Much Ado About Something

SNOWMOBILES - THE ONLY PROBLEM?

.................

.. Well it seems that it didn't take long for the snowmobile issue to hit the news and the blogs. Once the snow flies, the discussion, (argument?) continues. We notice that the Coalition of National Park Service Retirees has jumped into the lead on reviewing the latest reports to come from the National Park Service.
.. The National Parks Traveler has an excellent synopsis of the goings-on, as does the CNPSR Air Quality Press Release.
.. The air quality reports that are causing the stir are available at the Yellowstone Winter Use Documents page. It's worth requesting the large data files for the air quality modeling report.
.. The reports show a mixed bag of results that the combatants can point to with grins. However we discovered a blog that suggests that much of the wailing and screaming is just a cover-up for additional commercialization of Yellowstone.
.. We noted a few posts back that the distaff blog, A Step Apart was commenting on things Yellowstone. One thing that she notes is that all arguments stem from the, (not necessarily valid,) assumption that riding over the snow is necessary to a Yellowstone Winter experience.
.. Her blog has a series of posts that look not just at snowmobiles as a problem, but also at the rampant commercialization that Yellowstone is experiencing in the winter. Some of the posts have provocative titles, (e.g. The Testosterone Blogger, and The Sins Of Snowmobiles,) others are rather mundane. The series seems to be without end - stay tuned.

-------------

.. A couple of suspected outlaws have been caught and are awaiting trial for poaching an elk on Yellowstone's northern range.
.. The skimpy Yellowstone Park News Release gives little to go on for the moment. Nothing has been released since the pair's arraignment.
.. Every year poaching is a problem. It includes collecting antlers, and skeletal remains as well as killing animals.

-------------

.. We are pleased to report that the YELLOWSTONE NEWSPAPER is back in action. The revised format provides an excellent source for all things Yellowstone. The energy of this site is greatly appreciated. There is also a forum - it's in it's early stages; post your comments there. Thanks, Jim.

.

------------------

Bison & Snowmobiles In The News

RANGERS PASS BISON IN YELLOWSTONE

____________________

.. With the advent of winter in Yellowstone Country there is one guarantee: news stories of Bison and Snowmobiles will appear as rapidly as acorns dropping from a tree. The droppings have started early this year.
.. The Montana Bison Hunt opens on Wednesday. Although the state has issued 140 tags, the hunt will not, (even if all 140 are filled,) significantly affect the herd. The bison have returned from last years thinning and control efforts to the point where there are more now than the year before.
.. Recent figures show that snowmobile visitation in Yellowstone is down. With a cap of 720 sleds/day - the park is seeing only about 250/day. There is no clear explanation for the drop as noted in an article in the Star Tribune. This was also mentioned in New West.
.. The debate about snowmobiles started early this year. Several blogs and op-ed pieces have already hit the electronic media. Look for CNN to jump on the band wagon soon.
--- Yellowstone Newspaper has a synopsis of the stories,
--- So does Yellowstone Newspaper Briefs,
--- Several opinion pieces have appeared in "A Step Apart," a West Yellowstone Blog:
Honesty in Snowmobile Debate, The Testosterone Bloggers, YELLOWSTONE - A Commercial Wonderland, I Whine Therefore I'm Right. The pictures painted by the author of this blog are not pretty in terms of the long-term visitor experience.
--- The recent changes in Washington, D.C. have been commented on by Jim Macdonald in his blog "Jim's Eclectic World." Check the post entitled "No Radical New Wind In Yellowstone."

_______________________________

Still Busy Yellowstone

WOLVES - BISON - WEBLOGS - MORE

New Yellowstone Electronic Field Trip, (HOT STUFF!)

news release

LYNX GET THEIR OWN SPACE, (but not in Yellowstone)

A surprisingly Rational Yellowstone Blog

(Yellowstone & Bison)

The Distaff Side Of Yellowstone

____________________________________

.. We've learned that the National Park Service is making little progress in discovering who vandalised the safety fence at Arum. There are rumors and suspicions. If there is not a press release soon we'll report more details.
__________________________________

Yellowstone's Bears, Bison, Wolves, & Rich People

BEARS POPULATION EXPLODING
BISON HAVE RICH FRIENDS
Yellowstone can be bought - Yosemite can't
WOLVES EAT BEEF
Yellowstone is now 100% commercialized in winter!

.. Just because Yellowstone slammed shut it's doors to prepare for 100% commercial tours in the winter, doesn't mean there's no news.

.. Wolves kill elk on steps of Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel.
.. 108 luxury cabins planned for Yosemite stifled by judge.
.. Wolves solidifying gained ground - disperse slowly.
.. Tester vs. Burns - Stay tuned!
.. Grizzlies off threatened list?
.. The joys of shoulder seasons past and present.
.. Tourism gaining ground.
.. Kobuck the bear - trash can tester.
.. Wolf conservation vs. wolf control.
.. Patagonia Loves Bison Billboards.

__________________

..

IT'S BUSY IN YELLOWSTONE

What about the wolves?

ARE THEY DECIMATING ELK? . . . Find out HERE.
ARE THEY DESTROYING RANCHES? . . . Find out HERE.
ARE THEY SPREADING LIKE WILDFIRE? . . . Find out HERE.

+++++++++++++++

IS THERE A LAND BOOM AROUND YELLOWSTONE?

.. Are ranches becoming weekend retreats?
.. Can you fish where your dad did?
.. Too many fences?
.. Where are the cattle?
.. Is a scenic ranch good for the environment?
.. Find out HERE. Or, get more scary news HERE.

+++++++++++++++++++

YELLOWSTONE WILDLIFE

.. Want to Kill an elk? Try this site.
.. Want to know about wildlife disease in Yellowstone? Try this one.