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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
January 2, 2013
13-01

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

national elk refuge and jackson hole historical society & museum
invite visitors to “rendezvous with the past”
The National Elk Refuge is pleased to partner with the Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum to sponsor
a free, family event on Monday, January 21 at both the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center and
historic Miller House. The event, titled “Rendezvous with the Past,” will celebrate the area’s rich homesteading
history through a variety of activities offered from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. A dynamic line-up of games, projects, and
presentations will appeal to persons of all ages.
At the visitor center, located at 532 N. Cache Street in Jackson, historic items related to food preparation will be on
display throughout the day. Relics will include a butter churn, porcelain oven, waffle iron, coffee grinder, ice cream
maker, and other tools that were often part of a homesteader’s kitchen.
Settlers’ children played some of the same games we do, and many games that were popular during an earlier
time are still played today. From 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, old fashioned floor games will be set up inside the visitor
center. Eager children and nostalgic adults alike are welcome to try their hand at Tiddlywinks, Pick Up Sticks,
Jacks, and more.
At 12:00 pm, a refuge naturalist will present a slideshow and narrative produced by the Jackson Hole Historical
Society called “Homesteader Hopes and Reality in the High Country of Jackson Hole” in the visitor center theater.
Through historic photographs and stories of early day residents, guests will learn about the history of settlers in
the Jackson Hole valley and the challenges they faced.
The historic Miller House, located ¾ mile north of the refuge entrance at the end of East Broadway Street, will
be open for the days’ activities from 1:00 to 4:00 pm, giving visitors a rare opportunity to visit the home outside of
the summer season. Guests to the historic site can practice a homesteaders’ skill of resourcefulness by reusing
scraps to make something new. Participants can make a colorful candle from wax shavings, design a square for an
Elk Refuge “tie me up” quilt that will later be displayed at the History Museum, or turn leather pieces into wearable
jewelry with a hammer and paint. No experience is necessary! A refuge winter naturalist will also be available to
discuss the history of the National Elk Refuge and the significance of the iconic Miller Ranch.
For more information on the January 21 event, please call 307.734.9378.
Homesteading presentations will continue on Tuesday, January 22, when the Jackson Hole Historical Society &
Museum hosts a Dutch oven cooking presentation at 7:00 pm, given by Jessica Flock of the Wyoming Humanities
Council. The presentation is part of a month-long series of events in conjunction with Key Ingredients: America
by Food, a Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibition at the Center for the Arts through January 20. Tuesday’s
presentation will be held at the History Museum at 225 N. Cache Street. For more information on the January 22
presentation, please call 307.733.2414.
– FWS –

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

National Elk Refuge News – January 23, 2013
January Event Celebrates Jackson Hole History

A young artist puts some final touches on a leather crafts project (left) while others take theirs to a painting station and add some colored
details (right).

Visitors to the Jackson Hole &
Greater Yellowstone Visitor
Center had an exciting opportunity
to learn about local history and
participate in some old–time
traditions this past Monday at a
day–long event called “Rendezvous
with the Past.” Activities included
a display of kitchen relics, a talk
featuring a number of historic
photographs, and a variety of
children’s games and crafts. The
event was a collaboration between
the National Elk Refuge and the
Jackson Hole Historical Society &
Museum (JHHSM), who partnered
to celebrate the area’s rich
homesteading history.
Children in the Teton County
School District were on a no–
school day Monday due to a
teacher inservice, a calendar
event noted by refuge program
coordinators. The National Elk
Refuge has previously worked
with the Teton County Parks
& Recreation Department to
provide programming for children

on days when school is not in
session, including holidays,
teacher inservice days, and
spring break. Consequently,
many of Monday’s activities
were tailored for youngsters,
and the event was advertised as
free and family–friendly.

items primarily related to food
preparation. “I think it stimulated
memories for many visitors,”
said Jessica Stirling, who stood by
to describe the use of many

The upper floor of the visitor
center became a hub of activity
beginning at 10:00 am. Eager
children and nostalgic adults
alike were welcome to try their
hand at old–fashioned games like
Tiddlywinks, Pick Up Sticks, and
Jacks, all pastimes predating
settlement in the Jackson Hole
valley. “The floor instantly
transformed into a giant game
table as soon as our first group of
children arrived,” explained winter
naturalist Justin St. Onge, who
joined in the fun and help explain
the rules.
Elsewhere in the visitor center,
another winter naturalist
staffed a display area of historic

Children all over the world have played
some form of jacks. The game, along with
variations of it, was common in the late
1800s and early 1900s.

of the relics. “A lot of the adults
reminisced about seeing some
of these items in older relatives’
homes.”
Refuge volunteer Joe Lozar shared
stories of settlers in the Jackson
Hole valley and the challenges
they faced during a slideshow of
historic photographs provided
by the JHHSM, which houses
an extensive collection of black
and white photographs in their
archives. Guests that took in the
slideshow included descendants
of Frank Petersen, Ben Goe and
Bertha Chambers, all families that
once homesteaded on the refuge
prior to its establishment.
A total of 175 people attended at
least one of the “Rendezvous with
the Past” activities at the visitor
center.
The historic Miller House opened
in the afternoon for the days’
activities, giving visitors a rare
opportunity to visit the home
outside of the summer season.
There, a series of craft projects
were set up with mostly a younger
audience in mind. Participants
could make candles, design a small
square as part of a refuge “quilt,”
and turn leather pieces into
wearable jewelry with
a hammer and paint. Staff was
also on hand to answer questions
about the Miller Ranch.

A group of students intently listen to a naturalist’s description of how food was prepared
in an earlier era.

In all, 90 people visited the Miller
House on Monday for the three–
hour special winter opening.
The two organizations will
combine resources again on
Monday, February 18 to offer
lessons and crafts with a wildlife
theme. The event activities and
schedule will be posted at www.
fws.gov/nationalelkrefuge/
JacksonHoleVisitorCenter.htm.

