JACKSON, Wyo. — Heaps of new snow in the valley is affecting everyone, including the inhabitants of the National Elk Refuge (NER).
When Buckrail checked in with the NER at the end of February, lower herd numbers and plenty of available forage meant that no supplemental feeding was necessary. Things changed rapidly when a series of storms dumped snow onto the valley floor, burying available food sources.
NER Senior Wildlife Biologist Eric Cole confirmed that supplemental feeding had begun on Monday, March 4.
“This was the latest feeding start date on record with the exception of the 10 winters that the Refuge has not fed at all,” Cole said. “In general, snow accumulation and low forage availability led to the decision to feed this year.”
Cole shared that the depth and density of the snow pack have “changed dramatically” after recent storms, with snow depth at the NER Headquarters monitoring site topping 33 inches, more than twice the long-term average for the same site at this time of year.
