JACKSON, Wyo. — On Thursday, March 20, the National Elk Refuge (NER) announced the supplemental feeding of bison and elk will end for the year on Sunday, March 23.
According to an update provided by Region 6, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the agency coordinated with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) leadership to develop this date, which is 10 days earlier than the average annual supplemental feeding end date based on current snowpack and in accordance with the 2019 Bison and Elk Management Step Down Plan.
The first day of feeding this winter was Feb. 18, resulting in a total of 34 days of supplemental feeding.
Last year, the supplemental elk feeding program for the 2023/2024 winter season ended on March 29.
The USFWS emphasizes that the plan aims to reduce congregation of elk on feed grounds to minimize chronic wasting disease (CWD) risk, utilize remaining natural forage and reduce feed costs. On Monday, March 17, the WGFD announced that a new case of CWD was detected in the Jackson region.
