University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1965 Movements and concentrations of marked elk on the winter range (Northern Yellowstone elk herd) Richard Ivan Ellis The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Ellis, Richard Ivan, "Movements and concentrations of marked elk on the winter range (Northern Yellowstone elk herd)" (1965). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 6165. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/6165 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MDVEMENTS AND CONCENTRATIONS OF MARKED ELK ON THE WINTER RANŒ (NORTHERN YELLOWSTONE ELK HERD) by RICHARD I. ELLIS B.S. Montana State University, 1962 Rresented in partieü. fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Wildlife Technology MDNTANA STATE UNIVERSITY 1965 Approved hy: X Chairmah, Board of Exmmlners /, an> Graduate School /' X . - Date ^ UMi Number: EP36966 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. UMI DiMtftMfen neiW*Hi UMI EP36966 Published by ProQuest LLC (2013). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Titie 17, United States Code ProOuesf ProQuest LLC. 789 East Eisenhower Parkway P.O. Box 1346 Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 -1346 5»17357 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I wish to express my gratitude to the individuals and organ­ izations who have made this study possible. Particularly, I wish to thank Dr. John J. Craighead, Leader of the Montana Cooperative Wild­ life Research Unit^ who planned and coordinated the study and offered valuable guidance throughout. I am grateful to Dr. P. L. Wright, Chairman of the Department of Zoology and to members of the examining committee. Dr. W. L. Pengelly, Dr. G. F. Weis el, and Mr. Gerry C. Atwell, Assistant Unit Leader, for valuable suggestions pertaining to the study and thesis preparation. I am also grateful to Dr. C. M. Senger, Dr. R. C. Froeshner, and Dr. E. D. Bailey, former members of the thesis com­ mittee, and to other members of the Zoology staff who have provided assistance. The study would not have been possible without the cooperation of the National Park Service. They provided funds for part of the marking material, and provided financial support for an investigator working on an associated phase (Phase l) of the study. The Park Service provided housing at Lamar Ranger Station and allowed the use of patrol cabins throughout the Park. The essential marking of elk ^Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Department of the Interior, Montana Fish and Game Department, Montana State University, and the Wildlife Management Institute cooperating. PLEASE NOTE: This dissertation is not a publication, and no portions herein may be quoted without express permission of the author and the Department of Zoology, Montana State University, Missoula, Mont. -ii- AnH the keeping of trapping records was done by Park personnel, often under cold and uncomfortable circumstances. I wish to offer special thanks to Mr. Robert Howe and Mr. William Barmore for their constant willingness to help with field and clerical problems, and to Bob Wood, Riley McLelland, Jack Hughes, Pete Thompson, Ray Sellers, Terry Danforth, Max Hancock, and others who participated in marking activities. ÎRie friendship and hospitality extended to me by many of the Park personnel is sincerely appreciated. I am especially indebted to Mr. Robert Williams of Gardiner, Montana who made his personal airplane available for the study and often donated his time to fly as observer, and to his family whose hospitality was enjoyed on many occasions. I wish to thank Research Unit personnel and fellow students who have helped with field work and have offered advice and encourage­ ment during the study, especially Messrs. Robert L. Ruff, Maurice G. Homocker, Michael J. Stephen, and Clait E. Braun. To Mrs. Alvina Beurclay, Research Unit Secretary, I offer sin­ cere thanks for her willingness to always provide assistance and ad­ vice on many problems. I cannot overemphasize the contribution ny wife, Carol, has made to the successful completion of the study. She has spent many tedious hours making colleurs and typing the first draft of the thesis, and her patience and optimism throughout the study have often exceeded my own. -iii- TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION ............................................ 1 DESCRIPTION OF THE SaWDT AR E A ............................ 5 Yellowstone National PsLrk............................. 5 Location and Riyslography........................... ^ Climate ........................................... 5 Vegetation ........................................ 6 Fauna ............................................. 10 Northern Yellowstone Winter Range ................. 11 Location and Physiography........................... 11 Climate ........................................... 13 Vegetation........................................ 16 Fauna ............................................. l8 History of The Northern Yellowstone Herd and Winter Range.. 19 Early Distribution of Elk .......................... 19 Predator Control ................................... 22 Game Protection .................................... 22 Increase In the Elk Herd........................... 23 Range Studies ..................................... 26 Annual Reductions .................................. 28 Interspecific Relationships ......................... 30 MATERIALS AND METffi)L6 .................................... 32 Trapping............................................. 32 Marking .............................................. 32 -iv- PAGE The Marking System.................................... 33 Observations ......................................... 3^ Records .............................................. 38 Periodic Flights ..................................... 38 Radio-Tracking ....................................... 4o RESULTS AND DISCUSSION .......................... 44 General Distribution.................................. 44 Distribution and Movements From Observations of Area Flags. 46 Distribution and Movements From Re-trapped E l k .......... 50 Loss of Neckbands From Re-trapped Elk ......... 53 Distribution and Movements From Individually Identified Elk ............................................... 54 Elk Marked During the Winter of 1963-64 .............. 58 Dispersal From the Slough Creek Trap .............. 58 Dispersal From the Little Buffalo T rap............ 61 Disperseil From the Gardiner and Stephens Creek Traps. 61 Elk Marked During the Winter of 1962-63 .............. 62 Discussion of Movements by Individually Marked E l k 71 Movements Determined From Radio-Tracking................ 12 Movements in Relation to Climatic Conditions............. 75 Reaction to Snow Depth............................. 76 Reaction to Wind and Temperature .................... 77 Movements in Relation to Elevation ..................... j8 WINTER STRUCTJRE OF THE NORTHERN YELLOWSTONE ELK HE R D....... 79 -V- PAGE Methods .............................................. T9 Results and Discussion ................................ 00 SUM4ARÏ AND CONCLUSIONS .................................. 83 LIÜERA3URE CITED........................................ 86 APPENDIX................................................ 90 -vi- LIST OF TABLES TABLE PAGE 1. Sumnary of Average Monthly Precipitation and Temperatures Recorded at Yellowstone National Bark Headquarters from 1930 through 1959........ 7 2. Northern Yellowstone Elk Herd, Estimated Popu­ lation, 1892-1965 ............................ 24 3. Record of Elk Reductions, Northern Yellowstone Elk Herd, Yellowstone Park, Wyoming............ 29 4. Area Colors and Number of Collars Used at Each Trap Site, 1962-63 ........................... 35 5. Area Color aiid Number of Collars Used at Each Trap Site, 1963-64 ........................... 35 6 . Elk Marked 1962-63 and Re-trapped 1963-64 ......... 51 7. Elk Marked 1963-64 and Re-trapped Same Winter...... 52 8 . Number and Percent of Bulls, Cows, and Calves Identified in the Field, Winter of 1963-64 ..... 55 9 . Frequency of Field Identifications of Individually Marked Elk ................................... 55 10. Frequency of Combined Trap and Field Identifications; Winter of 1963-64 ............................ 57 11. Classification of Elk Observed in the Field January, February, and March, 1964 ..................... 79 12. Summary of Winter Classification Counts ........... 80. 13. Classification from Each Trap; Winter of 1963-64.... 82 -vii- LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE PACæ 1. Location and General Dimensions of the Northern Yellowstone Bark Winter Range .................... 12 2. Average Long-Term MDnthly Total Snowfall on the Northern Yellowstone Park