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 PACIFIC COAST PARKS Crater Lake, Lassen Volcanic, Mount Rainier, General Grant and Sequoia, and Yosemite are the national parks of the high mountain ranges that fringe the Pacific Ocean. Except for Mount Rainier, which is in the humid north coast belt and is consequently clothed with dense rain forest, the parks of this group have striking biotic similarities. This in turn is due to broad similarities in geography and climate. Coastal forms occupy their gentle western slopes, which have a moderate and moist climate because of exposure to oceanic influences. The eastern slopes of these mountains are more rigorous in every aspect. The escarpments are precipitous. Temperature fluctuations are extreme and the country is arid. In short, the eastern slopes are typically Great Basin, and Great Basin forms predominate. The faunal problems of all parks in this group are alike: First, because many of the same species are concerned; second, because the history of human development has been much the same for all of them; third, because they show the same geographic limitations in failure to include the lowest life zone occupied by their faunas; and, fourth, because they are all subject to the same type of development for human use. This last consideration has important connotations. In the relationship between wild life and visitors, these parks, if Mount Rainier is again excepted, have a distinctive function in the whole national-park system. Dry, mild summers in combination with open park-like forests and frequent water courses make them paradises for life out of doors. Here the visitors go to spend, not days, but many weeks where they can camp in cool retreats and hike every where without need of elaborate equipment to make life supportable. The significance of this as regards this problem is that it makes for intimate contact with wild life. Maximum opportunities are presented for securing the native values of wilderness life for the people. Concomitantly, there is danger that the wild life will suffer in proportion that visitors are not confined to a few development areas but swarm at will throughout the animal habitats. This situation has made the dual function of the educational branch in presentation of wild life very important in these parks. The opportunity for intimate presentation of wild life is unparalleled, and the necessity to counsel the visitor in comporting himself so as to cause the minimum disturbance of its natural balances is equally great. PACIFIC COAST PARKS Crater Lake | Lassen Volcanic | Mount Rainier | Sequoia and General Grant | Yosemite PARKS Southwest | Rocky Mountain | Pacific Coast | Eastern | Territorial

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