JACKSON, Wyo. — According to the Friends of the Bridger-Teton (FBT), the Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) and its staff will depend on the nonprofit and its volunteers to support operations moving into the spring and summer months.
In a press release, FBT confirmed the organization is preparing for a range of scenarios to support BTNF and keep campgrounds, trailheads and recreation areas open, maintained and clean.
“The situation is tenuous and ever-changing,” the press release states. “It’s difficult to wait and see what happens because the summer season is right around the corner…in the coming weeks, we’re looking forward to learning how we can mobilize even more to support the National Forest we all love so much.”
According to FBT and WyoFile, two federal government employees with connections to the BTNF reported that about 30 or more full-time staffers were fired; the Jackson District lost eight staffers and the Pinedale District lost 10 employees. Trail maintenance is one of the primary concerns.
Buckrail previously reported on how these civil servant reductions could result in an “alarming” state of national forests.
But FBT Executive Director Scott Kosiba previously told Buckrail that there are upwards of 50 full-time FBT volunteers across the Teton, Sublette and Lincoln counties during the summer helping out behind the scenes to keep the Forest operations running smoothly. Since 2021, Kosiba confirms FBT volunteers have put out over 800 fires in Teton County.
Kosiba does emphasize, though, that FBT volunteers are not the same as land managers under the BTNF.
“We are the facilitators, we amplify the great work that the forest is already doing,” Kosiba says.
FBT is also encouraging locals and visitors to the BTNF to contact Wyoming’s congresspeople to share love for public lands and the dedicated civil servants that keep those public lands accessible and healthy. Additionally, recreationists can support the BTNF by recreating responsibly: respect wildlife; plan ahead, be kind to other trail users and follow leave no trace principles.
