservation of natural systems. tices." Among other rec­ In this exhaustively researched and an­ ommendations, the authors notated book, Sellars takes us on a roughly proposed restoring extir­ chronological journey through the his­ pated species to parks, re­ tory of the. Park Service, each chapter storing seriously altered covering a block of years, each block habitats, and spoke of the with a theme that was particularly promi­ need to expand boundaries nent during that time in history. The book to include year-round habi­ could almost stand alone as a fairly com­ tats for migrating wildlife. plete historical account of the National Unfortunately, this vision­ Park Service, but that's not really its ary document was never purpose; rather, I think it is designed to thoroughly implemented and often given species being protected in national parks teach us a lesson: while Park Service only lip service until eventually super­ for the amusement of visitors, a strong management has always had good inten­ seded by other directives and policies in departure from the more ecologically ori­ tions, nature has often suffered due to the 1960s and 1970s. ented management that, fortunately, is ecologically poorly informed decisions. When one looks back at some of the becoming the norm. Before reading the book, I thought I early manipulative management actions As might be expected in any history of had a pretty good basic understanding of of the Park Service (feeding bears, keep­ the National Park Service, Yellowstone NPS history. What surprised me was how ing bison on display as in a zoo), it is figures prominently in the book. The role strongly ingrained the priority of public gratifying to see how far the Park Service of fire, the grizzly bear management con­ use and enjoyment was in the early years has come in its views toward nature, at troversy, the development of tourist fa­ of the Service, especially for Stephen least as an institution. But at the same cilities, and the extirpation and restora­ Mather and Horace Albright, the founders time, it's humbling to realize that, in tion of wolves are all discussed exten­ and first directors of the Park Service. many ways, we still have a long way to sively and accurately. As might be ex­ Even after Albright left the government go. The current philosophy on fishing in pected, early views on predator control to spend the rest of his career in private national parks, for instance, is not sub­ and then the long-standing advocacy industry, he would continue to be ac­ stantially different from the early 1930s. many scientists for the artificial culling tively involved in furthering his ideas­ Sellars notes, "So deeply entrenched was of ungulates appears again and again, one of which was the manipulation or the tradition of fishing national park riv­ giving us a thorough historic background ignorance of ecosystems to (as he saw it) ers and lakes that the wildlife biologists leading up to the natural regulation poli­ benefitthe visiting public. However, when themselves seemed ambivalent and did cies of today. Early Yellowstone history one looks back at the philosophy toward not seek to discontinue this activity," makes up a good share of the first two nature at the beginning of the century, it even though David H. Madsen, a Bureau chapters, due to the park being one of the isn't surprising that the young science of ofFisheries biologist detailed to theNPS, few in existence during its first 50 years ecology took a while to become accepted observed that the Park Service's fish and because of its notoriety as the first by park managers. Even today, we see management was ·"entirely inconsistent" national park. Many new policies were staunch opposition to many ecologically with other wildlife policies. Today, the tried out in Yellowstone in the early years sound management practices such as wolf recreational fishing tradition continues to of the Service due to Horace Albright's restoration and free ranging bison. be deeply entrenched, and we see exotic strong influence on the Directorate dur- 22 Yellowstone Science ing his superintendency here. Perhaps a better title for the book would Park rangers with have been, "Preserving Nature Through predator hides during Science in the National Parks." There is National Park Service no question that management decisions predator control era in should always have scientific backing the 1920s. Photo NPS and justification. It is also clear that the archives. NPS has often ignored or even suppressed ecological principles in carrying out park management. Yet, somehow our natural national parks have been preserved re­ markably well over a substantial period of time, considering some of the enor­ mous pressure for one kind of develop­ ment or another. Sellars concentrates al­ Hunters loading elk at the most entirely on science, or lack thereof, Gardiner (Montana) de­ affectingmanagementdecisionsthatleave pot in 1919. Once they {- us where we are today. He seems to were protected by regard interpretation and law enforce­ Yellowstone National ment as purely visitor service activities, Park game laws, migrat­ and· not resource management or nature ing members ofthe north­ preservation activities. Left out of most ern Yellowstone elk herd of his discussions are protection and in­ supported an important terpretive rangers who, from the start of sport hunt in southeastern the Service, have directly protected and Montana. Photos NPS preserved nature in the parks. archives. Protection rangers are included mainly in discussions of how the NPS culture evolved, and interpretive rangers are al­ most ignored completely, other than some early references to the naturalists in ex­ plaining organizational structure. The role of the naturalist is finally touched on in the last chapter, except it is implied that, in general, NPS interpretive programs have little substance, aren't science based, and mainly impart only aesthetic appre­ every park in the system, regardless of tury be? The Park Service has done a ciation, thereby indirectly helping to at­ the type of park-for it imparts an under­ wonderful job of providing commercial tain preservation. Yet from early on, in­ standing of NPS culture, how it evolved services for its visitors, and "selling" the terpretive rangers' programs in the parks over time, and how important that culture national park idea to the public. Let's were usually science based, and often and tradition was and still is in decision hope the Service will now continue to included a park preservation message; making. Sellars shows us how public develop the foresight, dedication to sci­ certainly that is strongly the case today. opinion and institutional tradition are in­ entific principles, and the strong will Likewise, both ranger divisions