Brenda Roberts from the JHHSM helps three children get started on making a small
tapered candle from a vat of melted wax.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
January 24, 2013
13-02

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

national elk refuge continues to assess conditions
With the 10–year average mark for initiating supplemental feeding on the refuge approaching, biologists are
continuing to closely monitor snow and forage conditions. The average start date for supplemental feeding
over the last decade has been on January 26, though the start date can widely vary depending on a number of
conditions. Supplemental feeding was initiated on January 5 in 2011 but delayed until February 2 in 2012.
Biologists from the National Elk Refuge and Wyoming Game & Fish Department began conducting regular surveys
of refuge conditions in early January. During their assessments, they record measurable data such as the amount
and density of the snow and accessible natural forage for elk wintering on the refuge. Weekly monitoring, done
most recently on Tuesday, January 22, shows that snow on the refuge remains relatively dry, likely due to steady
cold temperatures over the past few weeks. While frequent melting and freezing of snow due to temperature
variations can create hard packed conditions and may limit elks’ ability to paw through snow, lighter density snow
is less apt to impede access to forage. There is still significant available forage remaining in wet meadow areas
north and northwest of Miller Butte.
Field observations suggest there are between 3,700 to 5,000 elk on the refuge or on adjacent Forest Service land.
The variation in the count is attributed to groups of elk using the McBride management unit and areas further north
where they cannot be easily counted without creating significant disturbance. Approximately 60% of radio collared
elk likely to winter on the refuge were detected on the south end last week.

– FWS –

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
January 28, 2013
13-03

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

national elk refuge announces supplemental feeding start date

National Elk Refuge Manager Steve Kallin has announced that supplemental feeding of elk and bison wintering on
the refuge will begin on Thursday, January 31.
Biologists monitoring environmental conditions on the refuge noted a change from last week, when surveys
indicated much of the snow was relatively dry and not limiting access to remaining standing forage. However,
cold weather that had prevailed during the previous few weeks was replaced by warmer temperatures this
weekend, reaching 40 degrees and above. In addition to melting snow, a light rain reached areas of the valley
floor. When temperatures cooled again on Sunday, a layer of ice and crusted snow formed in several of the sample
areas biologists assessed again this morning. Though some forage still remains in wet meadow areas north and
northwest of Miller Butte, it is expected to be consumed during the next few days as accessibility to forage in
other areas becomes more difficult due to conditions.
When supplemental feeding is initiated on the refuge, staff begin distributing small rations to allow the animals to
adjust to the new high protein diet. Elk will begin receiving a gradual increase in feed before reaching a full daily
ration, which generally averages eight pounds of feed per animal.
Approximately 5,000 elk and 650 bison are currently on the refuge.

– FWS –

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
February 7, 2013
13-04

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

national elk refuge and jackson hole historical society & museum
invite visitors to Be “wild about wildlife”
The National Elk Refuge is pleased to again partner with the Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum
(JHHS&M) to sponsor a free, family event on Monday, February 18 at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone
Visitor Center. The event, titled “Wild About Wildlife,” will celebrate the abundance of wildlife that winters on
the refuge. A variety of activities are planned from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
In January, the two organizations teamed up to offer a host of games and activities that focused on homesteading
in the Jackson Hole valley. This month, the two groups have developed several activities that will help participants
learn about adaptations that animals must make in order to survive the long, cold winters in the valley.
From 10:00 am to 12:00 pm, Brenda Roberts from the JHHS&M will introduce the concept of story hides, an
ancestral tradition of painting bison hides with geometric forms or pictures to depict important events in a person’s
life – see examples below. Supplies will be available for participants to create their own small story hide. Winter
naturalists from the National Elk Refuge will also be on hand to display various hides and explain how an animal’s
fur can differ from summer to winter as animals adapt to the change in seasons.

Left: Crow. Date Unknown.
Cat. No. 358. 167. National
Museum of Natural History,
Smithsonian Institution.
Depicting warriors returning
from a raid.
Right: Shunka Ishnala (Lone Dog),
Yanktonai. About 1870. National
Museum of the American Indian,
Smithsonian Institution. Photo by
Janine Sarna Jones

Following the daily 11:30 am visitor center program, visitors can join a naturalist for a talk about winter adaptations
and migration habits of some of the animals found on the refuge along with others within the Greater Yellowstone
Ecosystem.
– continued –

Afternoon activities will move outdoors as staff will lead an interactive program on the visitor center lawn at
12:30, 1:00, 1:30 and 2:00 pm. Visitors can join a naturalist to learn how animals’ feet, fur, and sources of food
change or are adapted to the seasons. Participants can enjoy the presentation on snowshoes, provided free of
charge for persons of all sizes and ages.
A craft activity will wrap up the day, giving visitors an opportunity to make a pine cone bird feeder from 2:00 to
4:00 pm while learning about energy conservation and winter food sources.
All activities are family–friendly, free of charge, and enjoyable for a wide range of audiences. With school out of
session for the President’s Day holiday, local families are encouraged to bring children to the visitor center to take
advantage of the fun, educational programming.
The Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center is located at 532 N. Cache Street in Jackson. For more
information on the February 18 event, please call 307.734.9378.

– FWS –

page 2

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

National Elk Refuge News – February 15, 2013
Refuge Collars Wolves from Pinnacle Peak Pack

Northern Rockies Wolf Coordinator Mike Jimenez arrives by helicopter to a location where a team of refuge field staff await with collaring
equipment. The tail of one of the passengers can be seen dangling from the aircraft.

During the month of February,
many of the management efforts
on the National Elk Refuge are
centered around elk and bison
using the winter range. This week,
though, it was wolves that were
the biological focus as wildlife
managers collared four members
of the Pinnacle Peak pack, a group
that has resided on the refuge for
several years. The wolf collaring
effort on the refuge coincides
with the Wyoming Game & Fish
Department’s collaring conducted
in other areas of northwest
Wyoming over the past few weeks.
On September 30, 2012, wolves
were removed from the list of
threatened and endangered

species, allowing the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service to return
management of wolves to the State
of Wyoming under an approved
management plan. However, the
National Elk Refuge assumes
responsibility for the management
of wolves within its jurisdictional
boundaries. Refuge staff
coordinated this week’s collaring
project with U.S. Fish & Wildlife
Service Biologist Mike Jimenez,
who serves as the Northern
Rockies Wolf Coordinator.
Wildlife managers used a
helicopter Friday afternoon to
visually locate the wolves on the
refuge and dart four members
of the pack with Telazol, an

injectable drug commonly used in
the immobilization of carnivores.
The wolves were then lifted into
the helicopter and flown a short
distance to a location where a
refuge field crew stood by with
the collars and sampling
equipment. In just over an
hour, staff had deployed the
collars, collected hair samples,
and recorded statistics such as
sex, age, and weight. During
the process, staff monitored
the animals’ temperatures and
respiration. Two biologists
remained on site when the data
collection was complete to ensure
the wolves got safely back up on
their feet when the immobilization
drug wore off.

