JACKSON, Wyo. — A multi-year study by a coalition of local organizations and researchers indicates that many wildlife species in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) can coexist with outdoor recreation, and focused management is key to maintaining that balance.
The study, titled “Neighbors to nature: A case study of recreation-wildlife co-existence in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem” was co-authored by nine local conservation and recreation leaders: Courtney Larson, Trevor Bloom, Ashley Egan, Tim Farris, Kate Gersh, Linda Merigliano, Chris Owen, Renee Seidler and Hilary Turner. Agency partners in the study include the Nature Conservancy, Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF), Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation (JHWF) and Friends of Pathways (FOP).
According to the study, 14 community scientists installed 27 trail cameras along non-motorized recreational trails to monitor a heavily used area in the GYE, and collectively made 47 field visits. The cameras were deployed for two and a half years within the trail network surrounding Snow King Mountain, and tracked patterns of wildlife presence, recreation type and timing. In total, humans were detected 310,334 times; domestic dogs were detected 54,339 times; and wildlife were seen 8,295 times.
“Outdoor recreation can have negative effects on wildlife if it is not well managed,” reads the study’s abstract. “In many natural areas recreation is expanding rapidly and managers need localized information about recreation and wildlife trends to plan for current and future use.”
FOP Communications and Advocacy Director Sam Petri said that the organization contributed a recreation perspective to the research. Its role included supporting the broader conversation about recreation patterns, trail use, stewardship, engagement and responsible management. The study results come at a time when the state of Wyoming has seen an increase in tourism and spending directly related to outdoor recreation.
“What makes this project unique is that it wasn’t just an academic exercise done in isolation,” Petri told Buckrail in an email. “It brought together scientists, wildlife advocates, recreation organizations, citizen scientists, and land managers to study what coexistence actually looks like on the ground in a heavily recreated landscape in Jackson Hole.”
The study points to the idea that local wildlife habitat areas with intense recreational use can still sustain a diverse mammal community. Many species showed little evidence of a negative response to current recreation levels, though moose and elk did exhibit a response, with moose showing temporal avoidance of recreationists, and elk showing both temporal and spatial avoidance. The type of recreation that had the strongest negative impact on wildlife presence was foot traffic like hiking, skiing and snowshoeing.
“This research shows coexistence is possible, but not accidental,” study co-author and JHWF Associate Director Gersh said via press release. “It takes ongoing stewardship, informed recreation, and a community committed to protecting wildlife.”
For Petri and FOP, one of the key takeaways is that management matters. The study points to seasonal closures, visitor education and continued monitoring as tools for the future. The recreation nonprofit plans to use the study’s results to help promote responsible recreation, wildlife trail etiquette, respect for trail closures and collaboration between the valley’s many stakeholders.
“Another important takeaway is that access and conservation do not need to be framed as opposites,” Petri said. “In many cases, well-designed and well-managed recreation infrastructure can help reduce broader impacts by guiding where and how recreation occurs.”
