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Biologists find low cow-calf ratio in Yellowstone elk.
3/12/02
The Associated Press
LIVINGSTON (AP) - Biologists say the ratio of calves to cows in the northern Yellowstone elk herd is down to 14 per 100, the lowest level in at least 34 years, but they can't explain the sharp decline.
A private group and a legislator blame it on the reintroduction of wolves, but biologists say it's more complicated than that.
Using a helicopter, biologists spent 10.5 hours counting 4,001 elk in and near the northern part of Yellowstone National Park on Feb. 27 and 28.
The cow-calf ratio is called a "recruitment rate." An average of about 30 is considered necessary to sustain a herd. That number has averaged 33 since 1968, when the annual surveys of the northern Yellowstone herd began.
Since 1995, when wolves were reintroduced to the park, the rate ranged from 22 to 34.
Two Montana lawmakers and members of the Friends of the Northern Yellowstone Elk Herd made their own survey in early February and came up with 12 calves per 100 cows.
"The fact that we were right is not the important point," Rep. Joe Balyeat, R-Belgrade, said Monday. "The important point is the calf ratio has dropped in half in one year."
"All I can say is I told you so," said Bill Hoppe, a former outfitter from Jardine and president of FNYEH.
Balyeat reiterated his position that it's time to remove federal protections for wolves and turn their management over to state wildlife agencies.
"When there's a drastic drop in the percentage (of calves) like this, the only reasonable conclusion is that the reintroduction of such large numbers of wolves has affected the recruitment rate," Balyeat said.
About 210 wolves are in and around Yellowstone. About 65 of them prey on the northern herd, consuming an average of one elk apiece every two weeks during the winter.
Biologists in Yellowstone and for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks agree that wolves are having an impact, but they also say many other factors must be considered.
Drought, last year's low pregnancy rate, a late hunt that takes over 1,000 animals a year, and five other species of predator all affect the herd, said Doug Smith, leader of the Yellowstone Wolf Project.
"I can guarantee you it's a little bit of all of those," he said.
Ken Hamlin, who has been researching elk for the state wildlife agency since 1988, said recruitment rates are dropping in many areas of western Montana, including some that have no wolves.
3/12/02
The Associated Press
LIVINGSTON (AP) - Biologists say the ratio of calves to cows in the northern Yellowstone elk herd is down to 14 per 100, the lowest level in at least 34 years, but they can't explain the sharp decline.
A private group and a legislator blame it on the reintroduction of wolves, but biologists say it's more complicated than that.
Using a helicopter, biologists spent 10.5 hours counting 4,001 elk in and near the northern part of Yellowstone National Park on Feb. 27 and 28.
The cow-calf ratio is called a "recruitment rate." An average of about 30 is considered necessary to sustain a herd. That number has averaged 33 since 1968, when the annual surveys of the northern Yellowstone herd began.
Since 1995, when wolves were reintroduced to the park, the rate ranged from 22 to 34.
Two Montana lawmakers and members of the Friends of the Northern Yellowstone Elk Herd made their own survey in early February and came up with 12 calves per 100 cows.
"The fact that we were right is not the important point," Rep. Joe Balyeat, R-Belgrade, said Monday. "The important point is the calf ratio has dropped in half in one year."
"All I can say is I told you so," said Bill Hoppe, a former outfitter from Jardine and president of FNYEH.
Balyeat reiterated his position that it's time to remove federal protections for wolves and turn their management over to state wildlife agencies.
"When there's a drastic drop in the percentage (of calves) like this, the only reasonable conclusion is that the reintroduction of such large numbers of wolves has affected the recruitment rate," Balyeat said.
About 210 wolves are in and around Yellowstone. About 65 of them prey on the northern herd, consuming an average of one elk apiece every two weeks during the winter.
Biologists in Yellowstone and for the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks agree that wolves are having an impact, but they also say many other factors must be considered.
Drought, last year's low pregnancy rate, a late hunt that takes over 1,000 animals a year, and five other species of predator all affect the herd, said Doug Smith, leader of the Yellowstone Wolf Project.
"I can guarantee you it's a little bit of all of those," he said.
Ken Hamlin, who has been researching elk for the state wildlife agency since 1988, said recruitment rates are dropping in many areas of western Montana, including some that have no wolves.