Refuge Manager Steve Kallin places a collar on a yearling female wolf.

From the data generated by
the collars, biologists will be
able to monitor the size of the
pack, document its distribution,
record mortalities, measure the
pack’s reproductive success, and
note breeding pair status. The
information will also help Refuge
Biologist Eric Cole with his ongoing studies of elk density and
distribution as the presence and
movement of wolves on the refuge
are variables that may influence
behavioral patterns in elk.
An in-depth web site on news,
information and recovery status
of gray wolves in the Northern
Rocky Mountains can be found
at http://www.fws.gov/mountainprairie/species/mammals/wolf/.

Refuge Biologist Eric Cole removes a whisker from a male yearling. The whisker can be
used for a sample isotope analysis to learn about the animal’s diet.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
March 20, 2013
13-05

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

national elk refuge to end supplemental feeding for the season

National Elk Refuge Manager Steve Kallin has announced that supplemental feeding of elk and bison wintering
on the refuge is scaling back this week, with feeding expected to end for the season by early next week. Feeding
began this season on January 31 and will total approximately 55 days when the program ends for the season.
The end date and total number of days for the supplemental feeding program varies from year to year. Last year’s
feeding season was very comparable to this year, beginning on February 2 and ending on March 28. However,
during the winter of 2010/2011, feeding began in early January and continued through the middle of April. This
year will mark the second consecutive year the feeding season was two weeks shorter than the 10–year average
of 71 days.
Though many environmental factors are measured to determine when the feeding program should begin, elk
behavior plays a significant role in deciding when feeding should conclude for the year. When snow-free ground
becomes available, elk noticeably lose interest in supplemental feed provided by the refuge and instead search out
new spring growth or residual forage from the previous growing season. The refuge’s feeding schedule this year
corresponds with the Wyoming Game & Fish Department’s decision to end feeding at its three feedgrounds in the
Gros Ventre drainage. The coordinated effort to end supplemental feeding at the same time in several locations
will foster a natural shift in elk distribution.
Despite the end to the supplemental feeding program next week, horse–drawn rides on the National Elk Refuge
are scheduled to continue through Saturday, April 6; wagons can be substituted for sleighs when inadequate snow
remains. The rides are a popular way for people to view elk, enjoy the refuge, and watch for other wildlife. Hours
of operation remain from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm daily, including weekends. Tickets are sold at the Jackson Hole &
Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, located at 532 North Cache Street in Jackson. For further information on the
horse–drawn rides, please call 307.733.0277 or 1.800.772.5386.

– FWS –

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
April 1, 2013
13-06

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

critical winter range closures remain in effect
Refuge Manager Steve Kallin has issued a reminder that two areas of the National Elk Refuge will remain closed to
the public through April 30.
From December 1 through April 30 each year, winter closures limit public travel on the Refuge Road. Traffic and
pedestrian use is only allowed on the first 3.5 miles of the Refuge Road, from the refuge entrance on Broadway
Avenue to the Twin Creek subdivision. Access to the refuge beyond the Twin Creek subdivision is restricted as
part of an area closure to protect wintering wildlife and is coordinated with the Bridger-Teton National Forest. The
Refuge Road will reopen for public travel beyond the Twin Creek subdivision on May 1, giving public access to the
Curtis Canyon and Flat Creek Roads and adjoining National Forest. Restrictions for accessing the Bridger-Teton
National Forest through the National Elk Refuge on May 1 can be found under the “Spring Road Information” tab
on the refuge’s home page at www.fws.gov/nationalelkrefuge.
The section of the North Highway 89 Pathway from Flat Creek to the Gros Ventre bridge also remains closed
through April 30. The 5–mile segment of the pathway is subject to an annual closure in order to reduce impacts to
elk and other wildlife that spend the winter on the National Elk Refuge. The closure is a condition of the agreement
between Teton County and the National Elk Refuge for pathway use on U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service property. Unlike
neighboring federal lands with multiple recreational opportunities, the National Elk Refuge is mandated to prioritize
habitat conservation and wildlife management, adhering to a “wildlife first” mission when considering or allowing
public uses. The seasonal closure of the pathway maximizes benefits to important wildlife habitat and migration
corridors and allows the refuge to be in compliance with its mission and purpose.
Spring can be an especially difficult time for wintering animals, when their energy reserves are low and abundant
new vegetation growth, or “greenup,” is not yet widely available for foraging. Disturbances can deplete an
animal’s remaining reserves when it’s repeatedly startled or stressed by the presence of humans on foot or
bicycle. Wildlife such as mule deer are attracted to the early greenup along the Highway 89 corridor, where
increased moisture from runoff and warmer temperatures can stimulate new growth sooner than in areas further
from the roadway. Human disturbances to animals near the roadway increase the chances of collisions between
motor vehicles and wildlife.
For further information on road or pathway seasonal closures, please call the National Elk Refuge administrative
offices at 307.733.9212.
– FWS –

