JACKSON, Wyo. — On Wednesday, May 1, areas of crucial wildlife winter range on the Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) and Wyoming Game and Fish lands will open to human activity.

These BTNF areas include Josie’s Ridge, the KC trail, Wilson Canyon, the slopes above the Putt-Putt trail, the slopes north of the Game Creek trail and portions of the Gros Ventre drainage.

The annual closures of Wyoming Game and Fish Department Wildlife Habitat Management Areas in the following Jackson, Alpine and Pinedale locations began on Dec. 1 and will be lifted at 6 a.m. on Wednesday, May 1:

Jackson

  • Camp Creek
  • Horse Creek
  • South Park

Alpine

  • Greys River

Pinedale

  • Black Butte
  • Fall Creek
  • Half Moon
  • Luke Lynch
  • Soda Lake

Designated winter wildlife closure areas are essential to the survival of wildlife. According to the U.S. Forest Service, when people or their pets enter closed winter range, wildlife is forced to move to new locations. This retreat requires animals such as deer, elk and moose, to use energy they cannot spare. This leads to a weakened condition, which can have a direct effect on the animals’ ability to fend off disease or predators and can lead to reproduction problems.

In Grand Teton National Park, wildlife closures at Static Peak, Mount Hunt and Prospectors Mountain will also be lifted on May 1. Voluntary Bighorn Sheep Winter Zones restrictions will also be lifted on Wednesday. See more about wildlife closures in the park here.