Huff and Varley review the information on the subject of natural regeneration in Yellowstone National Park's northern range. The greatest concern to park managers and their critics over recent decades has been the assertions that the northern range is "over-populated with elk and thus overgrazed and seriously eroded". Data have been published supporting this viewpoint. Other scientists have challenged this opinion with the results of longer term studies and disparate interpretations of data gathered by the critics. According to Huff and Varley the most compelling evidence to date seems to indicate that the northern range is robust and productive (Singer 1996). The northern range appears to be sustaining historically high herbivore populations with evidence those populations show the effects of both external (hunting) and density-dependent controls. Huff and Varley note that the ultimate question the Park Service will have to answer is whether or not natural regulation will best serve the local, national, and global constituencies of Yellowstone. The natural regulation policy and its implementation on Yellowstone's northern range will continue to be at the forefront of the debate on just how intensively wildlife should be managed in the park.
Citations and enhanced abstracts for journals articles and documents focused on rangeland ecology and management. RSIS is a collaboration between Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming.