Elk in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem : conflicts over management and conservation prior to natural regulation

Abstract

To the residents of Montana and Wyoming, Rocky Mountain elk long have represented an important resource of sustenance and consumptive recreation. The mission of protection and preservation of the elk by the stewards of Yellowstone National Park often opposes the culture of use beyond its boundaries. Since its inception in 1872, Yellowstone has stood at the core of numerous battles fought locally over the elk, revealing the preeminence of this species among the region's wildlife. Conflicting values and the threat of federal infringement become manifest in elk management and use philosophies throughout the jurisdictionally fragmented Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.