Even for people familiar with Yellowstone, the sight of American white pelicans on the rivers and lakes of the first national park is a pleasant surprise. Often thought of as tropical birds, Yellowstone's pelicans spend winter ranging from southern California to Central America. They migrate north in the summer to breed and raise their young in rookeries on the islands of the mountain west, including Yellowstone Lake.

American white pelicans can weigh up to 20 pounds and have a wingspan over 9 feet, making them one of the largest birds in the Yellowstone ecosystem. They can usually be seen in groups, either flying in straight lines or in rafts on rivers and lakes that can resemble ice flows. Unlike brown pelicans, which are found exclusively in warmer, coastal climates, white pelicans do not dive for food. Instead, they work as a group to surround and entrap the small fish and crustaceans that make up the bulk of their diet.

For contemporary anglers, pelicans are welcome fishing companions that add to the Yellowstone experience. But in 1924, there was an unofficial program designed to eliminate these birds with the aim of increasing trout stocks for sport. Every summer, hundreds of pelican eggs were destroyed. Fortunately, after public outcry, a study in 1931 concluded that the predator-prey relationship between pelicans and trout was a natural one; it was human activity that needed to be controlled. Almost immediately, fishing regulations were changed to reflect this new philosophy.

The wisdom of this philosophy can be seen in the abundance of both pelicans and anglers frequenting Yellowstone in the summer. For humans, the Yellowstone experience for both anglers and non- anglers has been enhanced. For the pelicans it means they have a safe summer home in the wilds of one of America's national treasures.

For over 15 years, the Yellowstone Association has been the National Park Service's partner in the publication of Yellowstone Science. Yellowstone Association members and donors fully fund the printing costs with National Park Service researchers and historians providing the content in this semi- technical quarterly magazine. Yellowstone Science is recognized as the popular journal of science in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Please help us continue to support this important publication and become a member today. To join, call 307-344-2289 or go online.

By Lee H. Whittlesey and Elizabeth A. Watry. Treat yourself to a photographic history tour of Yellowstone. Historians Whittlesey and Watry have chosen images that show the story and extracted details from park archives and private collections to tell the story. Together, they have produced an arm-chair old-time tour every fan of Yellowstone will enjoy. Price: $19.99 ($16.99 for YA members)

Summer may be winding down but it's not too late for a fun Yellowstone getaway. This August and September, the Institute still has room in several courses. These high quality programs are one of the best bargains in the park: tuition averages $100 per day. Choose from the following:

Expedition to the Thorofare and Beyond
Navigating with Compass, Stars, and Satellites
Shaping the Northern Yellowstone Landscape
Words Inspired by Wilderness
Writing Retreat: The Wild Shore of Yellowstone
From the Ground Up: Botanical Illustration
Seeing Yellowstone Through Geologists Glasses
Behind the Scenes of Wolf Behavior and Ecology
The Human Dimension of Grizzly Bear Management
The Park's Most Traveled 30 Miles
Geology Road Trip

To enroll, call 307-344-2294 or go online.

On Friday, July 18 District Court Judge Donald W. Molloy issued an injunction that restored endangered species protection to wolves in Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana pending the outcome of litigation against permanent removal from the endangered species list. In his 40 page ruling, Molloy pointed to the recovery criteria established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service stating that there must be genetic mixing between wolf populations in the Yellowstone ecosystem, central Idaho, and northwest Montana. A 2007 study commissioned by the Fish and Wildlife Service showed that this mixing has not occurred.

Judge Molloy also argued that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's acceptance of Wyoming's 2007 plan was arbitrary and capricious. The plan did not commit the state to preserving at least 15 breeding pairs. In addition, in over 90 percent of the state not included in Grand Teton or Yellowstone National Parks, wolves were to be considered predators that could be shot on sight for any reason. In the remaining 10 percent, wolves were to be considered trophy animals, subject to regulated hunting. However, the line surrounding the trophy hunting area was considered to be too malleable, thus not providing adequate protection for the wolves. According to the ruling, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service did not provide adequate reasoning for allowing these concessions in Wyoming.