JACKSON, Wyo. — Winter recreationists have a new tool at their disposal as they prepare for backcountry adventures.
Last week, Teton Conservation District (TCD) launched a new iteration of its Winter Wildlife Closures Map, which compiles closure information from different land and wildlife-management agencies in the area. Previously, users needed to access the map using Google Earth, which was a barrier to some. Now, the map and all of its layers are accessible on TCD’s website. Users can view all local wildlife closures at once, instead of juggling multiple separate maps.
The map includes closure information from Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest, Caribou-Targhee National Forest, the National Elk Refuge, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and more. These closures are implemented annually to protect wildlife (including bighorn sheep, elk and moose) from human disturbances so they can direct their limited energy toward winter survival instead of running away from people and dogs.
TCD writes on its website that the map is intended to “help promote responsible and informed recreation within our community.” Executive Director Carlin Girard told Buckrail the map will help centralize information coming from multiple sources to help people understand where they can and can’t go.
“Winter wildlife closures are really a part of everybody’s recreational opportunities here, whether they know it or not,” Girard said. “There are limitations surrounding the valley floor, in particular. The access we have to the mountains is really designated by where winter wildlife closures don’t exist. … This map is a great tool to see all of it together.”
Access the map here.
