Yellowstone's Northern Range - Greater Yellowstone Science ...

HISTORY OF
NORTHERN RANGE
RESEARCH AND
MANAGEMENT
The condition of the winter range of the northern Yellowstone elk herd
(referred to here as the northern range) of Yellow stone National Park has
been of concern to the public, managers, and scientists for more than 70
years. During that time, many different interpretations of its condition have been put
forth; the majority of opinions offered prior to 1970 agreed that the range was to some
extent overgrazed. Many observers regarded overgrazing as severe. Overgrazing was
almost always attributed to high elk numbers, but bison and pronghorn were implicated
as well. Other problems thought to have been caused by high elk numbers included
declines in woody vegetation, especially willow, aspen, and several sagebrush species,
declines in white-tailed deer and beaver, and accelerated soil erosion.
Changing perspectives in management and in the ecological sciences in the past 30
years have resulted in an intensive reconsideration of past views, and have also resulted
in renewed controversy over the range and its management. This report summarizes the
long history of this issue, especially the tremendous surge in scientific research in the past
decade, research that has changed the nature of the overgrazing debate in Yellowstone
National Park, and promises to have far-reaching effects in the management of other
wildland grazing systems as welL
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