National Elk Refuge
The National Elk Refuge in located in the
U.S. state of
Wyoming and was created in 1912 to protect habitat and provide sanctuary for the largest
Wapiti herd on
Earth. The refuge borders the town of
Jackson, Wyoming on the northeast while
Bridger-Teton National Forest is to the east and
Grand Teton National Park borders the refuge to the north. It is home to an average of 7,500 elk each winter. The refuge is managed by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency of the
U.S. Department of the Interior.
The elk historically migrated south from as far away as
Canada through
Montana and south of the present location of the refuge into southwestern
Wyoming during the fall, wintering on grassy plains that were usually snowfree most of the winter.
Encyclopedia
The
National Elk Refuge in located in the
U.S. state of
Wyoming and was created in 1912 to protect habitat and provide sanctuary for the largest
Wapiti herd on
Earth. The refuge borders the town of
Jackson, Wyoming on the northeast while
Bridger-Teton National Forest is to the east and
Grand Teton National Park borders the refuge to the north. It is home to an average of 7,500 elk each winter. The refuge is managed by the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, an agency of the
U.S. Department of the Interior.
The elk historically migrated south from as far away as
Canada through
Montana and south of the present location of the refuge into southwestern
Wyoming during the fall, wintering on grassy plains that were usually snowfree most of the winter. During the spring, the herd would follow the retreating snows back into the
Yellowstone National Park region and north into Montana. The original size of the elk herd has been estimated to have been in excess of 25,000. The expansion of the town on Jackson blocked off the migration route by the end of the 19th century and the elk herd was severely reduced in size due to the hostile climate and lack of food supply.
A movement to protect and enlarge the remaining herd was commenced in the early 1900's, resulting in the creation of the refuge. The elk herd is kept alive during the hard winters of
Jackson Hole through feeding and
culling of the herd, a lottery based
hunting permit program, which is highly regulated. The elk have antlers which are shed each year and the
Boy Scouts of America have been collecting the antlers under permit since the 1950's and selling them at auction under agreement that 80% of the proceeds are returned to the refuge to feed, research and manage the herd to assure its survival. 10 to 11 thousand pounds of antlers are auctioned each year. The refuge also provides horse drawn
sleigh rides to the public during the winter months so that visitors have the opportunity to see portions of the herd up close. The current migration route of the herd is from southern Montana to the refuge area, and it is still the longest migration route of any mammal in the lower 48 states.
The refuge is nearly 25,000 acres comprised of meadows and marshes along the valley floor, sagebrush and rock outcroppings along the mountain foothills. The largest single herd of
Bison under federal management, comprising 600 plus individuals, also winter on the refuge.
Bighorn sheep can be found here, along with
Pronghorn,
Mule deer even a few Trumpeter swans along Flat Creek, which flows out of the refuge south into the town of Jackson. Rare sightings of
Wolves and Grizzly have occurred and a total of 47 mammal species and 147 bird species have been documented on the refuge.
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