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

Fauna of the National Parks of the United States CONSPECTUS OF WILD-LIFE PROBLEMS OF EACH PARK ROCKY MOUNTAIN Rocky Mountain is another of the mountain-top parks. The failure of the east boundary to provide winter range was discussed as a typical example of this class of problem on pages 40-41. A similar situation exists on the west side of the park. The west boundary, until recently, lay along the Colorado River, which is no more than a mountain brook a few feet across at this point. Deer and elk naturally drifted down the Colorado River valley in the fall, where they were easy prey during hunting season. The river could be easily crossed and was no barrier. It was like having stock in an open field, in one-half of which they were protected and in the other half of which they could be shot. A portion of this boundary has been improved by extending it to the crest of the Never Summer Range on the west side of the Colorado River. This mountain crest is a natural barrier to the wild life of the park. However, the Never Summer Range extension covers only about one-third of the western boundary. To complete the protection of the winter range on the west side of the park, the west boundary should be continued from the crest of the Never Summer Range south along the crest of Parika Peak, Cascade Mountains, and the Blue Ridge, to include the sage fiat down by Table Mountain. The sage fiat country would serve as the "lowest zone inhabited by the majority of the park fauna" in this section of the park. Of course, members of the mountain fauna may have migrated farther down the valleys on both east and west sides of the park in earlier days, but the extensions outlined here for both sides of the park would greatly alleviate the present unsatisfactory condition. The protest is apt to be made at this point that the process of establishing natural boundaries, as outlined above, is a vicious logical process without an end. That is, the boundary was first along the Colorado River, then it was moved to the crest of the Never Summer Range in order to protect the fauna along the Colorado River; next, there would be a clamor to extend it to the west base of the Never Summer Range in order to protect the fauna of the Never Summer crest, and so on ad infinitum – or as long as anyone wanted to enlarge the park. It would be argued that whatever boundary was ultimately chosen would be an arbitrary choice, and, therefore, why not be satisfied with the present arbitrary boundary? FIGURE 45. – Accelerated erosion is one of the harmful effects of overgrazing. In this valley of Estes Park, the fertile bottom is being carried out bodily and at a rapid rate. Photograph taken June 22, 1931, in Estes Park, Rocky Mountain. Wild Life Survey No. 1992 While it is true that any boundary chosen is an arbitrary boundary, the only justifiable arbitrary boundary is one which follows a natural boundary. Nor is this a vicious process of territorial acquisition. Its purpose is to adequately safeguard the park fauna as the minimum cross-section of a biological unit which can be safely maintained. Beyond that, there is no need for further extension along the arguments just developed. The necessity for extending park territory in certain places is not limited to the need for winter range alone. It is closely tied up with all the difficulties arising from influences external to the parks. In areas so small as our individual national parks, unless they are adequately protected by natural boundaries it is impossible to preserve the species blacklisted outside. It is impossible to preserve the valuable fur-bearers. It is impossible to check the encroachment of exotic species or to preserve intact the species native to the park. In fact, the nature of boundary difficulties is of such fundamental character that without adequate territory in our national parks and proper natural boundaries to protect them the whole national-park project must fail to fulfill its purpose. BLACK BEAR (Euarctos americanus). – Black bears are increasing in the park. With their increase in numbers and further development of the region for summer homes, their depredations are bound to increase. There has been no problem in the past because bears, as well as many other forms of wild life, wore almost exterminated in this region 30 years ago. Under park protection the wild life is coming back, and in its old haunts summer homes and commercial developments are to be found. It is inevitable that difficulties will arise where bears and elk are placed in the highly complex and fragile environment of the summer resort. Houses and fences are flimsy; they are not built to withstand the attacks of bears and elk. People are not accustomed to these wild animals in their civilized communities, and they do not know how to defend themselves under such unusual circumstances. For the future there seem to be but two courses from which to choose – either bears and all other large animals must be kept to the minimum or else the private holdings in the heart of the park must be acquired and converted into natural park territory. If a national park is to be there at all, the latter course is the only justifiable