National Elk Refuge preparing for supplemental feeding

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Wyoming Game and Fish Department biologists say supplemental feeding may begin at the National Elk Refuge as early as this weekend.

Biologists have been monitoring environmental conditions on the Refuge to measure and assess and the quality and accessibility of remaining forage.

that forage has been gradually declining since mid-December and is now approaching the threshold to begin supplemental feeding.

Snow depth and density are higher than normal for early January. Biologists said small groups of elk have been leaving for Spring Gulch through the Gros Ventre River corridor.

The Refuge hopes to mitigate elk co-mingling and spreading disease to livestock or cause damage on private land.

The ten-year average start date for supplemental feeding is January 25. It varies widely depending on winter severity, available forage, and the number of animals on the Refuge.

It is estimated there are 5,500 to 6,000 elk currently on the Refuge. Up to 400 bison have also been counted.

Wyoming Game and Fish will be closing its Refuge bison hunt early. Scheduled through January 10, it will instead be closed on Friday, January 6.

Biologists said more elk and bison are likely to move onto the Refuge once the supplemental feeding program begins.