Yellowstone Quarterly Spring 2015

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YELLOWSTONE QUARTERLY

Spring 2015 Refuge for Species on the Brink Building a Sustainable Future at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch The Secrets of Spring Cycling


We’re gearing up for a busy season here in Yellowstone—the time of year when the park receives its highest number of visitors. For some, the coming summer will provide a first glimpse of a grizzly bear or an opportunity to view a geyser’s exciting eruption. For others, it will be the chance to revisit a favorite trail or stretch of river, or to be able to share the magnificent Old Faithful with a friend or family member new to the park. As John Muir said, “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything in the Universe.” Yellowstone National Park remains today a place where we can all take a step back and appreciate these intrinsic connections. It is also a refuge, for people and wildlife alike. For people, places like the Lamar Valley and the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone offer opportunities to reconnect with nature, and remind us of the importance of protecting this place so future generations can have a similar experience. As you’ll read in the lead story, the park is also a critical refuge for a variety of fauna and flora, including three species of plants found only in Yellowstone. Thank you for your continued support of Yellowstone National Park! More importantly, thank you for recognizing the importance of refuge and the value in working together to preserve this incredible place. Sincerely,

Yellowstone Association Leadership Team Jeff Brown

Executive Director

Daniel Bierschwale Director of Retail

Wendie Carr

Marketing Manager

Roger Keaton

Director of Finance and Administration

Dennis McIntosh

Director of Facilities

Kathy Nichols

Human Resources Manager

Stacey Orsted

Director of Development

Ken Voorhis

Director of Education

Yellowstone Association Board of Directors Claire Campbell Board Chair Boulder, CO

Lou Lanwermeyer

Vice-Chair Brasstown, NC

Bob Shopneck

Jeff Brown Yellowstone Association executive director

Treasurer Denver, CO

Tom Detmer

Assistant Treasurer Denver, CO

Patty Carocci

Secretary Arlington, VA

Katie Cattanach Denver, CO

Sandy Choate Austin, TX

Gale Davis Wilson, WY

Penney Cox Hubbard Baltimore, MD

Katherine Loo

Colorado Springs, CO

Yellowstone’s official nonprofit education partner

Mat Millenbach Portland, OR

Alex Perez Atherton, CA

Alan Shaw Big Sky, MT

What’s on the cover? Grizzly bear near Yellowstone Lake COVER Steve Hinch/Steve Hinch Photography


Spring

TABLE OF CONTENTS

02 A Refuge for Species on the Brink 06 Building a Sustainable Future

at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch

08 The Secrets of Spring Cycling 10 NPS Q&A: Brian Chan,

District Ranger

11 Creatures Large & Small:

The Remarkable Raven

12 Mysterious Microbes: How Yellowstone’s

Thermophiles Affect All of Us

14 Naturalist Notes:

The Anticipation of Spring

15 YA Family: Shelly Siedlaczek 16 Membership

Yellowstone Quarterly 1


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y t n h il ic s mp tos b had con ulsio caug h Amer ldier o o p r s o h f x a s p e e t rt ly lif ow ed ha The s No , wh d on wild ng t clud s i a e n t d o i c n r n n a t a c u t a a ef ha Mon ders gal h nt h ge t read e n a a l p l o r e s i e w f m o ’s son cov laws tone tails s of bi k e ews a d n w e o o t w ll ew n ks g Ye that rn n n r a i e e t l t Tha c r o to ote a rep h pr aged t r o i t t w u d o ed ge . say the federal law doesn’t necessarily change what is harg brag c n s e gear v g e wa n largely a hands-off approach to treating nearly all anii d t a ell h f his hun w mals across the entire park. And a growing movement o H eo r u toward coordination by numerous agencies around z sei the the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem has focused on Within two months, Congress passed the Lacey Act to “protect the birds and animals in Yellowstone.” The act was amended in 1900 to become the first major federal wildlife protection law. It was instrumental in saving Yellowstone’s bison, which by 1902 had dwindled to a herd of about two dozen. Bison in the park now number close to 5000. Today at eateries along the north shore of Yellowstone Lake, just a short hike from where Howell was captured, visitors can dine on bison burgers, bison chili, bison tenderloin, and even bison ravioli with shiitake mushrooms and gruyére cheese. Though sourced from commercial farms and ranches, the bison dishes are still a surprise for some visitors who mistakenly assume the iconic mammal is an endangered species, said Lu Harlow, director of food and beverage operations for Yellowstone concessioner Yellowstone National Park Lodges.

Photo Members of the U.S. Army’s 6th Cavalry pose with bison heads seized from Cooke City poacher Edgar Howell, 1894.

Bison—just one of many animals that have found a critical refuge inside Yellowstone National Park— inspired efforts toward greater protections and engendered debate over its management, status, and future. During the last four decades, the Endangered Species Act (ESA), signed by President Richard Nixon in 1973, has often been at the center of confusion, conflict, and controversy in wildlife management. But park officials

making sure species are never pushed to the point of being listed as threatened or endangered. Federal Laws for Endangered Species

The first federal laws aimed specifically at protecting endangered species were passed in the 1960s, as public attention focused on dwindling populations of whales and birds such as whooping cranes, peregrine falcons, and bald eagles. The Endangered Species Act was created because laws passed in the previous decade had proven inadequate due to loopholes and limited enforcement options, much like the era before the Lacey Act. Under the ESA, a species is considered endangered if it is “in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range,” and threatened if it is “likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future.” In Yellowstone, the Canada lynx and grizzly bear are protected as threatened species under the act. Under the latest in a series of federal court decisions, gray wolves inside the park and in Wyoming have protected status, but in Idaho and Montana they are not listed under the act, and are managed by the states. But not much is likely to change in how the park manages grizzly bears or wolves if they are delisted in the near future, as may be the case. The National Yellowstone Quarterly 3


