JACKSON, Wyo. — The National Elk Refuge will host a series of public meetings next week to garner public input on updating the Bison and Elk Management Plan for managing elk, bison and habitat on the Refuge.
The Refuge is hosting open house-style meetings, Monday, Aug. 21 in Jackson at the Teton County Library, Tuesday, Aug. 22 in Pinedale at the Sublette County Library and an online webinar Wednesday, Aug. 23. Both in-person meetings begin at 5 p.m. The online webinar is at 12 p.m.
The first bison and elk management plan was approved in 2007 and was created for a 15-year timeframe by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). It called for reducing the number of elk wintering on the Refuge to 5,000 and reducing the number of bison to 500.
According to USFWS, elk and bison numbers are at about 10,600 and 450, respectively.
In 2019, the USFWS completed a 5-year step-down plan to reduce supplemental feeding on the Refuge. The plan ends in December 2024 so the new updates seek to address newly available scientific information and changed conditions since adoption of the original management plan.
Public comment on the updates is open until Aug. 31.