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

National Elk Refuge News – April 17, 2013
Refuge Photos Go Viral

The expression “going viral” is
no longer a vague term at the
National Elk Refuge after a series
of seven photos were met with
an explosive reaction earlier this
month and quickly became an
Internet topic of interest.
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s
Mountain–Prairie Region’s Web
and Social Media Coordinator,
Ryan Moehring, regularly features
National Elk Refuge photographs
on the region’s Facebook page.
Moehring notes when the Refuge’s
Outdoor Recreation Planner, Lori
Iverson, posts new pictures to
the station’s photo gallery, and
he frequently uses the images
to share visuals from the field.
Through Moehring’s efforts this
winter, several National Elk
Refuge photographs received
thousands of views and were

posted on other web pages,
increasing the total number of
views for the individual pictures.
On March 29, Iverson called
Moehring to alert him she was
posting seven new pictures she
had shot the night before of an
encounter between two juvenile
mountain lions and five coyotes.
She had a hunch the photo series
might bring an even bigger
response than the 3,800 views of
boxing female elk posted earlier
in the month, a photo that was the
highest performing image of the
month on the photo sharing web
site “flickr.” After viewing the new
mountain lion photos, Moehring
concurred and wrote back, “I think
this could be big.” Those words ran
true—and very quickly so.
Moehring crafted the post and

started promoting it through
environmental non–governmental
organizations, nature
photographers, and Internet
celebrity pages. Within the first
three hours, the photos already
had 17,000 views on the photo set
and 21,000 views on Facebook,
plus numbers that couldn’t be
accurately quantified on Twitter.
Another hour later, the numbers
had doubled.
On Saturday, March 30, Moehring
wrote Iverson at home, pleading,
“We’ve gone viral. Can you help
me create a response?” Though the
photos were captioned, the virtual
audience wanted more information.
Over a half million people had
viewed the pictures by then, and
many were requesting additional
content. Internet viewers wanted
to know more about the outcome,

the status of the mountain lions,
and possible reasons for the
standoff. Moehring and Iverson
collaborated over the weekend to
develop short posts to add, and
on April 1 they penned and posted
a lengthy response that addressed
the most common questions and
concerns.
Though the final number of
hits may never be determined,
Moehring could verify the photos
had more than 2.6 million views
in just 72 hours. The incident was
featured the following week on
media sources including FoxNews
and the home pages of Yahoo.com
and NBC.com, no doubt increasing
the numbers well beyond the mark
already established.
In the ensuing weeks,
Iverson heard from friends
around the country that had seen
the pictures and recognized her
name in the photo credit. The

correspondence included a kind
note from Jim Kurth, Chief of the
National Wildlife Refuge System.
After showing the pictures at a
headquarters staff meeting, Kurth
wrote an email and ended it with,
“Keep up the great work and keep
that camera handy.”
The success of the viral story was
used an example in numerous
sessions throughout a “Digital
Communications in Conservation”
workshop held a week later at the
National Conservation Training
Center in Shepherdstown, West
Virginia. The event captured both
the power of social media and the
importance of having photographs
to enhance a story. “This mountain
lion post, and several other viral
posts we’ve seen this past year,
affirms in my mind that our social
media program is headed in the
right direction,” commented
Moehring. “Many people may not
know who the Fish and Wildlife

Service is, but that is rapidly
changing, and I think social media
has a lot to do with that change.”
Moehring continued, “We have
one of the largest and most
successful social media programs
in all of government, with more
than 200 accounts nationwide.
Our vast network reaches millions
of citizens every month. Given
all the challenges we face in our
efforts to preserve and protect
America’s wildlife resources, now
more than ever it is vital to be able
to communicate with the public –
right there on their mobile devices
where they are already browsing
Facebook and Twitter – about all
of the amazing conservation work
we’re doing on their behalf.”
The series of mountain lion photos
and accompanying captions can be
viewed at http://bit.ly/11dTZzZ.
The Refuge’s entire flickr
collection is housed at http://bit.
ly/15mNeQP.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

National Elk Refuge News – April 17, 2013
Refuge Explains Pathway Seasonal Closure

The seasonal closure of the
North Highway 89 Pathway from
Flat Creek to the Gros Ventre
bridge has been of interest this
month, with some local residents
questioning the restriction of use
between October 1 and April 30.
Refuge Manager Steve Kallin
emphasizes the mission of the U.S.
Fish & Wildlife Service and the
agreement that was developed
when the pathway was approved.
The 5–mile segment of the
pathway is subject to an annual
closure, a key condition of the
agreement between Teton County
and the National Elk Refuge
for pathway use on U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service property. The
seasonal closure of the North
89 Pathway was decided upon
collaboratively with the county

after a 2009 environmental
assessment determined the closure
was legally necessary. Another
alternative identified during
the planning process called for
locating the pathway on the west
side of the highway with fewer
restrictions, but public comment
supported the east side placement
despite the seasonal restriction.
Unlike neighboring federal
lands with multiple recreational
opportunities, the National Elk
Refuge is mandated to prioritize
habitat and wildlife conservation,
adhering to a “wildlife first”
mission when considering or
allowing public uses. Some
potential pathway users have
noted that the National Elk
Refuge allows both fishing and
hunting during part of the closure

period, activities perceived as
disturbances no different than
cycling or pedestrian use of the
pathway. Public uses on National
Wildlife Refuges are guided by the
National Wildlife Refuge System
Improvement Act of 1997, an Act
that ensures the Refuge System
is managed as a national system of
related lands, waters, and interests
dedicated to the protection and
conservation of wildlife resources.
One of the major components
of the Act states that hunting
and fishing are legitimate and
appropriate public uses of the
Refuge System and should be
priority public uses when possible.
On the National Elk Refuge,
hunting and fishing are more than
just recreational activities. Each
directly relates to management of

Mule deer are often spotted in the spring adjacent to North
Highway 89 and the pathway.

wildlife. Refuge waters support
a wild population of Snake River
cutthroat trout, a unique variety
of cutthroat species and the only
trout native to the area. However,
Brook, brown, and rainbow
trout are also present in Refuge
waters. By harvesting non–native
trout, anglers can reduce the
impact on the native cutthroat
trout population. Hunting, too,
is used as a management tool on
the Refuge, helping reduce the
number of bison and elk to meet
population objectives developed
with the Wyoming Game &
Fish Department. Hunting was
identified in the 2007 Bison
and Elk Management Plan as
a necessary means to achieve
population goals.
While some observers this April
have noted few animals near the
pathway or little disturbance
to those close by, others have
provided conflicting information.
Refuge staff has received several
descriptions of animals noticeably
wary or stressed by people parking
along the side of the road, exiting
their vehicles, and approaching
the fence. Kallin further explained,
“Anecdotal observations alone

A mule deer darts into traffic from the area near the
pathway, narrowly averting a collision with a truck.

