JACKSON, Wyo. — Winter wildlife restrictions on The Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) remain in effect until May 1.
Winter wildlife closures are designated as “essential to the survival of wildlife,” according to BTNF. “It is important that all users understand the importance of observing the critical winter range closures.”
Winter travel and closure maps are available on the BTNF website here.
When individuals access closed winter ranges, they cause animals using the area to become stressed or flee to new locations. This retreat requires animals, especially ungulates like deer, elk and moose, to use the energy they cannot spare.
It also often places them in areas less suitable for grazing and browsing, preventing them from gathering the necessary food sources to survive. This leads to a weakened condition, which can directly affect an animal’s ability to defend itself and make it more susceptible to predation and disease. This can also lead to future reproduction problems in individual animals.
Forest biologists stress the importance of staying off freshly exposed slopes in and out of the closure areas. These muddy, tender slopes are prone to degradation from user traffic when wet. This type of degradation can lead to erosion problems that affect water quality, fisheries and the production of grasses and forbs used by grazing/browsing wildlife.
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) also emphasizes how maintaining control of dogs, primarily with a leash, is essential to minimizing impacts on wintering wildlife.
“We as dog owners need to understand that sometimes this predator instinct just kicks in and it’s difficult to get that dog back and have our pets under greater control,” said Mark Gocke, public information officer with WGFD. “We should consider having them on leash now.”
The public is asked to stay on designated travel routes and learn the location of closed critical winter range before heading out into the Forest. Bears are coming out of hibernation throughout the area so be prepared with bear spray and follow food storage orders where that applies on the northern and eastern parts of the forest.
Spring is a great time to evaluate your decision-making when venturing out into the Forest. Be sure to let someone know where you are headed and remember that creeks or roads frozen in the morning may be soft and impassable after the temperatures rise. Additionally, have a plan for all waste as there are limited to no garbage services in the forest and many restrooms are closed or inaccessible due to the current conditions.
