JACKSON, Wyo. — A weekly wildlife count conducted by Eric Cole, senior wildlife biologist at the National Elk Refuge, determined that current elk numbers on the Refuge are four times higher than what is typically seen this time of year.
“I typically estimate elk, bison, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, deer and moose within an 11,400-acre survey area that roughly corresponds to the south end of the Refuge on a weekly basis,” said Cole.
As of last week, 4,040 elk have already made their way to the area, corresponding with the early elk migration that wildlife officials observed this year. Eighty percent of the elk that are equipped with GPS collars that are expected to winter on the Refuge were either on the Refuge or on adjacent National Forest land last week.
“Major elk migration to the Refuge was three weeks earlier than average and significant numbers of elk have been using the Refuge since mid-November,” said Cole.
Every year, elk migrate out of the high country and travel down into their winter range. In Jackson, the National Elk Refuge is one of the important areas for wintering wildlife. This is where elk from Yellowstone migrate for the season.
The National Elk Refuge was established in 1912 as a “winter game reserve” to support the conservation of wintering elk and their habitat. It is an integral component of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, bounded by Grand Teton National Park and a wilderness area in the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The Refuge also serves as one of Wyoming’s 22 feedgrounds.
“Refuge and Wyoming Game and Fish Department staff typically start monitoring forage availability in late December to determine if and when supplemental feeding is necessary,” said Cole. “For a historical perspective, the average feeding start date on the Refuge is Jan. 24, but the feeding start date varies depending on conditions. There have also been 10 years that the Refuge has not fed at all, with the most recent non-feeding year in 2018.”
As of today, snowpack depth at the National Elk Refuge Headquarters is 15 inches, which is three times more than the long-term average for this site at this date. Cole says, however, it is too early to make predictions about how these conditions will affect herd health or winter mortality levels.
Cole also noted that a considerable amount of elk have moved between the Refuge and Forest Service land to the east as the annual Refuge hunt is underway through Dec. 16. Hunting is a Refuge management tool to help reach population numbers identified in the Bison and Elk Management Plan.
In a normal year around 6,000 to 7,000 elk make their way to the Refuge. In the spring, elk begin migrating off the Refuge toward their summer ranges. The majority will follow the receding snow line up to higher elevations in Grand Teton National Park and in the Teton Wilderness in the Bridger Teton National Forest.
