One of the reasons for the elk decline was that some geniuses put Lake Trout into Yellowstone Lake. They ate the cutthroat. Like almost all of the them. Escapements (they actually count and trap) went from 50-100K to 50-100. The Laker eradication seems to be working and successful cutthroat recovery is occurring.
But, the lack of trout in the streams forced the bears to find another protein source. Elk calves. They were very good at finding them and eating them.
An aspect the wolves brought in was fear for the elk. Instead of large herds out in the open you had small herds in the trees. This made, among other things, hunting harder. Had to hunt more, rather than scan the plains.
It is a very complex issue, made more so by politics. Most here are probably familiar with the bison/brucellosis issue amongst ranchers. Not a peep from anybody about the reservoir of brucellosis in elk, who leave the park every winter and are much more welcome (perhaps because we sell licenses and get trespass fees for hunting them?)
Read this:
YS Lakers +1. I have probably 50+ trips to YS under my belt. When I was a kid, I used to stand on Fishing Bridge and stare down at the MONSTER Cutties for hours and hours. Just watching and learning their behavior. When I was a teen, I did the same thing - but there were less fish to watch. The last time I was in the park, I went to watch empty water flow under the bridge. The Lakers have decimated the Cutties. There is a zipper lip back-country trail and stream within the park that used to be stupid good for cutties up to 8 - 10 pounds. It was always closed in the spring because Mama Bear and her cubs where busy fishing. Now the Bears have moved on and the trail is open all the time. Remember, Lakers spawn in the fall and Cutties spawn in the spring. So Lakers aren't in the streams when mama bear and her cubs come out of hibernation. They no longer have the incentive to wander small streams eating grass and catching spawning fish.
Because Bears learn by doing, I'm worried that even if all of the Lakers are removed, the Bears may not remember how to fish. They've moved onto spring time Elk and Bison calves. Add in the Wolves and in 15 years, there will be few animals left in the Park (predator prey cycle). It all starts at the bottom of the food chain.
BTW - if anyone is down for killing lots of dandy YS Lakers, let me know. I know some back bays next to deep water drop offs that are INSANE for big Lakers from the float tube. Int. sinking tip, big 5 - 6" black flies and a steady kicking troll is all you need to fill the cooler. And I mean FILL the cooler. Its one of the last great 'no-limit' fish killing spots that I know of. No limit - kill em' all. The Park Rangers will literally cheer you on. I've passed out fish left and right to Rangers and fellow campers. It was the fastest way to some free beers or whiskey. Millions of vistors and NOBODY fishes the lake.
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