", redirect:"", Name:"Bison and Buffalo in Yellowstone (pg.1 of 2):
", Text:"Bison and Buffalo are the largest mammals in Yellowstone National Park. They are strictly vegetarian, a grazer of grasslands and sedges in the meadows, the foothills, and even the high-elevation, forested plateaus of Yellowstone. Bison males, called bulls, can weigh upwards of 1,800 pounds. Females (cows) average about 1,000 pounds. Both stand approximately six feet tall at the shoulder, and can move with surprising speed to defend their young or when approached too closely by people. Bison breed from mid-July to mid-August, and bear one calf in April and May. Some wolf predation of bison is documented in Canada and has recently been observed in Yellowstone.
Yellowstone is the only place in the lower 48 states where a population of wild bison has persisted since prehistoric times, although fewer than 50 native bison remained here in 1902. Fearing extinction, the park imported 21 bison from two privately-owned herds, as foundation stock for a bison ranching project that spanned 50 years at the Buffalo Ranch in Yellowstone's Lamar Valley.
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Bison and Buffalo in Yellowstone (pg.2 of 2):
", Text:"Activities there included irrigation, hay-feeding, roundups, culling, and predator control, to artificially ensure herd survival. By the 1920s, some intermingling of the introduced and wild bison had begun. With protection from poaching, the native and transplanted populations increased. In 1936, bison were transplanted to historic habitats in the Firehole River and Hayden Valley.
In 1954, the entire population numbered 1,477. Bison were trapped and herds periodically reduced until 1967, when only 397 bison were counted parkwide. All bison herd reduction activities were phased out after 1966, again allowing natural ecological processes to determine bison numbers and distribution. Although winterkill takes a toll, by 1996 bison numbers had increased to about 3,500.
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"}; var coyotees = []; coyotees[0]={pic:"
", redirect:"", Name:"Coyotes in Yellowstone (pg.1 of 2):
", Text:"Yellowstone's Coyotees (Canis latrans) are among the largest coyotees in the United States; adults average about 30 lbs. and some weigh around 40 lbs. This canid (member of the dog family) stands less than two feet tall and varies in color from gray to tan with sometimes a reddish tint to its coat. Coyotees live an average of about 6 years, although one Yellowstone coyotee lived to be more than 13 before she was killed and eaten by a cougar.
A coyotee’s ears and nose appear long and pointed, especially in relation to the size of its head. It can generally be distinguished from its much larger relative, the gray wolf, by its overall slight appearance compared to the massive 75 to 125-pound stockiness of the bigger dog. The coyotee is a common predator in the park, often seen alone or in packs, traveling through the park's wide open valleys hunting small mammals. But they are widely distributed and their sign can also be found in the forests and thermal areas throughout Yellowstone. They are capable of killing large prey, especially when they cooperatively hunt.
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Coyotes in Yellowstone (pg.2 of 2):
", Text:"Coyotee & Human Interactions: Coyotees occasionally lose fear of humans and frequent roadsides or developed areas, becoming conditioned to human food by handouts or scavenging scraps. They can quickly learn bad habits like roadside begging , which leads to potential danger for both humans and coyotees. Cases of aggression toward humans have occurred in the park, with one involving an actual attack. Habituation most likely played a role in such unusual behavior.
In 1988, park staff increased monitoring of coyotees along park roadsides and experimented with scaring them from visitor areas with cracker shell rounds, bear repellent spray, and other negative stimuli, but no tactic proved effective in altering individual coyotee behavior. Animals that continue to pose threats to themselves or humans may be relocated to other areas of the park, or totally removed from the ecosystem. Signs, brochures, and park staff continue to remind visitors that coyotees and other wild animals can be dangerous. They should never be fed or approached, for protection of both humans and animals alike.
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"}; var deer = []; deer[0]={pic:"
", redirect:"", Name:"'Mule Deer' in Yellowstone (pg.1 of 2):
", Text:"Explorers Lewis and Clark are said to have named the 'Mule-Deer' due to the appearance of its large mule-like ears. This is strictly a western animal that lives in all western states and in western Canada. Commonly called 'Muley', this deer inhabits more open country than elk, preferring to be in brush and drier country, Muleys are amazingly adaptable and live in habitats from lowland deserts to alpine tundra above timberline.
