JACKSON HOLE, Wyo. — Seasonal closure of the U.S. 89/Elk Refuge Pathway begins today, November 1.
The seasonal closure is in place November 1 through April 30 in order to reduce conflicts with migrating or wintering animals. A seasonal closure was a key condition of the agreement between Teton County and the National Elk Refuge for pathway use on US Fish & Wildlife Service property.
There have been talks about relocating the pathway to the west side of the highway where they might be fewer restrictions, but public comment supported the east side placement despite the seasonal closure.
Regardless of weather conditions or elk counts in the Refuge, US Fish and Wildlife has always stuck rigidly to the closing date. During some mild winters and early spring arrivals, USFWS has approved an opening date ahead of May 1 when all indications are elk have left the Refuge.
Background
Construction of the multi-use pathway was completed in 2011, with an opening date of May 1 of that same year. The project required a compatibility determination, a process necessary per the National Wildlife Refuge Improvement Act to evaluate the proposed use of refuge lands as a wildlife-dependent recreational use.
Unlike neighboring national park and forest lands, the refuge is guided by the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s mission specific to habitat and wildlife management. Recreational uses may be allowed if they do not interfere with the purposes for which the refuge was established, but succinctly stated, it’s “wildlife first” when it comes to considering recreational opportunities on Service lands.
Generally, recreational uses on refuges include hunting, fishing, photography, wildlife viewing, interpretation, and environmental education because they minimize disturbances to wildlife and promote the Service’s mission. In the case of hunting and fishing, the activities may be used as important management tools to reduce populations or remove non-native species.
Since the pathway opened, biologists have collected GPS elk collar data and conducted weekly elk counts on the area south of the Gros Ventre Hills during both the spring and fall migration periods. Using both the GPS information and other tools such as motion-detecting trail cameras, wildlife managers have determined that peak spring elk movements occur during the second and third weeks of April.
In the fall, the main segment of the Jackson Elk Herd that crosses the pathway comes from Spring Gulch and the southern area of Grand Teton National Park. The refuge retains the authority to enact emergency closures during both the spring and fall seasons to mitigate for wildlife considerations.