don’t constitute a thorough
evaluation. We’re also looking
at GPS and radio collar data and
photo–based documentation that
records density and distribution of
animals.” The Refuge agreed
to work with the county over
a three– to five–year period to
better analyze impacts of the
pathway and determine if the
seasonal closure could be adjusted
or the use period expanded.
However, Refuge staff began
receiving requests to extend the
pathway season even before the
first year was over. “An evaluation
isn’t valid if it only captures one or
two seasons,” Kallin added. “You
run the risk of missing important
variables or conflicts.”
Approximately 2,000 to 4,000 elk
remain on the Refuge this week,
with numbers fluctuating as elk
make exploratory movements off
and back onto the Refuge. Their
movements usually increase as
more areas become snow–free and
spring greenup starts to occur.
Greenup often happens earlier
along the Highway 89 corridor,
where increased moisture from
runoff and warmer temperatures
stimulate new growth sooner than

in areas further from the roadway.
While traffic from vehicles is
described as a “predictable
disturbance” to wildlife,
sporadic human disturbances
near the roadway cause a more
fearful reaction in animals, thus
increasing the chance of collisions
between motor vehicles and
wildlife as the animals react to
the interaction.
Some pathway users advocate that
the Refuge should not use a fixed
date to open the pathway each
season, but rather should annually
announce the date to coincide with
the end of migration. This spring’s
repeated movement of elk on and
off the Refuge, typical for this time
of year, serves as an example of
the complications that could arise.
“From a management standpoint,
we can’t repeatedly open and
close the pathway based on
rapid changes in elk distribution,
anticipated animal behavior due to
weather, or other factors,” Kallin
said. “Our approach is to mitigate
conflicts before they happen rather
than react to them when they do.”

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Grand Teton National Park &
John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
Memorial Parkway
Jenny Anzelmo-Sarles
307/739-3431

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Yellowstone National Park

Al Nash or Dan Hottle
307/344-2015

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Department of the
Interior
National Elk Refuge

Lori Iverson
307/733-9212 ext. 6

Interagency News Release
For Immediate Release
May 6, 2013
Snake River Headwaters Environmental Assessment Available for Public Review
MOOSE, WY — Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial
Parkway and the National Elk Refuge released today for public review the Snake River Headwaters
Comprehensive River Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (CRMP/EA). This
environmental assessment, prepared in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act, will be
open for review and comment for 57 days from May 6 – June 30, 2013.
This plan was prepared for the newly designated wild and scenic Snake River and tributaries that are
managed by the National Park Service (NPS) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The BridgerTeton National Forest has developed a separate but concurrent plan for the U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
managed river segments. These comprehensive river management plans provides long-term guidance for
protecting and enhancing the entire Snake River Headwaters administered by the NPS and USFWS.
During the review period, the NPS, USFWS and USFS will hold two open houses:
Tuesday, June 4 at Moran Elementary School (gymnasium), 2 Central St., Moran WY; and
Wednesday, June 5, Teton County Library (auditorium), 125 Virginian Lane, Jackson WY.
Both are from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Information on both the NPS/USFWS and USFS plans will be
provided and staff will be available to answer questions.
The NPS/USFWS plan examines three alternatives for long-term management of wild and scenicdesignated rivers within and along the boundaries of Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, John
D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway and the National Elk Refuge. The NPS/USFWS preferred
alternative is Alternative C. Under this alternative, the headwaters would be managed as a more primitive,
undeveloped, natural setting with modest improvements to enhance resource conditions and visitor
experience.
Comments on the plan can be submitted online at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/snakeriver or in writing to
Superintendent, Grand Teton National Park, PO Drawer 170, Moose, WY 83012. Comments submitted
via U.S. Postal Service must be postmarked by June 30, 2013.
Copies of the Snake River Headwaters CRMP/EA are available at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/snakeriver.
To request a CD, contact the park at 307-739-3465. Hard copies of the CRMP/EA are also available at the
Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose, Wyoming and at the Teton County Library
reference desk.
Individuals who choose to submit a comment should know that any responses given, including personally
identifying information, could be made public at any time. Requests to withhold personal identifying
information from public access can be made but the NPS and USFWS may not be able to honor such a
request.
www.nps.gov/grte
www.nps.gov/yell
www.fws.gov/nationalelkrefuge

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

National Elk Refuge News – May 14, 2013
Refuge Increases Jackson District Boy Scout Revenue

Several Scouts line up to take turns carriyng antler bundles onto the stage during the annual antler auction on Jackson’s Town Square.

With this year’s annual antler
auction only days away, both
National Elk Refuge staff and
Jackson District Boy Scout
leaders are busy making final
preparations for Saturday’s
event. The renowned sale on the
Jackson Town Square generates
critical funding for Refuge habitat
projects. This year, the Scouts
will see an increase in the
percentage of revenue they
receive from the Refuge for
assistance with the auction.
The partnership between the
National Elk Refuge and
Jackson District Boy Scouts is
long–standing and is supported

by a 1985 Memorandum of
Understanding between the U.S.
Department of the Interior and
the Boy Scouts of America. The
agreement states the Department
will be involved in Boy Scout
program activities to the extent
they pertain to the conservation,
management, and development of
the nation’s natural resources. The
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
a bureau within the Department
of the Interior, also expresses
support for Boy Scout educational
programs through a policy that
encourages Service employees to
foster communication with Scout
leaders and offer guidance and
support for Scout programs and

activities related to conservation
and natural resource management.
The Jackson District Boy Scouts
play an integral role in the
collection and sale of antlers from
elk wintering on the Refuge. This
year’s antler auction on May 18 will
be the 46th consecutive year for
the event that showcases the
unique partnership between the
Jackson District Boy Scouts and
the National Elk Refuge.
Each spring, Refuge staff begins
collecting antlers as soon as they
start dropping, or “shed,” in early
March. Not only does this reduce
the incidents of illegal poaching,

take center stage during the
annual auction, held each year on
the Saturday before Memorial Day
weekend. Alone or in groups of
two, Scouts carry antlers up to the
stage bundle by bundle as bidders
vie for ownership of the sale item.

