Saturday, June 10, 2006

YELLOWSTONE BITS & PIECES


DEAD GRIZZLY


ALSO:
Energy Corridors
parkitecture making news
antiquities act not celebrated in Wyoming
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-- The National Park Service released news about a dead grizzly bear found in Yellowstone National Park. The bear was the first grizzly found dead since September, 2004. The full press release is included here.

Necropsy suggests sow died after being struck by car
Necropsy results indicate a grizzly bear found recently along the shores of Yellowstone Lake probably died after being struck by a vehicle.
Visitors reported finding a dead bear along the lake shore between the mouth of Pelican Creek and Storm Point on May 25. The female grizzly was about 10 years old and weighed around 200 pounds. The bear had bitten off part of its tongue and had a broken claw. Drowning was initially suspected as the cause of death.
Staff from the Yellowstone National Park Bear Management Office took the bear to the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks lab in Bozeman, Montana for a necropsy. Results show the grizzly died of severe blunt trauma to the left rib cage, internal bruising and bleeding which resulted in asphyxiation. It appears the bear died shortly after being injured.
Rangers did not find any skid marks or debris on the road near where the dead bear was found to indicate a collision had taken place. However, based on the available evidence, bear biologist Kerry Gunther believes the bear was struck by a vehicle, probably along the East Entrance road between Pelican Creek and Fishing Bridge, and died after making its way down to the lake shore to get water.
Anyone with information surrounding the death of this grizzly bear is asked to call the Park Tip Line at 307-344-2132. Callers can remain anonymous.
This is the first grizzly bear death reported in the park since September 2004. Park visitors and employees are encouraged to be especially cautious and to slow down when driving through the park from dusk to dawn or in rain or snow, because it is more difficult to see wildlife under those conditions. Drivers who accidentally strike an animal in the park are asked to report the incident at the nearest ranger station.
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-- As part of the energy policy act passed in 2,005 the U.S Departments of Energy, Interior, Agriculture, and Defense have released a map of potential energy corridors for the Western 11 states. The preliminary corridors are proposed to be 3,500 feet wide and can be viewed in PDF Format. These corridors may be used for electrical transmission, natural gas pipelines, coal slurry pipelines and other means of transporting energy around the United States. Yellowstone Park is surrounded by these corridors. Comments are solicited at the official web site.
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-- Parkitecture, is currently being celebrated by the National Park Service as "Early Twentieth Century Design & Naturalism." Building with nature is touted for these rustic structures. The structures shown are all energy inneficient, have monstrous caverns for rooms, and deplete energy resources at a rate greater than the SUV's that bring romantics to the parks to see them.
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-- The Antiquities Act Of 1906 celebrates it's 100th birthday in all states except Wyoming. The historic circumstances surrounding "The Antiquities Act Of 1906" resulted in an interesting situation for Wyoming, Grand Tetons National Park, and Devil's Tower. The circumstances have made Wyoming the only state not covered by the Act. Yet the state was the first one to receive a National Monument under the Act. The Casper Star Tribune has a complete review of this quirk of history.