Part 2

Yellowstone National Park was established on March 1, 1872 by an act passed by the Congress of the United States of America. It is a mountainous area mostly in the northwestern corner of Wyoming, with small sections extending into Montana and Idaho. The area set aside as a National Park is 3,471.51 square miles. It provides within its boundaries environmental conditions which make it possible for many of the mammals representative of the Rocky Mountains to carry out their complete life cycle without fear of persecution by man.

The men that first conceived the idea of preserving the Yellowstone area as a great National Park were primarily concerned with the preservation of the natural wonders such as the geysers and hot spring phenomena, the canyon and waterfalls, and the lakes. In those days little thought was given to the need for preserving our wild animals. However, it soon became apparent that the wild animals, once thought to be unlimited in numbers, would have to have protection if they were going to be preserved for future generations. Yellowstone soon became known nearly as much for its wildlife as for its natural wonders.

The wild animals of Yellowstone National Park are widely distributed over the park area, some of them being restricted to limited areas due to the difference in elevation and the availability of the certain types of habitat which they require, while others range over a wider part of the park, especially during certain seasons of the year.

The higher mountain meadows are ideal summer ranges for the larger mammals. These animals would normally work down into the lower country outside of Yellowstone to the north for the winter. Since that area is now mostly under fence they have been forced to do the best they can up in the winter snows of the lower sections of the park. Bears and several of the smaller animals go into hibernation as soon as or even before the first snow squalls of winter appear so the long winter in the high country holds no terrors for them.

It is the policy of the National Park Service to present these animals to the visiting public in as near their natural environment as possible, each species being left to carry on its normal existence unassisted wherever possible. Unfortunately the lack of sufficient winter range within the park for unlimited numbers of animals has made it necessary that the numbers of bison, elk and antelope be controlled and management practices be put into effect in order to hold the number down to the carrying capacity of the range. So far these three species of animals have presented the only problem as far as overpopulation is concerned.

Predatory animals, especially the coyote, wolf and mountain lion were at one time controlled by hunting. The present policy is to let the predators carry on their own normal life as it is believed to be best for them and all other animals concerned and only in unusual circumstances will any control measures be carried out.

ANIMALS

PRONGHORN Antilocapra americana

The Pronghorn or American Antelope was almost as well known as the buffalo to the early settlers of the West. In fact it has been estimated, by some, to have been present in nearly as large numbers as the buffalo but never to have concentrated in such large herds.

It once ranged the territory from eastern Kansas, western Iowa and Minnesota westward to the valleys of California and northern Mexico northward to southern Saskatchewan and Alberta. It is a typical animal of the plains and open rolling country—few animals are more fleet or wary than the pronghorn. Unfortunately their curiosity in regard to any object that they do not recognize or understand helped make them a fairly easy mark for the hunters. Many are the tales of the pronghorns being coaxed into gun range by their curiosity in a handkerchief or strip of bright cloth waving in the breeze.

The pronghorn is the only antelope in the world with branched or pronged horns and has the unique characteristic among all hollow-horned ruminants of shedding the outer covering of the horns annually. In the Yellowstone area this horny sheath sheds from the permanent bony core usually during November or December. The core is covered with a blackish skin, at first, then finally by the horny material that forms gradually downward from the tip.

Another characteristic of these animals is a conspicuous rump patch composed of white hairs, longer than any found elsewhere on the body. Through development of certain muscles it is possible for the animal to erect these white hairs until they stand out stiffly forming a dazzling white rosette. This is done in times of excitement and is usually considered a danger signal.

The tiny antelope kids are born in late May or June, usually twins but sometimes one or three. During the first several days after birth they remain carefully hidden in the grass but soon gain their strength and are able to keep up with their mother. It is interesting to note that antelope does occasionally seem to act as baby tenders for other does. Observers have reported upon a number of occasions seeing from four to six or seven kids following one doe without any other doe being visible in the immediate vicinity; or sometimes two does may be together with eight or ten young. The same practice has been observed with the bighorns.

Enemies are principally coyotes, bobcats, and eagles in the case of the young.

General description: A little smaller than the average deer, with simple horns slightly curved and with one lateral prong. Horns present in both sexes though smaller or sometimes lacking in the female. Color reddish-brown or tan with darker brown to blackish mane, white rump and whitish or creamy underparts. Males about 54 inches in length, height at shoulder 34 to 36 inches and weight 100 to 125 pounds. Females smaller.

Terms: Male—buck; female—doe; young—kids.

Where found: Near Gardiner, between Gardiner and Mammoth, Swan Lake Flats, Mammoth to Tower Fall, along Yellowstone River below the Canyon and in the Lamar River valley and Slough Creek area. The park antelope population fluctuates over the years from a minimum of about 200 animals to a maximum of 800.

BISON (BUFFALO) Bison bison

The Yellowstone Park Bison or Buffalo is one of the remnant groups of the former millions that once roamed over the country between the Atlantic Ocean and the Rocky Mountains.

Gradually pushed backward or killed by the advancing line of the settlements they were finally confined to the plains areas west of the Mississippi, where, in the period shortly before and after the Civil War, great numbers were slaughtered yearly until the seemingly countless herds were thoughtlessly reduced to a straggling few. In fact, they were almost exterminated before a relatively small group of persons became conscious of the condition and through continued efforts were able to bring about the preservation of a few small herds, herds that through careful protection and management have now increased to possibly 25,000 head, mainly in Canada. With the exception of the beaver, the bison played a more important role in the life of the Indian and the settler than any other animal in the country.

The bison, while doing well under management practices, has fortunately resisted domestication. They are of very uncertain disposition and it is dangerous to approach them closely on foot.

Protected by a coat of thick hair, quite shaggy on the foreparts, the bison is able to withstand the severest weather of winter. He doesn’t seem to mind as long as it is possible to paw or root down through the snow to reach the grass beneath.

The single bison calf is usually born between April and June, and at first is red brown in color, short necked but without the noticeable hump of its mother. They are hardy and playful and soon able to follow the herd. Mother very carefully watches her calf and protects it at all times.

General description: A large, ox-like animal with large head and short curved horns, a high hump at the shoulder and very heavy forequarters. Dark brown in color, hair very shaggy on the foreparts. Bulls total length about 11 feet, height at shoulder 70 inches and weight 1800 pounds or more. Cows about 7 feet in length, 60 inches height and 800 to 1200 pounds in weight. Both sexes have horns but those of the cows are smaller.

Terms: Male—bull; female—cow; young—calf.

Where found: East of Tower Junction along the Lamar River and northward. A herd on Pelican Creek, one ranging in Hayden Valley, and another in the Lower Geyser Basin. During the summer months small numbers may occasionally be seen along the Gibbon River, Madison River, in the Lower Geyser Basin, in Hayden Valley and along the east shore of the lake between Fishing Bridge and Lake Butte. The larger herds go into the higher country during the summer and are seldom seen.

An attempt is made through management operations to maintain a park population of from 1000 to 1200 of these animals.

WAPITI (ELK) Cervus canadensis