Fauna Series No. 1 Cover Contents Foreword Approach Methods Analysis Conspectus Suggested Policy

Fauna of the National Parks of the United States PROBLEMS OF COMPETITIVE ORIGIN HUMAN DEVELOPMENTS HARMFUL TO WILD LIFE Where man's influence in the park is detrimental to the fauna, the resulting problems are the reverse of those discussed in the immediately preceding pages of this section. Yet the two conditions are frequently retroactive in that one may be the cause of the other, the complex bear problem being a notable instance. It is obvious that numbers of people can not dwell in the park without displacing the fauna from human centers and otherwise disrupting the sensitive ecological relationships of nature. Yet, since use of the park by people transcends all other considerations, the most farsighted administrative policy is to make all needed developments but to do them in such a way as to minimize the disturbance of the biota as much as possible. If an alternate means of providing a needed development which will be less disturbing to wild life can be employed, it should be done even if a larger expenditure of money is thereby involved. On unavoidably disputed grounds, the keynote to management lies in the choice of a middle course allowing maximum use for both parties to the conflict. Developments for the benefit of the visitor must not be unduly hindered nor should the wild life which he came to enjoy be destroyed. There is no doubt that many of the injurious effects of human occupation upon the native fauna have not been discovered as yet. However, certain problems have become manifest and hence can be discussed here. NEXT> DISTURBANCES IN DEVELOPMENT CENTERS (13)

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