Park Service’s enabling legislation and governing policies require preserving the natural state of plants and animals— a priority which won’t waver if an animal is delisted. Drawing on lessons learned with wolves, National Park Service officials are discussing with state game managers ways to reduce the vulnerability of bears popular with park visitors to hunting in adjacent state hunting districts. Some bears move in and out of Yellowstone, therefore some bears that are extremely popular with park visitors and important to the bear viewing industry might be vulnerable to hunting along the park boundary. “We’re trying to get the states to acknowledge that some bears are particularly important to some people, and to set up different hunting zones around the borders to protect bears and wolves that are popular with the public,” said Kerry Gunther, who leads Yellowstone’s bear management program. Gunther pointed to the work of the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, established in 1983, as an example of how state and federal agencies can work together to help an endangered species recover. Similar interagency groups exist across the region to help manage wolves, bison, and elk, along with less high-profile species such as the trumpeter swan. For more than 50 years, the Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee has worked to help agencies communicate and cooperate across administrative boundaries, according to Virginia Kelly, executive coordinator. Participating agencies engage in “active coordination on a chosen set of priorities,” Kelly said, but the group has no authority to review management decisions or mandate actions. Committee efforts typically focus on threatened or socially important species, and are often centered around habitat connectivity, migration corridors, and other ways to “work together to conserve and protect a species in hopes of avoiding an ESA listing,” she said.

ESA in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Once a species is listed, a management plan may be drafted which governs how all agencies must work to protect it. Agencies must consult with Fish and Wildlife if they plan to take any action that may affect the protected species. “Any time you have humans on the landscape, you have a potential for negative consequences to a listed species,” Belleman said. And while Yellowstone is a refuge for many species, the public can’t simply expect the park to serve as a failsafe for wildlife in peril, she said. “The whole ecosystem operates as a larger landscape, and there are a lot of different types of management that occur,” Belleman said. “It gets complicated in a hurry. It requires some pretty extraordinary cooperation and coordination between all these entities.” Dan Stahler, a wildlife biologist with the Yellowstone Wolf Project, works closely with Belleman to consult on any park projects or management efforts that might affect lynx, grizzlies, or wolves. A road or human development project, for instance, might temporarily displace some bears from quality habitat, but would be unlikely to pose a long-term problem, Stahler said. Part of the evaluation process includes estimating how many bears might be negatively impacted, for instance, as a result of displacement, being struck by vehicles, or management removal resulting from human-conflict during the timeframe of a project. The consultation process evaluates what is an “acceptable loss” for bear mortality during a major, multi-year road project, for example, meaning those individual losses are unlikely to push the overall bear population closer to extinction, Stahler said. Importantly, the process identifies mitigation steps to avoid those or other losses, he said.

on, s i b e’s n”. n o t ws o doze o l l Ye ut tw g n i av of abo s n i tal a herd n e um led to r t s d in n s i a w ct w ha d d A y 02 ce 9 a 1 L y e “ Th which b Complex Decision

The decision whether to list a species as threatened or endangered is complex, said Ann Belleman, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist who works to administer the

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Another factor in managing for an endangered species is making sure critical habitat is protected for the maximum benefit of a threatened animal. In Yellowstone’s designated critical lynx habitat, best characterized by dense conifer forest inhabited by snowshoe hare and seasonally deep snows, the land is managed largely through protection from human disturbance and allowing for natural fire regimes, Stahler said. Even for some sensitive species not listed under the act, such as bald eagles or osprey, managers may restrict public access to nesting sites at certain times of year, he added.

But mainly, complying with the Endangered Species Act means some additional consultations on projects and extra paperwork to document compliance. Most of the work involves managing what people do on the landscape, rather than trying to control how animals behave, Stahler said. “I’ve recalibrated my view of what I once thought was tedious, and now see it as important,” Stahler said. “It is part of our commitment to these species, and that’s our job as biologists. I view myself as holding up the torch for the ESA; sometimes the process is slow and complicated, but it’s necessary.” Ruffin Prevost is founding editor of “Yellowstone Gate,” an online publication offering community news and inside views about Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.

Ross’s Bentgrass

Yellowstone Sand Verbena

Yellowstone Sulfur Buckwheat

Rare plants find home in Yellowstone’s unique thermal regions All summer long, traffic jams form in unlikely spots across Yellowstone National Park as visitors pile out of their vehicles to view captivating wildlife ranging from grizzly bears and gray wolves to bison and elk. But no one ever slams on the brakes to get a better look at a tree. Roy Renkin thinks that’s a shame. Renkin, a vegetation management specialist for Yellowstone, laments that “plants are taken for granted here, mostly because they’re not as showy” as charismatic megafauna. “But they’re important,” Renkin says of Yellowstone’s plants, including three species that only grow in relatively small sections of the park. “There’s a history why they’re here, and trying to understand them opens a wealth of information. So it behooves us to pay attention.” None of Yellowstone’s vegetation is listed as a threatened or endangered species, but the park’s unique conditions are home to a handful of endemic plants that visitors see less frequently than the most elusive moose or wariest weasel. Ross’s bentgrass, which grows just a few inches tall and flowers in early spring, is found only around geysers and thermal features in the Shoshone Geyser Basin and along the Firehole River drainage. The plant grows only at “vapor dominated sites,” like cracks in thermal areas or the walls of hot springs. Ross’s bentgrass requires just the right combination of warmth and moisture, conditions described by botanists as a “natural greenhouse.” Yellowstone sand verbena, another endemic species, grows only on 4 sites in loose, unconsolidated sand along the shores of Yellowstone Lake. The plant has sticky green leaves and small white flowers that rarely extend beyond three inches above the sandy soils where it is found. The largest sub-population of Yellowstone sand verbena thrives in warm sandy soil, which may mean that, like Ross’s bentgrass, it’s aided by the park’s peculiar thermal environment. Yellowstone sulfur buckwheat grows only on barren glacial till adjacent to thermal areas along the west side of the park. Most of the more than 250 wild buckwheat varieties grow in dry areas of the Rocky Mountains. Taxonomists are still debating how different Yellowstone’s specific variety is from other wild sulfur buckwheats, Renkin said. According to Renkin, the NPS petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1999 to list both Yellowstone sand verbena and Ross’s bentgrass under the Endangered Species Act. But more information was needed, and no action was taken. Park officials can take protective action even if a plant is not listed under the ESA, Renkin said. For instance, if research showed that foot traffic along a popular trail was harming a nearby patch of Yellowstone sand verbena, managers could close the trail or mandate no off-trail hiking in the area. Yellowstone Quarterly 5


