| A Future For Wildlife |
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| Although development for recreation at Yellow Smoke is important, so is also the management of timber and wildlife population. In the mis 1800's, Chief Yellow Smoke and his tribe found the area of Yellow Smoke dense prairie and upland timber. The land supported buffalo. wild turkey, bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse and prairie chikens. But since that time, human preasure has changed the landscape and it's wild inhabitants. The large game elk and buffalo were the first to disappear. By the early 1900's native game birds, wild turkey, grouse and prairie chickens were greatly reduced. Gradual changes in habitat and an increasing human population were the dominant factors influencing the fate of wildlife populations. With proper management, these birds are now making a comeback. Public interest and concern about wildlife increased as it became evident that continuation of the past trends would lead to extermination of many species. People began to realize that wildlife needed proper management to survive. Since 1963, the Crawford County Conservation Board has been involved in this effort that both recreation and wildlife habitat are being provided at Yellow Smoke Park. |