have al­ credibly powerful forces which are very needed to preserve nature in (and around) ways directly protected and preserved hard to change, even in the face of clear the national parks. Iii> park resources on a daily basis. Although scientific evidence. Toward the end of these activities aren't as obvious in· the the book he states, "the National Park historical record as policy decisions, high­ Service remains a house divided-pres­ level memos, or director's orders, they sured from within and without to become Brian Suderman has been Mammoth probably had a substantial affect on man­ a more scientifically informed and eco­ District Ranger-Naturalist for agement decisions and definitely swayed logically aware manager of public lands, Yellowstone National Park since 1996, public opinion about the parks. yet remaining profoundly loyal to its tra­ having previously worked at Apostle Is­ In spite of that one shortcoming, I found ditions." The Service has been slowly lands National Lakeshore, Organ Pipe the book to be fascinating, as I think it but steadily improving its management Cactus National Moniunent, and Gla­ would be for any student of the NPS or practices through the use of scientific cier Bay National Park. He has a bach­ American conservation history. It is a knowledge and education of the public. elor ofscience degree in Environmental valuable volume to have on the shelves of What will the priorities of the next cen- Studies from Northland College. Spring 1998 23 continuing to study the distribution and Lynx to be Listed Under Endangered effects of the mud snails in the ecosys­ Anglers Satisfied with Fishing Species Act · tem. Biologists express concern that mud Experience snails could be outcompeting native gas­ As part of a proposed settlement over a tropods for food and habitat, such as Since 1973, Yellowstone has used a lawsuit filed by the Defenders of Wildlife moist refugia during water-level fluctua­ Volunteer Angler Report (VAR) system and 14 otherorganizations, the U.S. Fish tions. The experts shared their views on to annually monitor parkwide angling in and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recently ecological impacts of the invader, re­ Yellowstone. Data is obtained from a proposed to take action to list the Canada search needs, and potential ways to con­ VAR card attached to each fishing pennit lynx (Lynx canadensis) under the Endan­ trol its spread in the park. sold to a park visitor. Nearly 2.9 million gered Species Act. A series of legal ac­ people visited Yellowstone in 1997. The tions regarding the lynx have been pend­ park issued approximately 67 ,900 fish­ ing since 1991. The USFWS detennined ing pennits in 1997, and anglers returned that lynx were historically resident in 16 3,666 usable VAR cards (5.4% of those of the contiguous United States, and that issued). Parkwide angleruse (angler fish­ they currently occur at low levels in ing days) and effort (hours spent fishing) Montana, Washington, and Maine. They were 240,141 angler days and 587,781 are rare in Idaho, Wyoming, Oregon, hours, respectively. Although angler use Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Utah, in terms of days fished increased 3 % over Colorado, Vermont, and New Hampshire; levels seen in 1996, the amount offishing the USFWS believes they have been ex­ effort per day decreased from 631,700 tirpated from New York, Pennsylvania, hours in 1996. Anglers landed 558,121 and Massachu.setts. fish and creeled about 32,120 in 1997, Publication of a proposed rule in the releasing approximately 94% of all fish Federal Register is planned for the sum­ landed. The average angler fished 2.5 mer of 1998, followed by a public com­ days, 1.4 different waters/day, and 2.5 ment period to actively solicit new infor­ hours/day. Mean annual landing creel mation about the status of lynx and re­ rates were 0.95 and 0.05 fish/hour, re­ lated threats, and ongoing conservation spectively. Nearly 78% of single-day activities. Lynx are believed to have angles landed one or more fish. An esti­ ranged historically in Yellowstone and mated 83% of park anglers reported be­ may still remain, although reliable infor­ ing satisfied with their fishing experi­ mation on their past and present status is ence. scant. Researchers to Study Cougar-Wolf Interactions El Niiio Makes for Dry Snow Year Experts Discuss New Zealand Mud Snails The Hornocker Wildlife Institute Phil Farnes of Snowcap Hydrology in (HWI) of Moscow, Idaho, recently re­ Bozeman, Montana graciously provided On March 16, 1998, Yellowstone spon­ ceived a permit to continue studying the following report; What a difference a sored a mini-conference of visiting ex­ cougars in northern Yellowstone Na­ year can make! In 1997, snows came perts on the exotic New Zealand mud tional Park. Researchers from HWI ini­ early and heavy in the Yellowstone area. snail (Potamopyrgusantipodarium). The tiated the first study of the park's big cats Most measurements of snow-water mud snail, first documented in North in 1987 (see volumes 2(3) and 2(4) of equivalent (SWE) were at or near record America in Idaho's Middle Snake River Yellowstone Science) and now plan a levels. In contrast, during 1998-consid­ in 1987, is of growing interest to biolo­ multi-year investigation of the interac­ ered to be an El Niiio year-theSWE was gists and managers. This invader can be tions between lions and wolves and their well below average on January 1, al­ rapidly distributed by floating algae, combined effects on ungulate popula­ though it was nearly to average levels in boats, fish, anglers, birds, pump irriga­ tions. From 1987 to 1996 HWiscientists the higher elevations by February I. In tion, and other means. Dr. Peter Bowler captured, radiocollared, and monitored all areas, it took until at least March 1 (University of California, Irvine) and Dr. 84 cougars and documented their home before S WE approached the levels re­ Terrance Frest (Deixis consultants, Se­ ranges, social behavior, and predatory corded on January 1, 1997 (see Table at attle) found it in the Madison River in and habits. The primary goals of the new right). Additional information on snow­ outside Yellowstone in 1995. Subsequent study are to assess the effects of wolves pack can be obtained from the Natural surveys also discovered the snails in the on the cougar population and to assess Resources and the Conservation Service Firehole and Gibbon rivers and in Nez cougar-prey relationships by comparing (NRCS) Snow Survey offices in Perce Creek. Dr. Michael Gangloff (Mon­ new data with information collected on Bozeman, Montana or in Casper, Wyo­ tana State Univiversity) and others are cougars prior to wolf restoration. ming. 24 Yellowstone Science Aster Creek 7,750 28.2 7.9 12.8 38.4 20.2 20.0 44.0 24.1 25.3

