New Report: Yellowstone Ecosystem Healthy, But Facing Challenges

The recently issued Superintendent's 2008 Report on Natural Resource Vital Signs marks a new effort to gauge the health of the ecosystem in Yellowstone National Park. Intended to be the first in a series of annual reports, the 2008 report concludes that while Yellowstone is healthy, it is facing challenges as a result of changes taking place both inside and outside the park's boundaries. The report is based on research and data on 27 "vital signs" chosen by experts to monitor the health of the park's natural resources. It's the first time the park has taken a comprehensive look at this body of information in an attempt to assess overall impacts which will aid management decisions. The report reveals both positive and negative findings regarding the health of the Yellowstone ecosystem. Especially encouraging is the fact that species like the grizzly bear, the bald eagle and the gray wolf, which have received additional effort and funding as part of recovery plans under the Endangered Species Act, have now recovered to sustainable population levels. Mountain goats (a nonnative species) are thriving. But ecological stressors such as invasive species, land use change, and climate change are taking their toll. Examples are the park's pronghorn population, which has declined dramatically; whitebark pine, which is under siege from white pine blister rust and mountain pine beetles; the resident, non-migratory trumpeter swan population, down from 60 in 1968 to only 6 today; and Yellowstone cutthroat trout populations, which have been significantly impacted by invasive lake trout. The report also raises concerns about how air pollution from outside the park may be changing native plant habitat inside the park. In the report's conclusion, Superintendent Suzanne Lewis acknowledges that issues like bison management and oversnow vehicle use continue to be controversial.