Proceedings of the First Park Naturalists’ Training Conference, November 1 to 30, 1929
RESEARCH RESERVES
SOME WILD LIFE PROBLEMS IN THE NATIONAL PARKS
By Edwin D. McKee
Those dealing with predatory animals:
Decision as to control — If agreed, then the method to be used.
Determination of numbers desirable for any species.
Those dealing with larger grazing animals:
Determination of number limit through study of range conditions, etc.
Necessity of rendering assistance through park feeding, disease measures.
Methods of live trapping and removal to other areas.
Boundary patrols for poachers.
Advisability of corrals or other fencing limitations.
Those dealing with small mammals, especially rodents:
The necessity of control methods
Live trapping and removal to other areas as for Beaver, etc.
The policy of taming, and assisting by the establishment of bird baths, feeding boxes, and bird or squirrel houses.
General:
The advisability of zoos.
Careful surveys of all species and numbers of animals, and of their condition — also surveys of food conditions, range, etc.
Discussion: In the discussions following the presentation of the above two papers, the importance of wild life problems in the national parks was stressed. It was recognized that several days might be devoted to consideration of investigations and administration of wild life problems. Since detailed investigations along these lines are now being started by Messrs. Dixon and Wright, it was thought advisable to postpone extensive discussion in this field until some future conference when more data would be available.
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