A Scout proudly holds up his find duing the spring antler collection.

but it helps avoid damage to
equipment that could occur if the
antlers are accidentally run over
during refuge management
operations like supplemental
feeding, spring harrowing, or
irrigating.
Through an annual special use
permit, the Jackson District Boy

Scouts are allowed to help
Refuge staff pick up antlers in
late April and early May, making
a final sweep for antlers to sell
at the auction. Approximately
100 Scouts and their leaders
participate in the spring antler
collection.
Several weeks later, the Scouts

Sorting the antlers and creating individual sale lots is a full day’s work, completed by a
large pool of Scout volunteers.

Wedged in between the two visible
activities are hundreds of hours
of preparation rarely seen by the
public, behind–the–scenes work
that couldn’t be accomplished by
the Refuge staff alone. In addition
to preparing the antlers for sale,
Scout leaders help advertise
the event through an ElkFest
web site, register bidders, make
logistical arrangements for the
sale, and coordinate with dozens of
Scouts and leaders to assist on the
day of the auction.
A week before the auction,
Scout leaders begin preparing
the collected antlers for sale.
Volunteers sort the antlers,
separating out those that are
broken, non–typical, or heavy six,
seven, and eight–point in size.

A Scout volunteer matches a pair of
antlers to sell as a set at the auction.

possible, coveted by individuals or
vendors who may resell them.
After the bundles are created,
Scout leaders weigh and tag each
group. During the auction, the
antlers are sold per pound, so
bidders need to know the total
weight of any lots they may be
interested in purchasing. As soon
as a bundle of antlers is weighed,
a tag listing both the lot number
and the total weight of the antler
bundle is attached. The laborious
process takes many hours and is
spread out over several days.

Groups of antlers are weighed and tagged in preparation for the auction.

Individual antlers are grouped into
various sized bundles, then taped
or tied together to create
a cluster that will be sold as one
auction item. Scout leaders look for
antlers that have the same
curvature, color, and texture with

the tines coming off the main beam
in roughly the same place for those
buyers who will build chandeliers,
lamps, or other items where
similarity between the antlers is
important. Volunteers also make
up matched pairs whenever

“When it’s all said and done, the
Jackson District Scouts donate
around 2,000 hours every spring
towards the preparation and sale
of antlers,” explained Refuge
Manager Steve Kallin. “That’s the
equivalent of a full–time employee
working a 40–hour week for a full
year.” For their work, Scouts have
historically received 20% of the
auction proceeds to go towards
their Friends of Scouting fees.

Once bundles of antlers are ready for sale, they are loaded onto pallets and trucks to be transported to the Town Square on the morning of
the auction.

Antlers are laid out on the Town Square and available for viewing prior to the start of the auction.

This spring, Kallin revised a
Memorandum of Understanding
with the local Boy Scout district to
increase their share of proceeds to
25%, reflecting the increase in dues
the local district has struggled to
pay. “We recognize the extent of
their work and the extraordinary
effort it takes to pull this off an
event of this scale,” Kallin added.
Cliff Kirkpatrick, who chairs the
antler sale committee for the
Jackson District Boy Scouts,
acknowledges the importance of
the increased share of revenue.
“The additional funding will help
us cover the fees required to even
offer scouting here in Jackson,” he
explained. “It will also help us to
continue supplementing fees for
day camps, leader and Scout
training, Eagle Scout and leader
recognition dinners, and other
district activities.” Other districts
rely on donations by parents,
leaders, community members,
and businesses to pay the Friends

of Scouting fees.
This Saturday, Scout leaders will
start their morning at 5:00 am,
loading up antlers to haul to the
Town Square and have set up by
7:00. Prospective buyers have

several hours to look at the
selections prior to the auction’s
10:00 start. Though the auction
itself lasts several hours, the work
for many Scout leaders will not end
till the last chores are completed in
late afternoon or early evening.

Two scouts stand on the stage with an auction lot during the bidding process.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

National Elk Refuge News – May 17, 2013
Unique Training Held at the Refuge

A dog alerts on a package of marijuana hidden under the boardwalk as part of a training exercise near the historic Miller House.

May is a busy training month
at the National Elk Refuge,
with maintenance and visitor
services volunteers arriving
and seasonal irrigators coming
on board. Various trainings
greet the incoming workers and
provide the temporary staff with
the information they need to do
their jobs. This month, though,
a different kind of training was
thrown into the mix, one where
successful participants were
rewarded with tennis balls and
other play toys.
Teams of dogs and their handlers
used the Refuge’s historic Miller
Ranch this week to conduct field
exercises as part of a four–day
seminar hosted by the Teton

County Sheriff’s Office. The
workshop drew participants from
a number of law enforcement
agencies that use dogs for
detection of explosives and
narcotics as well as tracking
and apprehension.
Approximately 60 officers from
Wyoming and neighboring states
attended a classroom session
that focused on canine narcotics
updates; 30 dog teams stayed
on through the week for field
exercises. The teams honed their
skills in order to reach certification
through the National Police Canine
Association (NPCA). NPCA
was established in 1997 and is a
501(c)(3) non–profit association
dedicated to the training,

Deputy, Dave Hodges, who
organized the interagency
training, explained the benefit of
using the Refuge’s Miller Ranch
as a training site. “We work the
dogs in a variety of environments,
simulating situations where
they may be used,” Hodges said.
Officers used the Miller Barn, a
laundry facility, and a historic
outbuilding for their training at
the Refuge.

An officer and instructor debrief after running a black lab through a drill.

development and certification of
law enforcement canine teams
and their administrations. The
association offers nationally
accepted certifications throughout
the year across the United States.
Use of the National Elk Refuge
as one of the field sites was

coordinated by staff member
Amanda Soliday, a maintenance
worker who volunteers with the
Wyoming K–9 Search and Rescue
program. The organization trains
competent search dog teams and
assists local, state, and federal
authorities in search and rescue
situations. Teton County Sheriff

A program scheduled for later
this summer will give the public
an opportunity to see a working
search dog demonstration. Soliday
will conduct the live demonstration
with her dog on Friday, July 26
at the Jackson Hole & Greater
Yellowstone Visitor Center at
10:00 am. Soliday’s program,
which the Refuge has hosted in
previous years, is always popular
with the public, particularly
children. Soliday uses members
of the audience to help with the
demonstration. Visitor Center
Manager Natalie Fath adds, “The
kids especially love applauding
and rewarding the dog when it
successfully completes a search.”
The demonstration is open to the
public and free of charge.