Building A Sustainable Future at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch By Jenny Golding

The Lamar Buffalo Ranch, in the heart of the Lamar Valley, is surrounded by pristine Yellowstone wilderness. Ten miles from the nearest electric service, the facility runs entirely off the grid—powered by energy from the sun when available and running off of a propane generator when it is not. Used in the early 1900s as a working ranch to rehabilitate the park’s bison herd, the facility is now a peaceful campus for educational programs offered by the Yellowstone Association (YA) and the National Park Service (NPS). Amid sweeping views of the wildlife-rich valley, students immerse themselves in the sights, sounds, and smells of Yellowstone in a way possible only at Lamar—often viewing bears, wolves, bison and other wildlife over communal meals on the back porch of the historic bunkhouse. Residences for Lamar District park rangers and backcountry operations for the area are also located at the facility. As the existing solar energy system—installed in 1996—neared the end of its usable life, problems with system capacity led to frequent power outages and increased dependence on costly and unsustainable propane. When the time came to replace the aging system, the National Park Service, the Yellowstone Park Foundation (YPF), and a collection of corporate and nonprofit partners recognized an opportunity to fit the campus into the park’s strategic plan for sustainability, which sets goals for parkwide energy use and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. From a remarkable collaboration among multiple partners— including the NPS, YPF, YA, Toyota, Indy Power, Sharp,

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Georgia Tech, Kohler, Canyon Industries, and others—emerged the Lamar Sustainability Project. With expertise and input from the various partners, the project grew beyond simply replacing the energy system into something much bigger: creating a best practices example for off-grid facilities. The project aims not only to use on-site renewable energy to achieve zero fossil fuel use for daily operations, but also to create a research and education program that will be shared with students, park visitors, and the world through sustainability programs on campus and via the web. The first of several phases is well underway, with an innovative new energy system that goes live in spring 2015. Custom designed by Toyota and Indy Power, the system features 220 recycled Camry hybrid car batteries for storage, linked to real-time digital monitoring for energy tracking and education. Sharp donated 170 PV panels, each 250-watts, that are tucked out of sight on a nearby hillside so they don’t affect natural views. Kohler provided a backup propane generator. A microhydro system from Canyon Industries, which will produce energy from the water in nearby Rose Creek, will be installed in summer 2015 when funding for the first phase is complete. The new system vastly increases the current electric capacity of the ranch, and is projected to reduce current fossil fuel use by 25 percent. Replacing and improving the solar energy system is just the first piece of the larger sustainability puzzle at Lamar. The next phase will be to upgrade campus building envelopes. YA began renovating student cabins in 2011 to make them more energy efficient, including new windows donated by the Andersen


Corporation. Work on other campus buildings will begin as funding and support become available. The final step will be to transition existing propane-fueled heating systems to electric or an other non-fossil fuel based system, effectively reducing campus fossil fuel use to near zero. The educational potential is significant. Energy monitoring displays will be located in campus buildings and incorporated into educational programs for visitors to the ranch. Real-time energy use and tracking will be linked to the web, where students anywhere in the world will be able to link to the information to learn from Lamar, digitally. “We’re trying to make a model environmental facility that can illustrate what can be done with off-grid sites. What better place than an educational campus?” says Dennis McIntosh, YA director of facilities. The Lamar Sustainability Project is as much a story of partnership as it is about sustainability. Lynn Chan, Yellowstone National Park project manager, says, “We wouldn’t have been able to do it without all these partners doing their part. We are all driven by an ultimate goal to try to make the historic Lamar Buffalo Ranch sustainable and a place where we can tell the story.” Together, the partners are breaking new ground — including building new technology — w ith a level of collaboration that is both broad and deep. Melinda Gable, YPF senior director of communication and marketing, says that in addition to cash donations by project partners, “The in-kind and technical expertise is priceless, because of the incredible knowledge they are bringing to the table.”

top and bottom

Kevin Butt from Toyota Environmental inspects battery connections at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch.

