Customer Reviews

Rocky Times in Rocky Mountain National Park: An Unnatural History

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In this book, former National Park Service (NPS) scientist Karl Hess argues that the NPS has damaged the environment of Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) by failing to deal with an overabundance of elk. Without natural predators such as wolves, these elk have eaten all the available forage, such as young willows and aspen. These trees have been unable to remain in their former range, where they have been replaced by stands of ponderosa pines (among other trees). Their loss also affects habitat for beavers, ptarmigans, black bears, and many other animals. The harm to beavers is particularly damaging, leading to the destruction of the park's meadows and wetlands.

It's quite an indictment, and Hess makes it forcefully. He explains the ecological consequences of having too many elk in accessible terms.

He's much weaker on what to do about the elk. He doesn't explicitly advocate shooting the elk, though that solution certainly comes to mind (and once was used). Hess recommends handing the park over to a conservation trust whose incentives would differ from those of the NPS. It's easy to pick that apart, and he hasn't thought it through in sufficient detail.

Despite the weak policy recommendations, this is rightfully a classic book among critics of the NPS and its management. Tourism and local economic development take precedence over the natural resources in the park.