Black Bear* 7,950 38.6 12.7 15.6 48.9 26.5 24.5 51.2 31.4 31.7

Canyon* 8,090 14.4 4.5 5.3 19.0 9.5 8.3 21.4 10.7 10.7

Crevice Mtn. 8,400 9.5 7.0 14.5 9.9 9.0

Fisher Creek* 9,100 34.2 12.9 15.6 43.8 23.l 24.2 49.2 25.6 30.3

Grassy Lake* 7,270 26.8 12.0 14.3 37.2 23.9 23.0 40.4 26.7 29.6

Lake Camp 7,780 9.9 3.0 3.8 14.4 6.1 6.1 16.4 7.2 8.2

Lewis Lake Divide* 7,850 31.3 10.2 13.8 11.9 21.0 22.8 48.0 24.0 29.5

Lnpine Creek 7,380 9.6 2.2 4.3 I 1.4 5.6 6.9 14.0 7.8 8.9

Madison Plateau* 7,750 24.1 6.5 IO.I 31.9 13.9 16.l 36.4 17.0 20.6

Norris Basin 7,500 9.8 2.2 5.0 11.9 5.2 8.0 12.3 5.4 9.9

NE Entrance* 7,350 6.9 2.3 4.0 9.3 5.4 6.4 I 1.3 6.2 8.1

Old Faithful 7,400 15.4 3.4 6.4 19.4 8.9 10.8 23.9 11.0 13.7

Parker Peak* 9,400 18.4 8.2 10.6 24.5 13.7 14.3 28.0 14.9 18.0

Snake River Station 6,920 16.2 6.3 8.8 22.0 14.l 14.0 28.6 15.8 18.2

Sylvan Lake* 8,420 17.3 7.1 10.8 24.8 I 1.9 14.9 28.0 13.6 18.5

Sylvan Road* 7,120 11.5 3.7 5.8 16.5 7.8 8.5 18.7 8.4 11.2

Thumb Divide* 7,980 18.9 5.1 7.2 26.0 I 1.2 I 1.4 28.6 13.1 14.3

Twenty-One Mile 7,150 14.0 4.2 7.3 20.6 9.4 I 1.7 23.7 11.2 14.9

Two Ocean* 9,240 26.4 11.0 12.6 35.7 . 20.1 18.3 39.1 22.4 22.2

West Yellowstone 6,700 11.4 2.6 4.8 12.5 6.4 7.8 15.6 8.7 10.3

Whiskey Creek* 6,800 15.0 4.1 7.0 19.7 9.5 11.2 22.3 11.7 14.5

White Mill* 8,700 23.3 10.4 11.4 30.1 17.5 16.8 33.6 19.1 21.2

Younts Peak* 8,350 15.0 6.6 8.9 18.5 I 1.6 12.2 20.6 12.5 14.8

Parkwide % Average 212 72 183 95 162 87

Note: SWE's are in inches. Average is for 30-year period 1961 to 1990. * Date from snow pillows at automated SNOTEL sites. Other measurements are from snow cources where SWE is measured manually near the first of the month. Compiled from data collected b_y the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Reclamation and Namral Resources and the Conservation Service. Spring 1998 25 I