As the first phase of the project nears completion, focus will shift towards raising funds and support for future phases. The Lamar Sustainability Project is a story still in the making; the park and its partners hope the environmental and educational potential will compel new partners and supporters to join the effort. As Chan says, “The ultimate goal is more than creating a sustainable facility with zero dependence on fossil fuels. It is sharing this energy story with park visitors and the world.” Jenny Golding is a former director of education for the Yellowstone Association. She currently writes from her home in Gardiner, Montana, on the border of Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone Quarterly 7


the secrets of by Jenny Golding

Imagine cycling in Yellowstone: just you, the sound of your bike tires on pavement, and miles of wildness. Seem too good to be true? For a short time each spring, in between spring plowing and the time when roads open to public motorized vehicles, the park allows non-motorized travel on the road between the West Entrance and Mammoth Hot Springs. It's an annual ritual known well to local cyclists, who relish the chance to bike in the park with little pressure from cars on what is otherwise a busy road system (although there is still traffic from NPS, concession, and/or construction vehicles). “There are so few times when you can be on a bike in the park and feel relatively safe from vehicles, and that narrow window of time when the roads aren’t open to other vehicle travel is an ideal time,” says Dylan Hoffman, director of sustainability for Yellowstone National Park Lodges. It is also a good time to experience the rhythms of spring—melting snow, migrating birds, and the first hints of the season turning—in a way that isn’t possible from behind a windshield. Hoffman says, “On a bike you’re moving at a pace that allows you to really experience the park. You see things that traveling at 45 miles per hour you might not have the chance to see.” Like everything in Yellowstone, spring cycling can have teeth. Weather is unpredictable, changing from sunny and mild to winter conditions instantly. Services in the park are extremely limited this time of year. Animals—particularly bison—often block the roadway, and bears are emerging from their dens. Being adequately prepared for changing conditions and wildlife encounters is critical. “We want people to have a good experience, and you can’t always guarantee that in the springtime,” says Tammy Wert, Yellowstone fee and film program manager. The opening of spring cycling is usually in late March, depending on road conditions. Cycling is allowed from Mammoth to West Yellowstone via Norris and Madison. While other routes at the east and south entrances may open for cycling as conditions allow, travel to Canyon and Old Faithful is prohibited until the first park roads open to motorized vehicles on April 17. The road from Mammoth to Cooke City is open to cyclists and automobiles year-round.

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Tips for a successful spring cycling trip: Monitor the park’s website or Facebook page for opening dates, or call the Visitor Services Office at 307.344.2107. View park rules and recommendations at nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/ springbike.htm, and live road updates at nps.gov/yell/ planyourvisit/parkroads.htm. Allow extra days to be able to wait for better weather if you’re traveling from out of town. Plan to be self-sufficient in all weather conditions, with food, water, winter clothing, and a bicycle repair kit. There are no facilities or services open this time of year. Start from the West Entrance with families, where the road is flatter. Plan for a shorter excursion in case the weather turns harsh. Ride single file. Even though traffic is light, there are administrative vehicles on the roads which can approach suddenly. Bring a mountain bike, which is the most versatile for road surfaces that can vary from dry to wet and snow covered, with patches of gravel and other rough terrain. Respect wildlife, which are particularly vulnerable as they come out of deep winter. Maintain a minimum distance of 100 yards from bears and wolves and 25 yards from other animals. Plan to turn around if there are bison in the road; carry bear spray and know how to use it. While spring cycling can be challenging, it can also be rewarding for the hardy and prepared. Hoffman says, “You feel like you have it to yourself in a way that most people don’t get to experience.”

Bring Your Family to Learn from Our Family! Spend time in the wilderness of Yellowstone connecting with your family and nature—and leave the education, driving, and logistics to us! Your family will go home with shared memories and a deeper understanding of the natural world that connects us all!

Yellowstone for Families This 4-day program includes 2 nights’ lodging at either Mammoth Hot Springs and Old Faithful Snow Lodge, or Mammoth Hot Springs and Grant Village. Families with kids ages 8-12 will explore waterfalls and geysers, track animals, and work on Junior Ranger badges. Minimum age: 8

Yellowstone Family Retreat On this 4-day program based at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch, you and the kids will learn side-by-side about Yellowstone’s wildlife, geology, and history through a variety of different adventures. Includes kid-friendly meals! Minimum age: 5

Family Private Tours Options include wildlife watching, day hiking, natural history, or geology. Combine days for a longer stay. We’ll also help your children work on their Junior Ranger badges. No minimum age

Visit YellowstoneAssociation.org or call 406.848.2400

Yellowstone Quarterly 9


Q&A Brian Chan NPS District Ranger

Growing up in the suburbs outside of Boston, Brian Chan was drawn to the woods behind his house at an early age. Years of exploring the “suburban wilderness,” and an interest in search and rescue, led him to study parks and recreation administration at Colorado State University and a job at Zion National Park. There he met his wife, Lynn, who is now a landscape architect in Yellowstone. Brian, a district ranger, has more than 25 years of experience living and working in Yellowstone’s Lamar Valley.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST JOB IN YELLOWSTONE?

HOW HAS LAMAR CHANGED IN YOUR TIME OUT THERE?

I was the backcountry supervisor in the old Lamar sub-district— covering the area from Lamar Canyon to the East Boundary and the North Boundary to Specimen Ridge. I started right after the 1988 fires, so it was a chaotic time with a lot of good dirty work reopening the trails and campsites.

Since the reintroduction of wolves, visitation has increased significantly. Now it’s the place to come to see wild wolves in North America. With that change comes the challenge of our dual mandate to provide for visitor experience and also protecting the resource. Wildlife jams are a great example of finding that balance. The park is here for people to enjoy and see wildlife, but we have to balance that with maintaining traffic flow or keeping people at a good distance so they can safely experience wildlife in their natural setting.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF THAT JOB?

Every day was a step back in time, patrolling on horseback and working out of the historic backcountry cabins. Reading the past rangers’ logs, I realized we were doing the same things and traveling by similar means as rangers have been doing since the Army took over. HOW LONG DID YOU WORK IN THE BACKCOUNTRY?

