Many people know that the native Yellowstone Cutthroat trout are being seriously threatened by the non-native Lake trout. You may not know how invasive these trout have become. Recently, the final catch was counted after a 6 month effort to remove as many as possible. How many you ask? This year’s total was a staggering 73 thousand!!

What do you suppose they do with all the fish that are caught? Well, they are killed and dropped back into the lake of course.

Too bad they couldn’t give them to a food bank or heck, make a big fish fry celebration. There are plenty of other things that are tourist driven, not so natural, money makers in the park. How about a Lake trout cook off or something? Let me know if you are up for organizing. I will be the brains behind the idea.

Cutthroat, Lake trout, yellowstone park

I mentioned in a past blog how cool the bacteria is that’s present in the hot springs of Yellowstone park. Now scientists have made another cool discovery about it. The photosynthesizing  strain of bacteria  can be used to improve the making of ethanol.

I don’t believe that Ethanol is the answer to our fuel needs but I do think that the more attention we spend on finding fuel alternatives, the better the chance that we find a real alternative that will be worth it.

Yellowstone has so much more to offer than just a beautiful view.

bacteria, Ethanol, science, yellowstone park

Oh the horror! Can you imagine the view of Yellowstone as a backdrop for a big, flashing cell tower? Alltel, who has a less than spectacular record for service in the first place, is hoping ot add another 115 foot cell tower just outside the North entrance.

There are already 5 towers in Yellowstone. What is one more? Well, it would be 6 ugly towers instead of 5. Isn’t there an alternative? Why, if there are so many towers, is the service notoriously horrid to begin with?

A recent study by a scientist at Michigan Tech supports the theory that the decline of Elk numbers in the last 10 years has been due to over hunting and drought, rather than wolf predation. Although this study will fly in the face of many who want wolves erradicated under the belief that it is wolves and not human hunters who have made the most impact on herd numbers, the scientific data takes into consideration climate, Elk population and hunting pressure to result in these findings.

Wolves also cull the weak and sick animals from a herd so their job positions should be embraced and not vilified.

As a hunter and rancher, I respect the wolf for the job it does. Every part of the Yellowstone’s ecosystem is important and stepping back from emotionally charged topics to look at the science behind them is imperative.

A leader from a local Bison Advocacy group faces probation for obstruction during a Bison hazing that happened last Spring.

Apparently, although the man was supposed to simply filming the hazing, he managed to get a head wound and an obstruction charge.

I have a mid-range digital camera and I will betcha I could have taken a movie of the event without getting close enough to be

1. In danger of becoming trampled

2. Close enough to hinder the Peace officer’s sense of personal space-resulting in a smackdown.

I am all for getting out there and doing what inspires you but MUST you be directly in the way? Come on people, have your been close to one Bison, much less a herd of them being chased? You do not want to be in the line of escape.

Finally, the park will begin it’s winter closings. The hotels, urrr………Inns, gas stations, atms, snack wrappers shops and restaurants are shutting down for the winter. If you are looking for visitor’s services, this weekend marks the beginning of the closures.

Park roads will reopen December 19th to snow vehicles so get your snowmobiles (and earplugs) ready.

snowmobiles, winter closing, Yellowstone

Over 70% of the public opinion was for a reduction in snowmobile noise. The scientific study found that noise and exhaust pollution was both a problem and a danger. It seems that everyone wanted some changes and yet the Park chose to ignore public outcry and create a lame decision to decrease the snowmobile daily limit to an arbitrary number that has never been reached to begin with.

Why isn’t anyone complaining? Yellowstone park is OUR park! It is PUBLIC land and yet the desires of the public are being ignored.

noise control, snowmobile, yellowstone park

After studying the habits of Moose in both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National parks for the last 12 years, scientists have discovered that female moose have learned how to stick closer to humans activity in order to glean some protection from them. When they get ready to give birth, they move an average of 400 feet closer to roads.

The explanation for this is that they have learned that humans are pretty safe for them while the predators they fear have learned the opposite.

The same learned trait has been found in elephant, monkeys and deer.

See? We really are useful in the woods!

learned behavior, moose, yellowstone national park

Ah, the joys of a communal cold. Yes, folks…even those of us lucky enough to live in the most beautiful place in the world get sick once in a while. I have a bunch of great reading all set to post so settle in with a cup of Java and let’s get to it!

Amelia

Interesting name with an interesting background. October 18th is the date for the hearing to decide on a measure that will designate millions of acres as roadless. Once these acres are labeled as such, they can then be included in the Northern Rockies Ecosystem Protection Act and declared *Wilderness*. This would mean none of this on any of the millions of acreas. Sound like a good idea? Hmmm, I am not so sure.

Whenever broad sweeping strokes are made by those who never have set foot into the areas they are talking about, it never bodes well for those of us who use the wilderness, leave no footprint and care deeply for the area.

Not surprisingly, there is minimal outcry from the trenches. It is my job to search out news and I am just hearing about this a week before it goes to court. I am not shocked that Tom the hunting dude doesn’t know a thing. That big No Trespassing sign will surely catch his attention.

northern rockies ecosystem protection act, NREPA, wilderness