JACKSON, Wyo. — Starting Wednesday, May 1, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will be holding informational sessions and workshops to garner public input on updating the Bison and Elk Management Plan (BEMP) for managing elk, bison and habitat on the National Elk Refuge.
“Due to the significant interest in bison and elk management on the National Elk Refuge, the Service is committed to providing opportunities for the public to engage with and participate in the update to the Refuge’s BEMP,” the Refuge announced via social media.
According to the Refuge, the BEMP will outline the desired future conditions, management goals, objectives and strategies for managing the Jackson bison and elk herds on the Refuge. The Service is working closely with Tribes, the National Park Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and others to update the plan as the Jackson elk and bison herds migrate across several jurisdictional boundaries.
In August 2023, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service opened a 30-day scoping period for the development of an updated BEMP and its associated Environment Impact Statement.
An in-person public information session will be held on Wednesday, May 1 at the Teton County Library at 6 p.m. A virtual information session will be held on Monday, May 6 at 12 p.m. A link to join the virtual session will be available here. A recording is also available from the August 23 virtual meeting.
The Refuge will also be holding half-day workshops for interested parties in late May or June to further understand concerns, tradeoffs and potential ways to reduce adverse consequences associated with potential management alternatives.
For more information, view the National Elk Refuge Bison and Elk Management Plan Fact Sheet.