About three years until I was promoted to assistant sub-district ranger, which involved working closely with the sub-district ranger to manage all resource and visitor protection activities within the sub-district, such as law enforcement, medical, search and rescue, and wildland and structural fire. I did that until 2006 when we combined the Tower and Lamar sub-districts to create the Lamar River District, which now essentially encompasses the whole northeast corner of the park. As district ranger, I’m primarily focused on the administrative aspect of district management, but do my best to still be a field ranger. WHAT TYPE OF SEARCH & RESCUE OPERATIONS ARE MOST COMMON IN YOUR DISTRICT?

Recently, our search and rescue operations have primarily been river related. During spring runoff, folks get stranded or caught across the river, especially on the Specimen Ridge trail. We’ve also had problems with people engaging in illegal activities.

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HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT LIVING IN SUCH AN UNTOUCHED PLACE?

Extremely fortunate! Again, it’s a balance thing. This is a pristine area, but I’m also living out here right next to the Yellowstone Association Institute, so how do we keep that balance? We must continually evaluate and minimize development while providing beneficial services to visitors. In terms of the Institute, the education opportunities and experiences that people get when they take classes here are amazing, all of which tie into the reasons the park is here. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL VISITORS COMING TO THE PARK?

Keep in mind you are sharing your special moment with 3 million people. Yellowstone is a very special place because you can still have those experiences, but they come with responsibilities. As responsible shareholders, you must help to maintain the balance I’ve mentioned and take steps to minimize your impacts so that you not only have a once-in-a-lifetime experience of seeing wild bears and wolves in a natural setting, but also make sure that future generations will have that same opportunity.


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The Remarkable

RAVEN By Barbara Lee Illustration: Lynn Chan

Ravens were among the spiritual “sky people” to the Sheep Eaters, or Tukudika, who inhabited the Yellowstone area for many generations. Native American accounts spoke of ravens following wolves, and today’s wildlife experts confirm that these highly intelligent birds use wolves to lead them to animal carcasses—one of many food-finding strategies. During Yellowstone’s spring season, mated ravens tend their offspring—each a future aerial acrobat, master of numerous calls, and clever scavenger. The species has been associated with human activity over the centuries. You can picture that wherever Native Americans gathered, ravens soon appeared— inquisitive and astoundingly bold, just as they are now.

Yellowstone Quarterly 11


Roiling and bubbling in the superheated waters of Yellowstone National Park may be the answer to some of life’s greatest questions. Countless numbers of heat-loving microbes, called “thermophiles,” thrive in the park’s thermal features and are touted by some as being the area’s most prevalent, yet least understood, living organisms. Researchers, however, are working diligently to change that. While individually invisible to the human eye—think 50 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair—microbes accomplish great tasks. These include, for example, eroding mountainsides, processing hydrogen sulfide gas, and coloring the extremities of Yellowstone’s most celebrated hot springs, including Morning Glory and Grand Prismatic. Scientists’ viewpoints of what these microbes can accomplish for humanity, however, are a little more pragmatic. Recent research suggests the park’s thermophiles may lead not only to a better understanding of how life evolved on early Earth, but also how we can address modern challenges, such as global warming, mining pollution, and the AIDS and ebola viruses. It began in the 1960s, when a researcher named Thomas Brock uncovered what would one day become the key to modern DNA sequencing. Thermus aquaticus, a thermophilic bacteria, was thriving in an unassuming hot spring in Yellowstone’s Lower Geyser Basin when Brock captured a sample of the bacteria. Years later, researchers realized one of its heat-stable enzymes could speed up the process

Mysterious of copying DNA, over and over, leading to a billion-dollar industry with far-reaching effects. This DNA copying process, called polymerase chain reaction (or PCR), spearheaded the Human Genome Project, aids criminal investigations, and furthers medical research. Thermus aquaticus started a trend of bioprospecting, or looking for useful microorganisms, in Yellowstone’s thermal basins. Searching out new thermophiles constitutes a measurable portion of research currently conducted in Yellowstone. According to Sue Mills, the park’s technology transfer coordinator, of the 55 known U.S. patents based on research related to the study of biological material originating in national parks, 53 were based on the study of Yellowstone specimens. Among U.S. national park areas, Yellowstone is at the forefront of scientific discoveries regarding thermophiles. Yellowstone did not realize any monetary benefit from early Thermus aquaticus research. However, starting in 2010, researchers and their organizations must now enter into an agreement to share any monetary or commercial benefits with the National Park Service before commercializing their research results. The money goes back into protecting park resources. Stacey Gunther, research permit coordinator for the Yellowstone Center for Resources, says bioprospecting is different from extractive industries such as logging or mining. Research proposals are carefully reviewed to ensure Leave No Trace principles are followed, she says, and specimens obtained from the park are not for sale—only the knowledge or applications gleaned from them and replications in the laboratory. “Research projects are considered as long as the work can be conducted

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in a manner that does not threaten or diminish the resources for which Yellowstone National Park was established,” Gunther says. “If a proposal is determined to have unacceptable impacts, the park will request that the researchers modify their methods. The park has denied permit applications in the past due to methods that may have been too impactful to resources.” Bruce Fouke, professor of Geology and Microbiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, serves as director of the Roy J. Carver Biotechnology Center. He brings students from around the world each year to Yellowstone, teaches courses for the Yellowstone Association Institute, and has spent 18 years studying Mammoth Hot Springs and its microbes—some fossilized in travertine and dating back as much as 33,000 years. He says studying ancient bacteria encased in solid rock provides a historical context of how life may have evolved on early Earth and potentially other planets. These findings also apply to understanding the hidden majority of microbial life currently living in the outer crust of the Earth. Studying and understanding microbes “is essential to a wide variety of pressing and societally relevant issues, including climate change, oil and gas extraction, human medicine, and exploration for extra-terrestrial life,” Fouke says. Other emerging research includes Sulfolobus, a thermophile found in some of Yellowstone’s most acidic thermal features. A virus that preys on Sulfolobus may provide researchers with a better understanding

s Microbes:

