Sunday, April 09, 2006

Yellowstone Park Elk Count

THEY'RE BACK IN FORCE!
(<-NPS PHOTO)

About 3,649 elk are in the northern herd.
Sick & dying wolves, plus the lack of hunter control has increased this herd to near record proportions. They are going to become a hazard on the roads. They are going to continue to eat the imported grass at Mammoth. They are going to provide photo opportunities for visitors from the asphalt jungles of the world. And, we're going to continue to ignore the fact that they exceed the carrying capacity of the landscape and watch them eat the northern range into a sagebrush desert. We need some creative solutions fast.

LINKS:

http://www.nps.gov/yell/press/0616b.htm

http://www.nps.gov/yell/press/0601.htm