Mule deer populations are often ravaged by severe winters as deep snows blankets their forage and extreme cold saps their energy. Massive declines are cyclic, and herds bounce back during years of mild winters. Muleys are migratory, often traveling long distances from high summer ranges to lowland winter areas where snow is not as deep and food more plentiful.
You can see mule deer anywhere in Yellowstone, but especially in sagebrush areas. In summer you'll see them high in the mountains, in fields of wildflowers or along rocky, brushy slopes.
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'Mule Deer' in Yellowstone (pg.2 of 2):
", Text:"Often they are seen feeding in fields of alfalfa, one of their favorite summer foods. In late spring and summer, deer have rust-colored fur, but in early morning and late afternoon appear almost orange. In fall, the summer coat sheds and deer take on a gray winter pelt. In sunshine, distinctive white rumps are often the first thing you'll see.
Unlike male whitetails, the antlers of mature mule deer bucks typically have double forks that are high and wide. Young bucks have single, spike-like antlers or a small single-forked antler. In Yellowstone, most deer are seen in drier habitats from Gardiner and Mammoth out toward the Lamar Valley. Best time to see deer is in late fall as they migrate to lower elevations seeking does and more food. Muleys live in scattered locations in the park, and are seen anywhere in summer. Outside the park, look for them in the Driggs-Victor area of Idaho, also in the sagebrush country, west of Freedom, Wyoming. Prime viewing spots are along the Chief Joseph Highway, in the Dark Fork River area. Another superb region is around Roscoe, Montana, along rural roads and fields.
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"}; var elk = []; elk[0]={pic:"
", redirect:"", Name:"Elk in Yellowstone (pg.1 of 2):
", Text:"Elk (Cervus elaphus) are the most abundant large mammal found in Yellowstone; paleontological evidence confirms their continuous presence for at least 1,000 years. Yellowstone National Park was established in 1872, when market hunting of all large grazing animals was rampant. Not until after 1886, when the U.S. Army was called in to protect the park and wildlife slaughter was brought under control, did the large animals increase in number.
More than 30,000 elk from 7-8 different herds summer in Yellowstone and approximately 15,000 to 22,000 winter in the park. The subspecies of elk that lives here are found from Arizona to northern Canada along the Rocky Mountain chain; other species of elk were historically distributed from coast to coast, but disappeared from the eastern United States in the early 1800s. Some other subspecies of elk still occupy coastal regions of California, Washington, and Oregon. Elk are the second largest member of the deer family (moose are larger).
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Elk in Yellowstone (pg.2 of 2):
", Text:" Adult males, or bulls, range upwards of 700 pounds while females, or cows, average 500-525 pounds. Their coats are reddish brown with heavy, darker-colored manes and a distinct yellowish rump patch.
Bulls grow antlers annually from the time they are nearly one year old. When mature, a bull’s 'rack' may have 6 to 8 points or tines on each side and weigh more than 30 pounds. The antlers are usually shed in March or April, and begin regrowing in May, when the bony growth is nourished by blood vessels and covered by furry-looking 'velvet'.
Antler growth ceases each year by August, when the velvet dries up and bulls begin to scrape it off by rubbing against trees, in preparation for the autumn mating season or rut. A bull may gather 20-30 cows into his harem during the mating season, often clashing or locking antlers with another mature male for the privilege of dominating the herd group. By November, mating season ends and elk generally move to their winter ranges. Calves weighing 25-40 pounds are born in late May or early June.
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"}; var goats = []; goats[0]={pic:"
", redirect:"", Name:"Mountain Goats in Yellowstone (pg.1 of 2):
", Text:"Mountain Goats were first introduced by Montana, north of Yellowstone National Park between 1947 and 1959, and in the Absaroka-Beartooth Mountain area between 1942 and 1958, by the Montana Department of Wildlife and Parks. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game introduced goats near Swan Valley between 1969 and 1971.
Montana based populations have thrived and now are common north of the park in North Absaroka, Beartooth, and the Gallatin Mountain Ranges since the 1980's colonizing Yellowstone in adjacent drainages. A population is now establishing in Yellowstone's Pebble and Slough Creek drainages, and on Sepulcher Mountain as well. The Absaroka and Gallatin Mountains seem to be the only areas that can support substantial populations in the park, and the Absaroka Range (east of the park) appears to be suitable for habitat as well. While these goats are not a major element of Yellowstone National Park, there is cause for concern over their growing increase in population which can create stress on the area and disrupt the balance within the ecosystem.
