Alaska's First Wolf Controversy: Predator And Prey In Mount McKinley National Park, 1930-1953. Item Type Thesis Authors Rawson, Timothy Mark Download date 03/10/2021 22:14:41 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/11122/8514 INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter face, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margias, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if unauthorized copyright material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. 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ALASKA'S FIRST WOLF CONTROVERSY: PREDATOR AND PREY IN MOUNT MCKINLEY NATIONAL PARK, 1930-1953 by Timothy Mark Rawson RECOMMENDED: Dr. Terrence Cole Advisory Committee Chair Di^/fudith Kleinfeld Department Head APPROVED: Dr. Gordon Hedahl Dean, College of Liberal Arts )r. Joseph Kan Dean of the Graduate School S--/Q ~ f-(c Date Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ALASKA'S FIRST WOLF CONTROVERSY: PREDATOR AND PREY IN MOUNT MCKINLEY NATIONAL PARK, 1930-1953 A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of the University of Alaska Fairbanks in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF ARTS By Timothy Mark Rawson, B.A. Fairbanks, Alaska August 1994 © 1994 Timothy Mark Rawson Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. UMI Number: 1361135 Copyright 1994 by Rawson, Timothy Mark All rights reserved. UMI Microform 1361135 Copyright 1995, by UMI Company. All rights reserved. This microform edition is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code. UMI 300 North Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, MI 48103 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ABSTRACT The decision in the 1930s by the National Park Service to quit eliminating predatory animals in parks arose from evolving attitudes among scientists toward predation, but had little public support. Of the various parks, only Mount McKinley National Park still held wolves, and the National Park Service received considerable opposition to wolf protection from the eastern Camp Fire Club of America and from Alaskans. The former desired permanent protection from wolves for the park's Dali sheep, while the latter could not understand protecting wolves when, throughout Alaska, efforts were made to minimize wolves. Using material from the National Archives and Alaskan sources, this historical study examines the role of public opinion as the Park Service attempted to respond to its critics and still adhere to its protective faunal management philosophy, in what was the nation's first argument over offering sanctuary to our most charismatic predator. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF MAPS AND FIGURES ..................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................... vi INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1. MT. McKINLEY, NATIONAL PARKS, AND PARK WILDLIFE ............................................................................... 7 2. WOLVES, HUMANS, AND PREDATOR CONTROL ............ 37 3. ANIMALS AND ATTITUDES IN ALASKA .............................. 57 4. BOUNTY HUNTING AND WOLF PROTECTION IN ALASKA ......................................................................................... 84 5. PRESERVING THE SHEEP ............................................................ 120 6. ADOLPH MURIE AND PREDATOR RESEARCH ................. 144 7. THE WAR YEARS ........................................................................... 168 8. THE LEGISLATIVE THREAT ....................................................... 187 9. THE FINAL CAMPAIGN ............................................................... 218 10. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS ............................................. 247 LITERATURE CITED ......................................................................................... 268 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. LIST OF MAPS AND FIGURES Figure Page 1. Mainland Alaska in 1953 9 2. Mount McKinley National Park in 1953 10 3. Prey and predator population trends in interior Alaska, 1880-1950 81 4. Recorded predators taken in Alaska, 1940-1957 239 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I hold a large measure of gratitude to the staff members of the libraries and archives used in researching this thesis. The Rasmuson Library at the University of Alaska Fairbanks provided many of my materials. In particular, Joanna Phillips, Library Technician, helped me locate government documents, and Gretchen Lake, Archivist, and Marge Heath, Library Technician, provided consistently patient assistance as I searched through the various archival materials in the Alaska and Polar Regions Department. In Juneau, archivists Dean Dawson and A1 Minnick guided me through the pertinent holdings of the Alaska State Archives. Mr. Robert Bates, esteemed mountaineer and author, forwarded my query on Belmore Browne to the Dartmouth College Library, where Philip Crononwelt, Curator of Manuscripts, made sure I received photocopies of relevant materials from the Browne Collection. Materials from the National Archives were accessed with the kind help of R. Bruce Parham, Assistant Director of the Alaska Regions office in Anchorage, and the staff at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. The National Park Service provided support and assistance as I researched this question of its background. At the Regional Office in Anchorage, Sandra Faulkner, Regional Historic Preservation Officer, provided initial enthusiasm for this project, and Frank Norris, Regional Historian, graciously read initial drafts and gave me valuable responses. Jennifer Wolk, Museum Technician, and Cindy Alvidre-Lattin, Administrative Assistant, aided me in finding obscure files and materials at Denali National Park and Preserve headquarters. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Thanks go to my graduate advisory committee for their patience and understanding as I pursued this topic: Dr. Karen Erickson, Assistant Professor in the Political Science Department; Dr. Colin Read, Associate Professor in the Economics Department; and especially to my friend and mentor Dr. Terrence Cole, Associate Professor in the History Department. Other people at the University of Alaska Fairbanks deserve recognition as well. Dr. Judith Kleinfeld, Director of the Northern Studies Progam, contributed her staunch support to me as to all the program's unconventional graduate students pursuing their various research objectives. Dr. Stephen MacLean, Professor in the Biology/Wildlife Department and under no obligation except that of friendship, provided a keen ecologist's perspective and many helpful comments. Kevin Turnbough provided computer expertise at a critical time. My friends Katherine Bellows in Arlington, Virginia, and Freddy Lafarga in Juneau provided lodging and hospitality during my travels. Most importantly, I could not have completed this project without the support of my wife, Alison Cojocar, who has endured the hours I spent on this during the past eighteen months. To all, many thanks. Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 1 INTRODUCTION Cloudy skies dominated the northern slopes of the Alaska Range during August 1948. Gray stratus clouds grudgingly cleared during only three days to reveal the soaring white peaks punctuating the southern skyline. By month's end the tundra plants turned their autumnal shades of red and yellow, providing visual relief to the monotony of drizzling skies. Winter made an early visit, with six inches of snow