Two dogs have successful finds of naracotics hidden for training purposes, stashed under a Miller Ranch outbuilding (left) and inside a
laundry facility near the volunteer RV sites (right).

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
May 19, 2013
13-08

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

46th annual antler auction Generates Record Totals
Despite the steady rain and cool conditions, a good crowd turned out for the 46th annual Boy Scout Elk Antler
Auction in Jackson, Wyoming on Saturday, May 18. The sale, held each year on the Saturday before Memorial Day
weekend, makes available shed antlers collected from the National Elk Refuge.
This year, 8,507 pounds of antlers were sold at the auction, up from the 7,398 sold last year and the previous
10–year average of 8,133 pounds. More notable than the slight increase in antlers, however, was the average price
per pound paid this year by the 103 buyers registered at the sale. Bidders paid an average of $15.43 per pound at
Saturday’s auction, or $5.71 per pound higher than the $9.72 average during the previous 10 years. “We had heard
the market was up this year,” Refuge spokesperson Lori Iverson said, “but it was exciting to see it come to fruition
on Saturday.”
Because of the higher price paid per pound, Saturday’s sale yielded a total of $131,400. During the past decade,
the amount generated from the auction has averaged $77,781. Refuge records indicate this year’s total sales and
price per pound set records, exceeding the $111,305 generated in 2011 and the $13.79 per pound average paid in
1989. In 2012, the sale brought in a total of $90,469 with an average price per pound of $12.15.
The majority of proceeds from the antler auction are donated to the National Elk Refuge, which maintains
approximately 25,000 acres as winter range for the Jackson Elk Herd. The money generated from the sale is used
for habitat projects on the Refuge. In 2012, the proceeds were a key funding source for paying seasonal irrigators
and purchasing additional GPS collars to track and document elk distribution and migration.
In previous years, the Jackson District Boy Scouts received 20% of the auction proceeds for their assistance
with the event. The District uses the money to pay Friends of Scouting dues, a fee required for them to remain
in the Boy Scouts of America organization and offer scouting in the Jackson area. The funding also helps them
continue supplementing fees for day camps, leader and Scout training, and other activities. This spring, Refuge
Manager Steve Kallin revised a Memorandum of Understanding with the Scouts and increased the District’s
share of proceeds to 25%, recognizing the extraordinary effort it takes to pull off such a large event as the antler
auction. Each year, Scouts and Scout leaders donate approximately 2,000 hours to prepare and execute the
sale, comparable to one staff member working a 40–hour week for a full year. “The relationship we have with
the Jackson District Boy Scout leaders is outstanding, and their partnership contributions are notable,” Kallin
explained. An article describing the behind–the–scenes work that goes into preparing for the auction, along with a
photo collection of the work, is posted on the Refuge’s home page at www.fws.gov/nationalelkrefuge.
Next year’s antler auction is set for Saturday, May 17. However, single antlers are available for sale throughout the
year at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, located at 532 North Cache Street in Jackson.
For further information on the Boy Scout antler auction, please contact the National Elk Refuge Administrative
Office at (307) 733.9212.
– FWS –

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
May 21, 2013
13-09

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

National Elk refuge announces summer schedule of facilities
Refuge Manager Steve Kallin announced today the 2013 summer season schedule for public facilities on the
National Elk Refuge.
The Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, located at 532 North Cache Street in Jackson, will
expand its hours of operation to 8:00 am through 7:00 pm daily beginning Saturday, May 25. The popular multi–
agency center is staffed by personnel from the National Elk Refuge, Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce,
Bridger–Teton National Forest, Grand Teton National Park, and the Grand Teton Association. The facility is owned
and operated by the National Elk Refuge and is a source for items such as maps, brochures, permits, and Federal
lands passes. The Visitor Center also includes an extensive bookstore, with proceeds from the sales benefiting
educational programming on the Refuge.
The historic Miller House, located approximately ¾ mile north of the National Elk Refuge entrance on East
Broadway Street in Jackson, will open for the season on Sunday, May 26. The charming homestead will be
open from 10:00 am through 4:00 pm daily, including weekends, through mid–September. The Miller House and
surrounding land was the first piece of property purchased for the creation of the National Elk Refuge, established
in 1912. The homestead is decorated with period pieces and gives visitors the opportunity to learn more about the
establishment and early history of the Refuge. The Grand Teton Association operates a small sales outlet at the
Miller House, carrying unique items representative of the early 20th century. Entrance to the Miller House is free
of charge.
For additional information about activities or services at the National Elk Refuge, please call the administrative
offices at (307) 733.9212.
– FWS –

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
June 3, 2013
13-10

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

federal duck stamp and Junior Duck Stamp art work to be on display at the
jackson hole & greater yellowstone visitor center
The Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center will feature two special exhibits from Tuesday, June 11
through Saturday, June 15, displaying the top entries from the 2012 Federal Duck Stamp and 2013 Junior Duck
Stamp contests. The displays travel to various locations throughout the country to promote the Duck Stamp
programs and their roles in conservation. The Visitor Center, located at 532 N. Cache Street, is open daily from
8:00 am to 7:00 pm.
Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps, commonly known as “Duck Stamps,” are pictorial
stamps produced by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The stamp was established in 1934 as a federal license
required for hunting migratory waterfowl. The Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act mandates that all waterfowl
hunters 16 years of age or older purchase a stamp. The sale of stamps, however, is not restricted to hunters.
All citizens can purchase the stamp, which can be used as an annual season pass for national wildlife refuges
charging entrance fees.
The first Federal Duck Stamp was designed by Jay “Ding” Darling at President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s request.
In subsequent years, other noted wildlife artists were asked to submit designs. The first contest in 1949 was
open to any U.S. artist who wished to enter. This is the only art competition of its kind sponsored by the U.S.
Government. Images of each stamp from 1934 to present day can be viewed at www.fws.gov/duckstamps/federal/
stamps/fedimages.htm.
Federal Duck Stamps are vital tools for wetland conservation. Ninety-eight cents out of every dollar generated by
the sale of Federal Duck Stamps goes directly to purchase or lease wetland and associated upland habitats for
inclusion in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s National Wildlife Refuge System. The stamps are often purchased
by conservationists as a means to support the protection of habitat. The Federal Duck Stamp program has been
called one of the most successful conservation programs ever initiated and is a highly effective way to conserve
America’s natural resources.
The first Junior Duck Stamps were produced in 1989. The Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program
is a dynamic arts curriculum that teaches wetlands and waterfowl conservation to students from kindergarten
through high school. The program incorporates scientific and wildlife management principles into a visual arts
curriculum. Participants complete a Junior Duck Stamp design at the completion of their studies, using visual arts
to convey what they have learned. Through this program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service introduces the Federal
Duck Stamp program and the National Wildlife Refuge System to participants and educates new generations of
citizens about the importance of waterfowl and wetlands conservation.
– continued –

