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YELLOWSTONE
The Bison of Yellowstone National Park NPS Scientific Monograph No. 1 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
Methods
Chapter 2: THE STUDY AREA
Physiography
Climate
Vegetation
History
Chapter 3: THE BISON POPULATION
The historic population
Mountain bison
Numbers and distribution through 1902
The present population
Origins
Present composition
Numbers and distribution
Chapter 4: GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Physical characteristics
Appearance
Weight
Life Span
Behavioral characteristics
Grouping characteristics
Behavior and specific circumstances
Senses and disposition
Visitor opportunities to see bison
Chapter 5: POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS
Sexual maturity
Reproduction rate
Fetal sex ratio
Number of young at birth
Population structure
Calf percentages
Mortality
Calf Mortality
Subadult mortality
Other mortality
Population trends
Chapter 6: MORTALITY FACTORS
Parasites
Internal parasites
External parasites
Diseases
Predation
Other causes
Chapter 7: HABITS
Calving
Rut
Movements
Migratory movements
Summer range movements
Winter range movements
Movements beyond park boundaries
Mixing of population segments
Food habits
Chapter 8: HABITAT RELATIONSHIPS
Use of forage areas
Use of thermal areas
Effects on habitat
Chapter 9: SUGGESTED MECHANISMS OF POPULATION REGULATION
APPENDICES
I Common and scientific names of plantsII Summary of bison reports prior to 1903, Yellowstone National Park and vicinity
III Reports of wild bison, 1903-19, Yellowstone National Park
IV Bison population, 1902-68
V Data on fetal sizes compiled from tabulation of late January 1941 (Skinner 1941)
VI Known bison movements to and beyond Yellowstone National Park boundaries, 1942-67
VII Occurrence of grasses and grasslike plants in bison use areas
FIGURES
2 Aerial view of a part of the forested plateau
3 Springtime view west across lower Lamar Valley
4 Upper Lamar drainage, Absaroka Mountains in background
5 Bison on the Pelican Valley winter range
6 A part of the Hayden Valley winter range
7 Lower Geyser Basin, Firehole winter range, early spring
8 Summer range on the western part of the Pitchstone Plateau
9 Cows and calves, Hayden Valley, sometime before 1894.
10 Skulls of Bison bison athabascae and B. b. bison
11 Map of bison distribution and movements in historic times
12 Bison wintering in Hayden Valley prior to 1894.
13 Buffalo Jones and Army Scout Holt with captured bison calf
14 Clipped appearance of a mature bull.
15 Bison shedding old hair, mid-summer
16 Wisps of shed bison hair on a branch of a lodgepole pine
17 Newly-born calves in a mixed herd group.
18 Calf that has lost its first red-brown pelage.
19 Head shape and size of cow compared with bull
20 Spike-horn bull, approximately 2.5 years old.
21 Spike-horn bull, yearling female, cows, and bull.
22 Horns of adult cow and spike-horn bull compared
23 Old Tex, a record Yellowstone bull
24 Bison population trends from population counts, 1936-68
25 Trench left in soft snow by traveling bison
26 Bull bison foraging in snow approximately 2.5 feet deep
27 Feeding site in snow approximately 2 feet deep
28 Calves a few days old
29 Grassy spot uprooted by bison horning during the rut
30 Map of the Lamar-Pelican area
31 Map of Hayden Valley-Firehole-Madison Plateau area
32 Bison herd groups on Alum Creek, Hayden Valley
33 Bison on the strip of sedge meadows along upper Alum Creek
34 A herd group on the east boundary near Canoe Lake
35 Map showing bison movements across park boundaries
36 Neckbanded bison in a group at Pocket Basin on the Firehole.
37 Population fluctuations in wintering areas caused by shifts
38 Snow-free bison feeding site on warm ground in Firehole
39 The same site shown in Figure 38, in early summer
40 Warm site along Alum Creek in Hayden Valley
41 The same site shown in Figure 40, in summer
42 Bison bull wintering among active geysers and hot springs
43 Aerial view of the Alum Creek winter feeding area.
44 Hot water keeps Firehole River open all winter
45 Sedge growth along Firehole River provides winter forage
46 Bison in small thermal area west of Astringent Creek
47 Trees debarked by rubbing bison, Hayden Valley
48 Bison horning effects on a lodgepole pine
49 Bull bison at a wallow which is used year after year
50 A bison trail, Hayden Valley area
51 Pelican Valley population numbers, 1902-68
TABLES
2 Summary, native bison information 1860-1915
3 Composition of fenced herd, 1902-15
4 Presumed age and sex composition, fenced herd, 1903-10
5 Presumed age classes of male bison on the range, 1921
6 Distribution of the present population, 1969
7 Comparative distribution of bulls wintering apart from mixed groups
8 Opportunities to see bison from present park roads
9 Number of cows and calves removed during reductions
10 Comparison of female pregnancy rates, by age classes, 1940-41 and 1964-66
11 Summary of reproductive data and fetal sex ratios, 1931-32 through 1964-66
12 Comparison of winter climatic factors in Wood Buffalo and Yellowstone National parks
13 Age classes of bison trapped, reductions of 1964-66
14 Calf percentages of mixed herd numbers in spring
15 Calf percentages of pooled mixed herd numbers throughout the year
16 Comparative summary of movements shown by the present wintering populations
17 Food habits as indicated by rumen sample analysis
18 Presence of factors which may affect suitability of habitat for wintering mixed herd groups
Richard Nixon
President of the United StatesRogers C. B. Morton, Secretary
U.S. Department of the InteriorRonald H. Walker, Director
National Park ServiceAs the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has basic responsibilities for water, fish, wildlife, mineral, land, park, and recreational resources. Indian and Territorial affairs are other major concerns of America's "Department of Natural Resources." The Department works to assure the wisest choice in managing all our resources so each will make its full contribution to a better United States—now and in the future.
This publication is one a series of research studies devoted to special topics which have been explored in connection with the various areas in the National Park System. It is printed at the Government Printing Office.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 73-600221
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Last Updated: 24-Jan-2005