JACKSON, Wyo. — National Wildlife Refuge Week will be held next week from Oct. 9-15. Jackson is home to one of many wildlife refuges in the U.S. Founded in 1903, national wildlife refuges offer access to a host of popular activities and provide vital habitats for thousands of wildlife species.

“Conserving wildlife habitat and improving recreation access to public lands are key goals of the Biden-Harris administration’s ‘America the Beautiful initiative’,” said Service Director Martha Williams. “National Wildlife Refuge Week is a great time for Americans to take pride in our rich wildlife heritage and discover the recreation and scenic wonders awaiting them at national wildlife refuges.”

“America the Beautiful” is a decade-long challenge to pursue a locally led and voluntary, nationwide effort to conserve, connect, and restore the lands, waters and wildlife upon which we all depend.

Admission is free on Sunday at wildlife refuges which normally charge an entrance fee. Nearly 500 national wildlife refuges and wetland management districts offer free admission year-round. This year, the Refuge System is partnering with the Public Lands Alliance to celebrate its commitment to deepening human connections with nature. As part of Refuge Week, the Service is encouraging people to get out in nature for good health and to help wildlife thrive. Over 30, free, self-guided 5K “Walk for the Wild” events around the country will highlight national wildlife refuges.

According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Jackson’s own National Elk Refuge was established by various Acts of Congress, executive orders, and other documents to provide, preserve, restore, and manage lands for wintering elk, birds, and other big game animals. Lands now designed as the National Elk Refuge are the Indigenous homelands for a number of different tribes, including, Bannock, Eastern Shoshone, Northern Shoshone, Assiniboine, Athabascans, Comanche, Crow, Aaniiih, Kiowa, Kootenai, Nimiipuu, Salish, Teton Sioux, and Umatilla. 

Learn more about this year’s celebration, including virtual and in-person events by visiting: https://fws.gov/events.

Toby Koekkoek is a Community News Reporter, and a recent resident of Teton Valley. He enjoys writing about our region's community events and the movers and shakers that make up the culture of this unique mountain town. He enjoys deep powder, and deep thoughts, skateboarding, playing racquet sports, riding his bike, and nerding out on music. Toby also coaches freeride skiing for the Jackson Hole Ski Club and runs skateboard camps in the summer.