![]() In the 1920s, however, ecologists began revising their opinions about predators. Primary targets included locally abundant mountain lions, bobcats, wolves, and coyotes that fed on deer, antelope, bighorn sheep, and elk, which visitors liked to see and sportsmen liked to hunt. In the interests of protecting animals pleasing to both tourists and hunters, park rangers joined federal and state game wardens to carry on the Forest Service policy, in effect since 1906, to exterminate four-legged predators-animals “red in tooth and claw” that most Americans considered undesirable. Predator control programs are a good case in point. But these efforts were complicated, their results mixed, and the public reception often ambivalent. For most of the 20th century, park managers at the Grand Canyon sought to facilitate visitor interactions with favored wildlife (such as deer, elk, and turkeys), while suppressing encounters with feared animals and “varmints” (such as rattlesnakes, bears, and skunks). Not surprisingly, these cultural predilections shaped national park policy. Still, the predominant attitude of most Americans in the early 20th century was to fear or favor particular wildlife. Wildlife refuges and fish hatcheries were established all over the country. States adopted or strengthened hunting and fishing regulations. The federal government prohibited interstate trade of certain birds threatened with extinction from the hat trade in the 1900 Lacey Act. This perspective shaped behavior and policy as profoundly as it shaped the lives and fortunes of wild animals themselves in the early years of the National Park Service.īy the 1890s growing concerns about our impact on wildlife led to new policies and national initiatives to protect some species and their habitats. In the 19th century most Americans saw wildlife in utilitarian terms: as a food source (meat), a commodity (fur), a recreation (sport hunting), a pest to eradicate (mice and prairie dogs), or as blood-thirsty carnivores to fear and loathe (bears, wolves, and mountains lions). Over the past two centuries American attitudes about wildlife have evolved considerably. Political and social movements have played a major role in shaping the composition of wildlife at the Grand Canyon throughout its history. In desert areas, peregrine falcons can be found feasting on bats, swifts, and other birds while nesting along the cliffs of the inner canyon. ![]() Abundant trout attract eagles to the Colorado River, while the calm waters of Lake Powell behind Glen Canyon Dam attract migrating ducks in winter months. About 250 of the 373 bird species in the Grand Canyon region are found along the Colorado River corridor, although most of them only use the area during migration or winter habitat. Many birds are attracted to the richly vegetated riparian zones of the Canyon where water flows either seasonally or year-round. Through the work of rangers and scientists, the public can now learn about a variety of wildlife that call the Canyon home, including rare, endangered, and unique species not found anywhere else. Today, wildlife biologists continue research, education, and management projects designed to increase knowledge, appreciation, and conservation of Grand Canyon’s wildlife communities.Īccording to the NPS, more than 373 bird, 89 mammal, 47 reptile, 9 amphibian, and 17 fish species live in the park. ![]() Early chief naturalists Glenn Sturdevant, Edwin McKee, and Louis Shellbach along with botanist Rose Collem, spent considerable time compiling checklists of geologic features, flora, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and mammals, establishing baseline lists of species and uncovering rare and endangered species worthy of attention. Beginning in 1919, they consistently initiated, accompanied, or assisted scientific investigations undertaken by outside agencies. The conflict over which wildlife to preserve and which to discourage or remove has created division among NPS personnel, environmentalists, local residents, and everyday visitors to the Canyon even into the present day.įor nearly a century now, the NPS has worked to advance the general knowledge of flora and fauna in the park, conducting research into all aspects of animals’ lives as well as their impact on the environment and the impact of human presence on them. This designation was meant to help protect wildlife, partly as precious components of the natural environment but also so that hunters could count on having big prey to pursue in the future. In 1906 President Theodore Roosevelt declared a portion of today’s park the Grand Canyon Game Preserve. Wildlife has always been an important element of the Grand Canyon environment and a significant draw for tourists.
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