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Mountain Goats in Yellowstone (pg.2 of 2):
", Text:"In 1991, Houston based researchers noted that the number of goats colonizing Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks 'may eventually pose problems to park management and prove embarrassingly similar to the damages experienced at Olympic National Park'. Exotic goats in Olympic have seriously degraded rare, endemic alpine plants found nowhere else on the continent. While there are no known unique alpine flora in Yellowstone, the alpine area is relatively unstudied, and concerns over potential competition between goats and sheep remain.
Goats are spectacular mammals with many romantic associations among the public; problems with exotic goats in Olympic National Park have been vastly complicated by the animal's public popularity. It would be well to deal with this situation before the animals become well enough established to have a large constituency among park wildlife-watchers, for whom the sight of goat may be a higher value than the National Park Service's legislative mandates to prevent the spread of exotic species.
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"}; var wolves = []; wolves[0]={pic:"
", redirect:"", Name:"Wolves in Yellowstone (pg.1 of 2):
", Text:"Reintroducing wolves back into Yellowstone National Park may be key to maintaining groves of cottonwood trees that currently face the threat of localized extinction. Re-established wolf packs may also prove very beneficial in rebalancing many stream ecosystems within the park.
During the absence of Yellowstone's original wolves, populations of elk continued to increase due to the removal of their only natural predator. After seven decades of procreating and rampant land grazing, herds of overpopulated elk (instinctively driven by browsing behavior), have had negative effects upon the stress and impact of the park's streamsides.
Without fear of predators, decades of open-range elk grazing have destroyed almost all newly grown and young cottonwoods in many park areas. Additional streamside species, such as willows and berry-producing shrubs have also suffered, upsetting entire streamside ecosystems and associated wildlife (including: birds, insects, fish & others). Trees and shrubs were lost that would normally control streamside bank erosion.
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Wolves in Yellowstone (pg.2 of 2):
", Text:"Since the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone (in 1995), streamside shrubs and cottonwoods within the Lamar Valley are beginning to become more prevalent and taller. With the return of a natural predator, fear of attack by wolves prevents browsing elk from eating young cottonwood and willows within some of the park's streamside zones.
The renewed presence of wolves have resulted in new growths of young cottonwoods and willows, which are growing taller each year (for four consecutive years) on the high-risk sites where elk now feel vulnerable due to terrain and other conditions that can prevent them from predatory escape. In contrast, low-risk sites are still being browsed by elk and show little increase in growth and establishment.
While it is too early to confirm the overall success of recovering Yellowstone's cottonwoods and willows, wolves appear to be a key factor in the decline of elk destruction threatening the survival of such plants.
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"}; var wolf = []; wolf[0]={redirect:"THE REINTRODUCTION OF THE WOLVES:
", Text:"After a long and heated debate which lasted almost a decade, in January 1995, fourteen wolves were captured in Rocky Mountains of western Alberta and brought to Yellowstone National Park. Fifteen additional wolves were captured and sent to central Idaho. The Yellowstone-bound wolves were placed in three 'acclimation' enclosures. Each was about an acre in size, and they were all located in, or near, the Lamar Valley in the northeast part of the Park. The three enclosures were the Rose Creek, Crystal Creek Bench, and Soda Butte Creek enclosures.
The wolves were released from these enclosures after three months of acclimation. Each pack was named after the enclosure that had been their acclimation pen. So the three packs were named the Rose Creek Pack, Crystal Creek Pack, and Soda Butte Pack. Later, late in 1995 the Leopold Pack formed naturally when two of the 1995 wolves paired.
"}; var wolfb = []; wolfb[0]={redirect:"REINTRODUCTION OF THE WOLVES (con't):
", Text:"The process of holding the wolves together for three months, acquainting them with the local diet, local sounds and smells, and giving them time to mate, was termed 'soft release'. The soft-release method was in contrast to the method used with the Idaho wolves -- 'hard release' -- which was to free the wolves immediately upon reaching their release site. The Idaho wolves (numbered B2 through B16) were, therefore, released and were roaming inside the winter wilds of central Idaho by mid-January 1995. Release of the Yellowstone wolves did not begin until late March. This is very early spring inside Yellowstone National Park.