How Yellowstone’s Thermophiles Affect All of Us By Chelsea DeWeese

of how the AIDS virus hijacks proteins in the human body. A field diagnosis tool for detecting ebola and other infectious diseases—which uses enzymes derived from Yellowstone thermophiles—was nearing approval as this Yellowstone Quarterly went to press. And while new discoveries are taking place at an incredible rate, most researchers will say that modern science has merely scratched the surface. During a winter resources update for Yellowstone guides, Brent Peyton from Montana State University’s Thermal Biology Institute estimated that less than 1 percent of Yellowstone’s thermophilic potential has been discovered, which means possibilities are virtually endless. “Ninety-nine percent of biotechnology is out there waiting to be discovered,” says Peyton, who researches how thermophiles and other microbes may help process toxic waste and increase biofuel production. Others in his department are studying how microbes may be used to help grow crops in a warming climate.

Learn More The Yellowstone Resource Education and Youth Programs Division spreads knowledge of Yellowstone and its thermophiles through a variety of outlets, including ranger-led walks, interpretive signage, handouts, and exhibits in the park’s visitor centers. For more information please visit nps.gov/yell

The possibilities weren’t lost on early scientists and policymakers, who designated Yellowstone the world’s first national park in 1872. Some suspected life in Yellowstone’s thermal waters, but it was a matter of time until technology could confirm those suspicions. Today, the focus is on communicating the importance of thermophiles to the visiting public—and to the next generation of Yellowstone stewards. Katy Duffy, a former interpretive planner with the park’s resource education and youth programs division, notes, “When the division’s formal education group leads youth programs in thermal basins, a discussion on thermophiles is now always included.” Chelsea DeWeese, a Montana native, is a guide and educator who writes about the environment from her hometown of Gardiner, Montana, at the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone Quarterly 13


Nn Naturalist Notes

The Anticipation of Spring By Ken Voorhis, Director of Education; Illustration by Maria Bisso

winter in yellowstone is a favorite for many. A peaceful season, full of wonder, but lasting often from October through April. Many species look ahead to warming days when things begin to grow green again and come alive. We humans are no exception, watching expectantly for signs that tell us that spring is on the way. This year a grizzly bear was spotted out and about near Mud Volcano in early February. I saw a Uinta ground squirrel in Mammoth near the end of that same month. By the end of March, red-winged black birds will be singing in the wetlands above the Gardner River. Phenology is the study of seasonal biological changes. Naturalists throughout time have kept records of blooming times, arrival dates of migrating birds, the first or last snow, and a myriad of observable natural phenomena that mark the progression from one season to another. In doing so, one is able to develop a deeper connection with place, and an awareness, for example, that when meadowlarks arrive, “red dogs” or baby bison will not be far behind. Phenological records have become of increasing interest and value as they relate to understanding and tracking

climate change. Surveys of vernal pools—temporary depressions of water that dry up as the season warms—have shown earlier melting out, and a shortened time before they dry up. Amphibians dependent on such places for breeding could be threatened if the time it takes to mature from egg to larva to adult is longer than the time these pools are in existence. Frank Craighead Jr.’s book For Everything There Is a Season assembles years of observations into a week-by-week account of the sequence of natural events in the Grand Teton – Yellowstone area. It is an enjoyable read and fun to track what he records along with what is being observed in your own home place. As spring approaches, I’m watching for Yellowstone harbingers like a bluebird on the snow or the yellow of buttercups under the sagebrush that say, “Warmer weather, green hillsides, and fields of wildflowers are on the way!”

What is the harbinger where you live?

14


YA Family Shelly Siedlaczek Park store operations manager Not long after, she heard about YA’s mission and wanted to get involved. She started part-time as executive assistant to former YA Executive Director Pat Cole. Her duties ran the gamut from organizing mail to building maintenance to board meeting coordination. “I did a little bit of everything,” she recalls. “YA has grown so much since then!”

A native of Chicago, Shelly Siedlaczek spent the first part of her career in office furniture product marketing /product development in western Michigan—but soon the mountains called to her. Drawn by their love of the outdoors and the mystique of the Rockies, she and her husband Mark began exploring opportunities in Yellowstone and the western United States. “We wanted a lifestyle change and didn’t want to wait for retirement!” she explains. Mark landed a year-round position with Yellowstone National Park Lodges, and in 2009 he and Shelly moved to Yellowstone.

For the past six years, Shelly has worked in the Development Department managing the Association’s extensive membership program. She recently transitioned into a new role as Park Store operations manager, where she oversees the operation of the Association’s 12 Park Stores. Her job includes working closely with 47 year-round and seasonal Park Store staff to ensure that visitors have the best experience possible. “Our job is to share our passion and extensive knowledge of the park with visitors,” she says. “We strive to offer everyone an opportunity to help preserve the park through our membership program.” Shelly feels strongly about the Association’s mission and the part the organization plays in preserving the park she loves. “I first visited Yellowstone with my family as a kid, and in many ways it looks the same as I remember. I hope that never changes. I love my job at YA and I’m proud to be a steward of the park.”