one as well as the only ultimate solution. Other reasons for the acquisition of this territory have already been presented in the discussion on providing adequate winter range. Fortunately, there is no bear feeding at Rocky Mountain, and the bears are still wild. It is hoped that this condition can be maintained. GRIZZLY BEAR (Ursus shoshone). – (The type locality of this grizzly is Estes Park, but there may have been other forms in the park.) The grizzly bear is probably gone from this region. There has been a recent report, unconfirmed, that grizzly tracks were seen in the Never Summer Mountains in the northwest corner of the park. Under present conditions, it would be undesirable to reintroduce the grizzly bear, even if such were possible. ROCKY MOUNTAIN MARTEN (Martes caurina origenes). – Martens are not scarce in the park, but they need absolute protection from poaching. Trap lines have been found within the park, and martens actually found in the traps. Poaching is persistent in Rocky Mountain and will be difficult to eliminate completely. FISHER (Martes pennanti pennanti). – There is no record of fisher. Probably the park is south of its range. WOLVERINE (Gulo luscus). – See pages 44-46. OTTER (Lutra canadensis sp.). – Otters may have been transients in the park at one time. They are gone now. There are records of their having been taken at various points throughout the State, including a record near Grand Lake, but nowhere in Colorado have they ever been abundant. The reason for this scarcity is not definitely known. But with these facts in view, it would not seem advisable to attempt to reintroduce them in the park until more definite information is gathered concerning their suitability to the region. TIMBER WOLF (Canis nubilis). – In former years wolves were abundant throughout the State. For many years they have not been seen or heard of in the park. Recently, a few reports from various sources would indicate that perhaps a few have persisted or migrated into the park. All carnivores, except weasels and coyotes, are very scarce in the park, for which reason the wolves, if present, should not be discouraged. MOUNTAIN LION (Felis oregonensis hippolestes). – Mountain lions have been systematically hunted in the region for many years. Perhaps a few remain. There has been a double bounty paid for mountain lions, amounting to $75 per head. Given the complete protection of the park, they should be able to reestablish themselves over a period of years. It should be noted here that the park administration has carried out no control of predators for many years, and is in full accord with the desire to have them reinvade to the carrying capacity of the range. CANADA LYNX (Lynx canadensis canadensis). – We could get no recent records of lynx in the park, although they were abundant at one time throughout the high mountains of the State, even south into the San Juan and Sangre de Cristo ranges. They have been greatly reduced – a few may still remain in various parts of the State. They belong naturally in the park fauna. The problem at present, however involves the status of all the other high mountain forms of life – valuable and scarce forms such as grouse, ptarmigan, mountain sheep, and snowshoe rabbit. It is not known why ptarmigan and grouse, for instance, are so scarce. However, the present status of the lynx in the park must be reckoned as a change from the original picture. GROUND SQUIRREL (Citellus elegans). – This little ground squirrel has profited by civilization to the extent that it has invaded the Estes Park country by the thousands. It has become a nuisance around buildings, gardens, and in fields, and appears to be displacing the native and more colorful golden-mantled ground squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis). This is one of the outside factors affecting the park fauna and should be thoroughly studied for solution. BROAD-TAILED BEAVER (Castor canadensis frondator). – Beavers are abundant throughout Rocky Mountain National Park. They cause no difficulty except where they obstruct the local water supply on one of the private holdings. One private resort trapped six beavers from its domestic water supply three years ago, and has had no difficulty since. While this is not exactly in accord with park aims, it is obviously necessary where private holdings are within the park. It is only one of the complications which ensue so long as a park embodies private lands within its boundaries. This type of difficulty arises from the inadequacy of the park rather than from the presence of the animal itself. FIGURE 46. – Many different forms of wild life, ranging from small aquatic insects to waterfowl, muskrat, mink, and even moose, follow the successional habitats produced by the beaver cycle. Photograph taken July 13, 1931, at Jackson Hole, Wyo. Wild Life Survey No. 2130 Another problem which has arisen is in connection with the presentation of animal life. Beavers have been present in Hidden Valley for at least 30 years. Recently, the new Transmountain Highway has been developed through Hidden Valley, passing the beaver lakes en route. This provides an excellent opportunity for visitors to see beaver colonies from the highway. It so happens