The problem of restoring and maintaining wildlife in our national parks
is not as simple as one might suppose. The mere creation of a preserve
or area within which all wild animals are protected has proved
non-sufficient. While it is true that these areas offer excellent
opportunity for preserving a wonderful variety of primitive wildlife
stock in its native habitat for future generations, it is equally true
that the very laws establishing the National Park Service in 1916 have
almost defeated their original intentions. The law emphasizes that the
fundamental purpose of the Park Service shall be to conserve the scenery
of Park areas and the wildlife therein, and to provide for the enjoyment
of the same in such a way as will leave them unimpaired for the
enjoyment of future generations. Roads, camp and picnic grounds, trails,
and dwelling conveniences represent efforts by the Service to provide
for the enjoyment of Park scenery and wildlife. However, each new road,
trail, and "tourist convenience" removes wildlife food and cover from
the Park and causes timid animals to retreat from these zones of human
use. Moreover, it destroys the natural area which is supposed to be left
"unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations." Furthermore, many
animals lack the flexibility to adapt themselves to new habitats, once
the ancestral areas are invaded or destroyed by man. With increasing
numbers of visitors using the Parks, how can this tremendous conflict
between man and wildlife be reconciled without the impairment of
primitive wildlife or the restriction of human occupancy? It probably
cannot be, and each ideal will have to sacrifice a portion of the
original grand intentions. In every decision of human or wildlife use,
the Park Service makes a strenuous effort to establish a happy medium
and still conform to the basic purpose of the national parks.
The U. S. Forest Service which administers most of the mountain lands
surrounding the National Park, considers wildlife as a crop to be
cultivated and harvested by hunting under Colorado state game laws.
National forest wildlife judgments are dove-tailed with other important
forest policies such as timber growing, watershed protection, and
domestic stock grazing.
The invasion of man into these now semi-wild areas has created changed,
even severe, conditions for the existing wildlife. The efforts by man to
counterbalance certain unfavorable conditions for the animals and
therefore to conserve and administer them satisfactorily, constitute
what is now called wildlife management. Some of the problems that have
existed and now exist in this area should be mentioned briefly to help
us understand their scope and character.