Leave a legacy for Yellowstone

The Summit Society was created to recognize and honor those who have chosen to preserve Yellowstone for future generations by making a gift to the Yellowstone Association in their estate plans. Planned giving is an excellent way to make a meaningful charitable gift, while minimizing taxes and increasing the possibilities for effective distribution of assets. Learn more about including Yellowstone in your estate plans—or let us know that you’ve already done so—by contacting Stacey Orsted, director of development, at 406.848.2855 or plannedgiving@yellowstoneassociation.org.

Yellowstone Quarterly 15


New for Summer 2015:

If you love observing nature and learning about Yellowstone, expand your knowledge through the new Yellowstone Naturalist series! Seven short courses on key Yellowstone topics are designed to broaden your understanding of the ecology, plants, geology, wildlife, and history of the park. Complete all seven courses and receive your “Yellowstone Naturalist” certification and a t-shirt from the Institute. Courses will be offered yearly, and certification may be completed over time. Courses in the series are also pre-approved for credit from University of Montana Western.

For more information or to request a summer 2015 Institute catalog, visit YellowstoneAssociation.org or call 406.848.2400

Cindy Shearstone of Taunton, Massachusetts, member of four years, made her Yellowstone Quarterly part of Red Sox Nation and Boston Strong by bringing it to Boston’s historic Fenway Park.

LEFT

Become a

Nine-year members Helen-Marie and Paul Holmgren of Flagstaff, Arizona, proudly display their YQ in front of Europe’s fourth-largest church in Milan, Italy.

Yellowstone Guardian!

Right

Go green this spring and join a growing group of forward-thinking, eco-friendly members. Yellowstone Guardians contribute automatically to YA’s mission through our monthly giving membership program. For as little as $10 per month, this convenient way to support Yellowstone National Park helps reduce printing and mailing costs, ensuring that more of your membership gift goes directly to education and research.

Become a Guardian member by May 1 and receive our eco-friendly tote bag featuring North America’s largest hot spring, Grand Prismatic, as our way of saying “Thank you!” for going green and supporting Yellowstone.* Please reference offer code YQGUARD15 when calling 406.848.2400 or online at yellowstoneassociation.org/guardian (scroll down).

ABOVE New member Laurinda Bedingfield of Somerville, Massachusetts, packed her YQ on a snowshoeing adventure in Antarctica, pausing for a photo in front of Port Lockroy and the Penguin Post Office.

*International members are asked to join at $12 per month or higher due to postage. This offer is only available online and via phone (not in YA Park Stores)..

Send us a photo of yourself or a fellow member holding a copy of Yellowstone Quarterly and you could be featured in an upcoming issue!

What Lies

Beneath the snoW

By Jenny Golding

Submission Guidelines Submit photo(s) to members@yellowstoneassociation.org. For a complete list of submission guidelines please visit YellowstoneAssociation.org or contact us at the email address above.

YeLLoWstone’s ecosYstem is

dominated by snow, covering much of the park landscape from November to April and often persisting at higher elevations well into June. For park visitors, winter is not only a good time for over-snow recreation, but it is also an opportunity to study the ecology of animals during the most challenging time of year—when bitter temperatures, wind, and snow accumulation make survival to spring tricky. {  s upranivean  }

{  i ntranivean  }

{  s ubnivean  } 6

16

correction

In the winter 2014 Yellowstone Quarterly we incorrectly identified the photographer of the beautiful fox in snow photo on page 6. The photo was taken by John Tangney . (Pbase.com/jctangney)

PHOTOS MARIA BISSO: PGS ii, 2, 8, 11, 12, 15, 16; STEVE HINCH: TOC; NPS: PGS. 2-3, 5; PAM CAHILL: PG. 5; KEN VOORHIS: PG. 10; KAREN WITHROW: PGS. 12, 13; BILL MAHONEY: PG. 12; JONMIKEL PARDO: PGS.12, 13; MACNEIL LYONS: PG. 12; STEPHANIE RIPLEY: PG. 13; MEG SOMMERS: PG.15; SHIRLEY COPE: BACKCOVER


M E M B E R S H IP THANK YOU! We wish to acknowledge those who contributed to the Yellowstone Association between October 1, 2014, and December 31, 2014. Because of space constraints, the following list includes membership contributions of $1,000 or more and Special Tribute gifts. Your support — regardless of size — plays a critical role in the Association’s mission to connect people to Yellowstone through education. YELLOWSTONE SOCIETY FALLS $10,000 – $24,999

Gale and Shelby Davis Margie and Earl Holland * The Jacquart Family Lollie Plank Cappy and Bob Shopneck BECHLER $5,000 - $9,999

Sue and Mike Arneson Mary and Len Beavis Ginny and Mike Campbell Sandy and Lee Choate Marguerite and Tom Detmer Katherine Loo and Jim Raughton Jean and Robert Morgan Robin Tawney Nichols and William Nichols George Ohrstrom Joy and Jordan Renner Anne and John Weisman GALLATIN $2,500 - $4,999

Muriel and Don Ableson Carolyn and William D’Evelyn Sandy and David Epstein Barbara Francis and Robert Musser Dabney and Charles Hart Sylvia and William Hunsberger Julia and Richard Llewellyn Dana and David Martin Cara and Adam Mika Carolyn Rosin LAMAR $1,000 - $2,499

Candace Allen and Robert Woodward Marcia Bansley Teresa and Jeffrey Bastin Michelle Bergeron and Patrick Gaunt Candy and Louis Brad Marilyn Brown and Doug Morton Debra and William Brownlie Jennifer and Chad Carlson Richard Civita Linda and William Cornell Susan and David Covey Joseph Davenport Chris and Timothy Davis Chad Dayton Robert Dircks Jr. Elizabeth and Maurice Druzin Debbie and John Edgcomb Betty Jean and Thomas Eubanks Kim and Kent Fletcher Frances and Robert Fosnaugh Nancy and Peter Gallo Gloria Garrett Susan and David Gentile Susan and William Gillilan

