Northern elk range in its worst shape ever

By Bob Ross

I read the headline in the Billings Gazette March 27, "Elk not ruining the park."

If that is so, pray tell, what has caused the devastated vegetative condition of all the range north of Mammoth, and much of the Lamar Valley? It certainly is not global warming.

I have observed range conditions in the Northern Winter Elk Range of Yellowstone Park intimately and professionally along with other professional range scientists since 1963. Some of us toured much of the winter range area April 3. Today range conditions are by far the worst I have ever seen in the 39 years I have been observing it.

It is a terrible example of mismanagement of Yellowstone National Park resources. By not curtailing the overwhelming number of large undulates, they have allowed the Northern Winter Range to deteriorate to a devastated condition.

Go look for yourself! One does not need to be a range scientist to see the decimation and desertification caused by the overpopulation of grazing animals.

The worst sin of all is that Yellowstone National Park personnel are not being honest with the public -- or themselves.

Park personnel claim their No. 1 objective is to please the visiting public and that the public's main interest is in the natural phenomena of the hot springs, geysers and wild animals. The more animals seen probably the happier the tourists. However, too many elk and bison have devastated the park to the point some areas may never be reclaimed. Even the fragile areas adjacent to the pools and geysers have been denuded by the grazing animals. Some of this is due to minerals in the soil, but much of it is caused by excessive grazing pressure.

Park personnel have a moral and professional obligation to the citizens of our country to properly manage the natural resources of the park. In this they have drastically failed. And to protect themselves, they have not been honest with the public, nor has the reviewing scientific teams such as the National Academy of Sciences.

Throughout the years, Yellowstone Park personnel have been revered somewhat like mother's milk and apple pie -- they are thought of as competent and committed folks that will do no wrong. Not so! For allowing decimation of the park and dishonesty with the public, the Yellowstone scientists and top officials should be hung by their thumbs and dipped in the hottest pool -- but this would only cause more contamination.

Robert L. Ross, retired Soil and Conservation Service Montana state range conservationist

306 E. Story St.

Bozeman

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