Wildlife Management in the National Parks
The Honorable Stewart Udall
Secretary of the Interior
Washington 25, D.C.
Dear Mr. Secretary:
Your Advisory Board on Wildlife Management transmits herewith a
report entitled "Wildlife Management in the National Parks."
In formulating the conclusions presented in this report, the Board
made a major effort to familiarize itself with actual conditions in the
parks and monuments. The full Board visited Yellowstone and Grand Teton
National Parks where the elk situation has been acute. Individual Board
members inspected a number of other parks which in the judgment of the
National Park Service have current wildlife problems. Between us in the
last few years we have seen nearly all of the major parks and monuments,
including those in Hawaii and Alaska. Our recommendations are based
principally upon our own knowledge of the parks and their problems.
Additionally, we have endeavored to understand and to evaluate the
full specimen of opinions and viewpoints on park management. In
September at Jackson Hole the Board met with five directors of state
game departments. In December in Washington we met with five executive
officers of conservation organizations. Many other individuals and
groups have offered advice and information. All of this was informative
and helpful, but we want to make clear to you that our conclusions were
not reached by weighing opinions and counter-opinions. The conclusions
represent our own collective thinking.
The report as here presented is conceptual rather than statistical
in approach. We read thousands of pages of reports, documents, and
statistical tables, but used these data only sparingly to illustrate
specific points. Emphasis is placed on the philosophy of park
management and the ecologic principles involved. Our suggestions are
intended to enhance the esthetic, historical, and scientific values of
the parks to the American public, vis a vis the mass recreational
values. We sincerely hope that you will find it feasible and
appropriate to accept this concept of park values.
Respectfully submitted,
Stanley A. Cain
Clarence M. Cottam
Ira A. Gabrielson
Thomas L. Kimball
A. Starker Leopold, Chairman
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