When the 3 packs were released, at first they didn't move far; then they made wide explorations, which averaged overall, was generally to the north. Only the Crystal Creek Pack settled in the Park, although the other two were physically returned to the Park -- the Rose Creek Pack early and the Soda Butte over a year later.
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", redirect:"", Name:"Bears in Yellowstone (pg.1 of 2):
", Text:"Both grizzly bears and black bears make their homes in Yellowstone National Park, although their preferences of terrain and physical characteristics are quite different. The 'Grizzly' Bear (also known as the 'Brown' Bear), owes its name to its silver flecked or 'grizzled' appearance.
The Grizzly Bear has a tawny brown, blonde or black coat and a distinctive shoulder hump just behind the head. Its broad head and snout is said to be “pan like” in contrast to the black bear’s long and narrow snout. The Grizzly’s long, fairly straight claws are made for digging and foraging food from the earth. Grizzlies are most often found in open meadows.
Black Bears have shorter, curved claws that are made for climbing trees. Contrary to its name, the black bear can be cinnamon-brown or brown-black in appearance. It is smaller in size than the grizzly, but both are extremely fast, agile predators.
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Bears in Yellowstone (pg.2 of 2):
", Text:"Bears are omnivores. Grizzlies thrive on the Elk and Bison that frequent Yellowstone’s open meadows. They also eat roots, berries, white bark pine seeds and insects, all of which can be foraged from the soil or low-lying bushes. Grizzlies can often be seen in 'Hayden Valley' and 'Lamar Vally' of the 'Roosevelt-Tower' area and near 'Fishing Bridge'. They have occasionally been spotted at the southwestern tip of the park, near 'Bechler River'.
Black Bears have a similar diet to Grizzlies, but do not generally forage for tubers. They frequent the northeastern section of the park and can be seen near 'West Thumb' and 'Fishing Bridge'.
Both species of bear can be dangerous if approached!
Visitors who plan to hike in Yellowstone’s back country should familiarize themselves with the 'National Park Service’s Bear Advisories for bear safety.
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"}; var buffalo = [buffalo]; var moreBuffalo = [moreBuffalo]; var coyotees = [coyotees]; var moreCoyotees = [moreCoyotees]; var deer = [deer]; var moreDeer = [moreDeer]; var elk = [elk]; var moreElk = [moreElk]; var goats = [goats]; var moreGoats = [moreGoats]; var wolves = [wolves]; var moreWolves = [moreWolves]; var wolf = [wolf]; var wolfb = [wolfb]; var bears = [bears]; var moreBears = [moreBears]; buffalo[0].name="buffalo"; moreBuffalo[0].name="moreBuffalo"; coyotees[0].name="coyotees"; moreCoyotees[0].name="moreCoyotees"; deer[0].name="deer"; moreDeer[0].name="moreDeer"; elk[0].name="elk"; moreElk[0].name="moreElk"; goats[0].name="goats"; moreGoats[0].name="moreGoats"; wolves[0].name="wolves"; moreWolves[0].name="moreWolves"; wolf[0].name="wolf"; wolfb[0].name="wolfb"; bears[0].name="bears"; moreBears[0].name="moreBears"; var animals_db=[buffalo, moreBuffalo, coyotees, moreCoyotees, deer, moreDeer, elk, moreElk, goats, moreGoats, wolves, moreWolves, wolf, wolfb, bears, moreBears]; animals_db[0].name="buffalo"; animals_db[1].name="moreBuffalo"; animals_db[2].name="coyotees"; animals_db[3].name="moreCoyotees"; animals_db[4].name="deer"; animals_db[5].name="moreDeer"; animals_db[6].name="elk"; animals_db[7].name="moreElk"; animals_db[8].name="goats"; animals_db[9].name="moreGoats"; animals_db[10].name="wolves"; animals_db[11].name="moreWolves"; animals_db[12].name="wolf"; animals_db[13].name="wolfb"; animals_db[14].name="bears"; animals_db[15].name="moreBears";