that the beavers have nearly exhausted their food supply – the aspens and willows – by their lakes. In a few years they must desert these lakes by the new highway and go elsewhere. The opportunity of seeing these particular beavers will be lost to thousands of visitors. Only the dried and revegetating lake beds will remain to tell the story. It has, therefore, been suggested that the beavers be limited to one family in order that the food supply may be adequate to maintain them, and that they may always be present to be seen from the road. If the suggestion is worth making, it is worth considering. A beaver is not just an animal which builds houses and dams. It is an animal which moves into a region increases in numbers until it exhausts its food supply, then moves elsewhere. Vegetation gradually reinvades the deserted pond, and the whole cycle of plant succession is repeated until suitable beaver food is once more produced, beavers move in again, and the whole cycle starts over. This is the way much of our meadow land has been formed. Many different forms of wild life, ranging from small aquatic insects to waterfowl, muskrat, mink, and even moose, follow in succession the changing habitats produced by the beaver cycle. No individual phase of the beaver cycle is more destructive or more climax than the rest; it is a continuous chain of plant and animal succession, each phase of which leads naturally to the succeeding steps; any one moment in the cycle signifies all the rest. It is this marvelous change, variety, and orderly succession of nature which makes nature what it is. It is this for which man comes. It restores in him a certainty, which he needs. This is recreation, and it is the great value of the national parks. While this may seem a long step from the beavers of Hidden Valley, they nevertheless are an integral part of the complex chain, and they have been considered so important a part that it has been suggested that they be changed and controlled for the sole purpose of enhancing their value in the chain. But if they were controlled, there would be nothing left except the interesting animal which builds houses and dams in its picturesque lake – a new thrill on the new mountain road. If there is to be any permanent value in our parks, they must be allowed to run their orderly succession of change which produces the marvelous variety of life. FIGURE 47. – Beavers at Hidden Valley have utilized the aspen near at hand and now travel a well-beaten path to a more distant grove. The farther they must go overland the greater exposure to natural enemies. It is at least possible that the balance between population and food supply is assisted by this relationship. Photograph taken July 1, 1931, in Rocky Mountain. Wild Life Survey No. 1823 AMERICAN WAPITI (Cervus canadensis canadensis). – The elk situation has been presented, pages 40-41. One other range extension, treatment of which was not necessary to the former discussion, is suggested here. About 100 elk summer above Cow Creek Canyon and winter on the ranch and below it. If the park boundary were extended to include the ranch and about 3 miles of the valley territory south of the ranch, this would be the one place along the east side of the park where the necessary winter range could be provided without bringing elk around the centers of human habitation. ROCKY MOUNTAIN MULE DEER (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus). – The deer winter range is so closely related to the elk winter range that it needs no further treatment here. AMERICAN PRONGHORN (Antilocapra americana). – Antelope ranged up into the foothills and mountain parks in the past. The fringe of their range may have extended into the present park territory, but there seems to be no suitable all-year range for them within the park at present. BISON (Bison bison). – Skulls have been found even up to timber line in the park. There would be no possibility of maintaining bison on the present limited range of the park. They are also gone from the original faunal picture of the park. ROCKY MOUNTAIN BIGHORN (Ovis canadensis canadensis). – See pages 51-52. The mountain sheep of the park are adequately protected. They have suffered heavily from scab in the past, and some of them appear to be still infected. Their situation needs careful investigation. They seem to be maintaining themselves. In general, Rocky Mountain is a park which suffers greatly from problems due to early influences, problems of geographical origin such as improper boundaries and inadequate winter range, and problems of human and animal conflict. Yet it is a park with tremendous possibilities for faunal development. But before these possibilities can be fully realized, the boundary adjustments will have to be made, and the private holdings eliminated. Even one last unfortunate claim must be removed some day, and that is the canal which takes the normal supply of water from the Never Summer Mountains and Specimen Mountain so that even fishing is spoiled in the streams below. ROCKY MOUNTAIN PARKS Glacier | Rocky Mountain | Yellowstone and Grand Teton PARKS Southwest | Rocky Mountain | Pacific Coast | Eastern | Territorial

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