JACKSON, Wyo. — As elk slowly trickle onto the National Elk Refuge, this winter marks the lowest snowpack measurement since 2007, when comparable measurements began.
Refuge Manager, Frank Durbian shared with Buckrail that on Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023 there was one inch of snowpack measured on the refuge, equating to 6.5 inches less than the average snowpack for this time of year. On Dec. 27, 2022, the snow depth was at 14 inches and approximately 5,900 elk migrated to the refuge.
On Thursday, Jan. 4, Senior Wildlife Biologist for the National Elk Refuge Eric Cole ran his weekly count of the elk herd numbers inhabiting the refuge, which totaled 3,340 elk settling down and hundreds more passing through.
Durbian estimates, pending future weather and snow conditions, that refuge managers will likely feed the elk less frequently this year.
“We have a lot of available natural forage on the refuge, which means there’s a lot of forage for the elk to graze at this time,” Durbian said.
Durbian explained that biologists can’t predict how the elk will be impacted by brucellosis at this point in time. It is during the late winter and spring months when brucellosis is typically spread.
According to Durbian, despite the lack of snow and low numbers of elk residing on the refuge, ticket sales are still good for elk sleigh rides, and people are still enjoying the scenic views.
Jeff Warburton, Co-Owner of Double H Bar National Elk Refuge Sleigh Rides, told Buckrail “the overall numbers are down a bit but as far as the year goes, it’s not a bad year for sales. It fluctuates every year. We are still running busy.”
