WHEREAS, our National Parks represent areas of special importance to all people of the United States; and
WHEREAS, these areas were originally set aside as sanctuaries to perpetuate and protect areas of unique beauty and representative natural communities of great scientific and historical interest for future generations of all Americans; and
WHEREAS, areas thus established represent in most cases the last vestige of our once bountiful heritage of unexploited natural resources where all the people may enjoy, observe and study unique natural associations of mammals and birds under the unusually favorable circumstances resulting from long protection from harassment by man; and
WHEREAS, populations of animals, particularly ungulates, must sometimes be regulated to prevent habitat damage; and
WHEREAS, recreational hunting is an inappropriate and non-conforming use of the National Parks and Monuments; and
WHEREAS, direct removal by killing is the most economical and effective way of regulating ungulates within a park;
Now, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that when reductions must be made in ungulate populations, the removal by shooting should be conducted under the complete jurisdiction of qualified park personnel and solely for the purpose of reducing animals to preserve park values; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the American Society of Mammalogists commend the Secretary of the Interior and the Director of the National Park Service for the maintenance of the sanctuary principle which is the cornerstone of our National Park structure.