Home :: Yellowstone Permit Conditions

Yellowstone Permit Conditions

Yellowstone Permit Conditions 2011

  1. You are responsible for the research-related activities of your staff.  Please ensure that field staff adhere to all conditions of your permit.  Field staff must possess a copy of your permit at all times while in the field.
  2. You are required to notify the district ranger in charge of your work area/s ONE WEEK in advance of your trip.  The following website has been established to facilitate this process: http://www.greateryellowstonescience.org/yell/research/checkin.  Once working in the park, report all emergencies by calling 911. 
  3. Unless otherwise authorized on your permit, you must carry out all of your activities out of public view.  If you have obtained special permission to work in public view, it will be noted on your permit-specific conditions.  Please consult these conditions for further guidance.
  4. If you collect specimens that are to be permanently retained, regardless of where they are kept, they must be accessioned and cataloged into the National Park Service’s catalog system, and must bear National Park Service accession and catalog numbers.  For assistance, contact the Curator’s Office at (307) 344-2267.
  5. All equipment left in the field including plot markers must be specifically authorized in advance.  Label all equipment with your name, phone number, and the words "Research Study #XXXX.”  If you are authorized to place equipment or plot markers in Yellowstone, you will be required to GPS their locations.
  6. All collars on wildlife must be camouflaged to blend in with the animal.  The antennas on the collars must also be as invisible as possible. All collars must be removed at the completion of the study by either blow-off capabilities or cotton (rot-away) spacers.
  7. Specific authorization must be obtained in advance before using chemicals or hazardous materials in Yellowstone.  For specific information regarding the transport, use, and disposal of chemicals or hazardous materials, please contact the Research Permit Office.
  8. Your research permit does not authorize you to enter closed or restricted areas in Yellowstone. Examples of restricted areas include most service roads, bear management areas, thermal areas, some bird nesting areas, wolf den sites, and trout spawning areas.
  9. Cultural resources must not be adversely impacted by your research activities. Ground disturbance (e.g., digging) must be specifically authorized in advance.  Report any archeological findings (artifacts, historical trash, rock cairns) to the Research Permit Office.
  10. If your research requires flying in the park, you must request authorization in advance.  You must also comply with FAA and Yellowstone National Park flight regulations.  Please contact the Research Permit Office for details.
  11. The Permittee agrees to notify the Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park of every subject discovery or invention that relates in any respect to research results derived from use of any research specimens or other materials collected from Yellowstone National Park, or that may be patentable or otherwise protected under the intellectual property (IP) laws of the United States or other jurisdiction.  Notification must occur within sixty (60) days of the time that an inventor or other agent of the Permittee reports such a subject discovery or invention to the person(s) responsible for patent or other proprietary rights matters in the Permittee's organization, and in no case not less than sixty (60) days before a patent application is filed.  Additionally, the Permittee agrees to notify the Superintendent of Yellowstone National Park within thirty (30) days of filing any patent application or other IP claim in the United States or other country that relates in any respect to research results or other discoveries or inventions derived from use of any research specimens or other materials collected from Yellowstone National Park.  For purposes of this paragraph, the term "subject discovery or invention" means any discovery or invention related to or derived from research specimens or other materials collected from Yellowstone National Park. All invention disclosures shall be marked as confidential under 35 U.S.C. Section 205.
  12. Your permit does not authorize the bearer or those that accompany them to conduct commercial filming activities. Commercial film permits must be obtained from the Public Affairs Office (307-344-2013).
  13. EACH YEAR, INVESTIGATORS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT COPIES OF JOURNAL ARTICLES, THESES, AND DISSERTATIONS THAT ARE DERIVED FROM THE RESULTS OF YELLOWSTONE RESEARCH.  THE PARK REQUESTS THAT YOU SUBMIT ARTICLES IN PDF FORMAT AND THAT ONE BOUND COPY OF EACH DISSERTATION/THESIS IS SUBMITTED.