Dear HCN,
In reference to what
should be done about elk overpopulation in Yellowstone Park (HCN,
5/30/94), a study is the time-honored delaying tactic to postpone a
decision that is certain to be politically
unpopular.
The summer of 1991, I took my
grandchildren on a visit to the park. As a retired BLM range con,
it was obvious that the northern portion of the park was
overstocked with elk and probably buffalo as well. Trees were
highlined, meadows were slicked off, wetlands were trampled, stream
banks were caved and browse was hedged to
decadence.
With little migration out of the park
and no control by predators of consequence, it is a given the park
will eventually reach a point of debilitating overuse. But not to
worry: The next hard winter will solve the
problem.
Dale A.
Dunn
Boise,
Idaho
The writer worked as a
range conservationist for the Bureau of Land
Management.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Yes, too many elk.
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