Melody and Barry Graham Margaret Hart John Harvey Deborah Hinkley Sandy and Scott Johnson Carolyn and Steven Jones Harriett Kesler Cynthia and Gregory Kozmetsky Deborah and John Lahey Onelia Lazzari Catherine Mack * Mary Lou and Ben Marchello Mattone Family Charitable Foundation Beth Maxwell Kathy and Roy Meyer Donna and Doug Mitchell Meredith Moran * Axson and Bryan Morgan Ruth Nevils The Eric and Joan Norgaard Charitable Trust Kathleen O’Neil David Ottolino Wendy Palmer and Richard Ruh Yvonne and Edwin Parish Jocelyn Perry and Daniel Samelson Martha Pittard and Allan Krapfs Katharine and Kurt Rice Barbara Sample Carol and Robert Scallan Ede Ellen Schmidt and Thomas Weber Allison Sikes William Sowter Mary Ann and William Sullivan Bernard Sussman Jane Sutton Susan and Richard Sweet Betty Tichich and Fred Bunch Elizabeth Trowbridge Karen and Robert Uhlenbeck Anne Young and Jim Nielson Barbara and Donald Zucker Karin Zuckerman * Yellowstone Guardian—our sustainable monthly giving program.

BUSINESS MEMBERS ELITE $5,000 - $9,999

Faulkner Family Foundation EDUCATIONAL ENDOWMENT Unless otherwise noted, planned gifts, memorials and honor gifts will support our educational endowment.

Ginny and Mike Campbell - $2,000 Anonymous - $400,000 Anonymous - $1,000 Anonymous - $1,000

SUMMIT SOCIETY The Summit Society recognizes those individuals or families that have included the Yellowstone Association in their estate planning to ensure the preservation of Yellowstone for future generations.

Marge and Dave Baylor Anne Young and Jim Nielson SPECIAL TRIBUTE DONORS The following donors made a contribution to the Yellowstone Association as a tribute to someone or something special in their lives.

In Honor of Julianne Baker

Leonard Evans Gail Faulkner

In Honor of Lieutenant William A. Mooney, USN Pilot

Robert Mooney In Memory of John Mulvihill

Hannah and John Berglund Kathleen and Ramon McLean Riley Murphy Jane and Robert Nagel Molly and Dennis Stewart In Memory of Dick Pate

Margo Cutler In Memory of Miles Pierman

Chastin Pierman

In Memory of Vincent Benenato

In Honor of Bonnie Quinn

Elayne Axel

Ava and Henry Brandis

In Memory of Katherine Bevis

In Honor of Boyd Ratchye, from his grandson Charles

Claudia and Carl Bajema Lana and Walter Brock In Honor of Vicki Burton and Brent Breithaupt

Ellen Foster In Memory of Michael Sample

Linda Mickley and Kurt Miller

Debbie and John Miller Donnie Seibel and Paul Fanshawe

In Memory of Brian A. Connolly and BConnolly Books, LLC

Beverly and Michael Fusfield

Heather Jerome In Honor of Ken Drury

Lise Pederson In Memory of Jerry Finnegan

Judith Finnegan In Memory of Sharon Glynn

Christine Brocato In Honor of Aubrey Greif

Tamar Small and Jonathan Greif In Memory of Ed Hutchinson

In Memory of Toby Schneider In Memory of June Schussman

Donna and John Kimball In Honor of Shayon

Sudipto Roy In Memory of William McCaa Taylor

Joan Campbell and Matt Gnesin In Memory of Arthur R. Tremaine

Linda and Ron Stephen In Memory of Brian William Turck

In Memory of Barbara Irvine

Kerry and Gary Turck Rebecca Berryhill and Michael Brock

Rebecca Berryhill and Michael Brock

Doreen Fiedler

Nancy Hutchinson

In Memory of Mathew Robert Kehl

Jane and Robert Kehl In Honor of Jay and Jackie Lauderdale

Helen and John Lauderdale In Memory of Jean Leckie

Rebecca Berryhill and Michael Brock In Honor of Demisio and Helen Lujan

From their daughters Janelle, Jeanette, Kim, Meg, and Rhonda In Memory of Rick Madden

In Honor of Jodie Weaver In Honor of the Wesley Medical Center 10th Floor Staff

Glenda and Frank Schmidt In Memory of Bill Yadon, Ben Red and Luther Patton

Katy Weaver In Honor of the Yellowstone Association Library

John Harvey In Honor of Wai Yuen and Ray Lewis

Melissa Bryant

Kathy and Ed Fronheiser In Honor of Stephanie and Anita Goodrich-Pederson

Pat Mount In Memory of Priscilla A. Marsh

Anne Egbert In Honor of Beth Maxwell

Patricia and Terry McHenry

Every effort has been made to ensure that this list is accurate and complete. We apologize if your name has been omitted or otherwise improperly reported. Please contact us at 406.848.2400 if you feel this is the case so we can correct our records.

To learn more about the different ways you can support Yellowstone through education, please contact Stacey Orsted, director of development, at 406.848.2855 or sorsted@yellowstoneassociation.org. Yellowstone Quarterly 17


406.848.2400

Arrowleaf Balsamroot flowers

Stay Connected —  Join the Community! Whether you are in the park or at home, we can help you stay connected to Yellowstone. Visit our website for current reports from the field or a live view from our Roosevelt Arch webcam. Subscribe to our monthly E-Newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for daily park updates.


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