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 PROPOSED EVERGLADES Discussion of wild-life problems and relationships in national parks would be decidedly inadequate if it did not include this particular proposal. For here the wild life is the park. It is the scenery and the whole interest, the only bit of the life of the humid tropics to be found in the continental United States. And amid all the fascinating forms of wild life in which the watery wilderness abounds, the birds are the most spectacular. The great flocks of wood ibises, American egrets and snowy egrets, the roseate spoonbill, white ibis, glossy ibis, least bittern, great white heron, great blue heron, reddish egret, little blue heron, Louisiana heron, green heron, black-crowned night heron, yellow-crowned night heron, and the sandhill crane are among the treasures of the Everglades. Besides these breeding birds, there is the bizarre flamingo which used to be a visitant and would perhaps come back again under park protection. Nor are the waders the only bird prizes. Among a host of others are the beautiful Everglades kite, the water turkey, reminiscent of the age of reptiles, and the wild turkey, still common but under constant persecution. FIGURE 53. – In the Everglades the wild life provides the greatest scenic value. Following the wise example of Japan, it might be well to designate birds like these wood ibises as national parks themselves. Photograph of wood ibis rookery in Florida, Everglades by courtesy of Ernest F. Coe Alligators and crocodiles are two reptiles of largest size which, when they become common enough again to be frequently seen, will be one of the most interesting features of the park. The manatee is a rare specialized mammal which should have park protection. Other mammals without such extreme specialization which have still been able to adapt themselves to the environment of the Everglades are deer, mountain lion, wild cat, and black bear. Raccoon and otter, of course, are right in their element. Wild-life problems of this proposed park will be chiefly of two causes – historical and competitive. Fortunately, the chances of their being successfully solved are excellent. The history of man in the area has been a shocking one of exploitation and waste of faunal resources. It is to the lasting credit of the National Association of Audubon Societies in bringing about a cessation of the feather trade and in maintaining a warden service since, that the fatal influences were ameliorated before it was too late. Largely because of this, it is safe to say that the problems which the Service will inherit from adverse early influences will gradually right themselves within a few years after complete park protection is in effect. The second group of problems will originate with the advent of the park itself, from the conflict of man and animal (chiefly the birds this time) in joint occupation of the area. Yet there are two good reasons for believing that the native wilderness values will be successfully maintained. In the first place, the physical characteristics of the terrain are in favor of the wild life. People can not wander at will over the landscape. On land, their movements will be circumscribed by the limits of the development areas. In boats they will only be able to go where guides are licensed to take them. A stranger might soon be lost on these trackless waterways. Thus, though it would seem to be an anomaly at first glance, large numbers of people can be admitted to the area without disturbing the great rookeries. This will require a certain amount of precaution in locating a few roads and utility areas and in marking the water lanes, plus a few reasonable restrictions upon visitors in some critical areas. The very fact that the whole problem of relationship between man and the wild life has been apprehended in advance of development is the second reason for believing that the native values will be preserved. It means that the task will be one of prevention and not one of casting about for remedies after irreparable damage has been done. The manner in which the whole project is being approached by everyone connected with it is proof of the remarkable evolution of the national-park idea in the few short years since it was born in the minds of the members of the Washburn-Doane Expedition in the far-away Yellowstone. From the basic need of setting aside certain areas that they might be preserved for the enjoyment of all, the idea has grown until now in its highest refinement the greatest emphasis falls upon the manner of presentation of visitors to the treasures contained in those areas. That the underlying problem in development of the Everglades will be to secure the proper presentation in order that the wild life may be conserved and at the same time utilized for human enjoyment, has been so clearly set forth in the closing paragraphs of the report of Frederick Law Olmstead and William P. Wharton that they are quoted fully here: "It is essential that the rookeries be protected from intrusion, be made inviolate sanctuaries for the birds; but experience along the trail has demonstrated that with prevention of shooting and with entirely practicable regulation of public behavior, great numbers of people can be given opportunity to enjoy the sight of amazing throngs of birds at some of their great feeding grounds, and we believe it will be safely practicable to admit large numbers of people to observation places so related to the rookeries that the still more amazing concentrated flights of homing birds at sunset will pass over them as they return from the feeding grounds. "Where these observation places can best be located and how arranged, how people can best approach them, in what cases by automobile and in what cases by boat, and in general how it can be made possible for large numbers of park visitors to get these and other enjoyments offered by this region, and peculiar to it, without serious defacement of the landscape by artificial elements and also (what is here even more important) without upsetting the extraordinarily intricate and unstable ecological adjustments upon which the whole character of the region depends, is a problem that requires prolonged and intensive study from many points of view by the most competent people – botanists, zoologists, and geologists as well as engineers and landscape architects. We are satisfied that it can be solved, and well solved; but we can not too strongly urge caution, thorough study, and patience in the formulating of comprehensive and far-seeing plans before any physical changes, however innocent in seeming, are undertaken". 36 36 The Florida Everglades, by Olmstead, Frederick Law, and Wharton, William P. American Forests, vol. 38, no. 3, March, 1932, p. 192. EASTERN PARKS Proposed Everglades | Great Smoky Mountains PARKS Southwest | Rocky Mountain | Pacific Coast | Eastern | Territorial

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