Later this summer, the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center will display the top entries in the 2013
Wyoming Junior Duck Stamp Program. Each spring, students submit their artwork to a state or territory contest,
with top entries moving on to a national competition. More than 27,000 students enter state Junior Duck Stamp
art contests each year. The winning design from the national contest is used to create the Junior Duck Stamp for
the following year. Proceeds from the sale of Junior Duck Stamps support conservation education, and provide
awards and scholarships for the students, teachers and schools that participate in the program. The Wyoming
winners from four age categories are scheduled to be on display at the Visitor Center from July 26 – August 26.
More information on the two conservation programs can be found at the following Internet locations:
Federal Duck Stamp Program: www.fws.gov/duckstamps/
„„ Junior Duck Stamp Program: www.fws.gov/juniorduck/
„„

– FWS –

page 2

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

National Elk Refuge News – June 10, 2013
Visitor Center Offers Fun Opportunities to Learn About Birds

National Elk Refuge volunteer Margaret Lozar helps a young duck impersonator with her final fitting of props that simulate air sacs,
webbed feet, contour and down feathers, hollow bones, a bill, and nictitating membranes.

School ended for Teton County,
Wyoming students on Friday, but
not before nine classes of second
graders from Davey Jackson
Elementary School were able to
enjoy an end–of–year field trip to
the National Elk Refuge. The trip
capped off the children’s studies
of Jackson Hole animals and was
their second excursion to the
Refuge this year to observe and
learn about area wildlife.
Davey Jackson Elementary
School, located along the Refuge’s
southern boundary, affords a
wonderful view of the property
owned and managed by the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service. The
second grade classrooms are
located on the school’s second floor,
giving the students an outstanding
elevated view of the nearby
preserved habitat.
While the focus of the students’
February visit to the Refuge was
wintering elk, the spring trip
in late May centered on birds.
Students rotated through stations
to learn about bird characteristics,
beak adaptations, and migration.
The students also had an
opportunity to observe birds and
write in journals they’ve been
keeping throughout the year.

A student climbs under plastic wrap used
to represent a glass window during his race
through a bird migration obstacle course.
Other hindrances along the route included
a predator, fragmented habitat, invasive
species, and bright city lights.

National Elk Refuge volunteer Bob Dicken offers assistance with binoculars (top photo)
while a classroom teacher helps a student with his journal entry (bottom photo), both
part of a station where children watched birds, listened to bird songs, and recorded their
observations.

This week, both Federal Duck
Stamp and Junior Duck Stamp
art work will be on display at
the Jackson Hole & Greater
Yellowstone Visitor Center.
In the spirit of the traveling
exhibits, Refuge volunteers have
organized a “Duck Day” for
Friday, June 14 from 10:00 am to
4:00 pm, offering some of the same
learning stations to the public.
Participants can navigate through
the bird migration obstacle course,
don props that allow them to
learn about duck adaptations, and
challenge themselves to pick up
various sources of food with an
assortment of tools to learn about
different shapes and sizes of beaks.
Friday’s programs are free of
charge and guaranteed to be fun!
For information on the Duck
Stamp exhibit or activities, please
visit http://1.usa.gov/1boQmKe
or call the Refuge administrative
offices at 307.733.9212.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

National Elk Refuge News – June 18, 2013
Refuge Activities Accompany Duck Stamp Exhibits

A participant in the migration obstacle course navigates under a simulated power line during her timed trip between two points.

Two traveling Duck Stamp
exhibits made a brief stopover
at the National Elk Refuge last
week, letting visitors enjoy
beautiful artwork while learning
about U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
conservation programs. Both
Federal Duck Stamp and Junior
Duck Stamp art work were on
display at the Jackson Hole &
Greater Yellowstone Visitor
Center from June 11 through
June 15.
While the exhibits were at
the Visitor Center, refuge
volunteers staffed the display
area and explained to visitors the
significance of the two programs.
The first, the Federal Duck
Stamp program, is the only art
competition of its kind sponsored
by the U.S. Government. Duck
Stamps are a vital tool for wetland

conservation since ninety–eight
cents out of every dollar generated
by the sale of the stamps goes
directly to purchase or lease
wetland and associated upland
habitats for inclusion in the
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s
National Wildlife Refuge System.
The second program, the Junior
Duck Stamp curriculum, is a
dynamic arts program that
teaches wetlands and waterfowl
conservation to students from
kindergarten through high school.
In addition to staffing the exhibits,
refuge volunteers rounded out the
learning experience by organizing
a “Duck Day” on June 14, inviting
the public to participate in a
variety of activities that focused
on waterfowl. A total of 44
participants navigated through
a bird migration obstacle course,

avoiding mock predators, windows,
buildings, and other obstacles
while dealing with fragmented
open spaces and invasive species.

Another “bird” blinded by blinking lights
from antennas, radio towers, and wind
generators skillfully dodges obstacles with
his eyes closed on his travels through the
migration obstacle course.

Participants of all ages enjoyed a station where they could try on props representing duck characteristics. Left: a senior talks with refuge
volunteer Patsy Dicken while wearing two air sacs and a cardboard tube representing hollow bones. Right: a youngster enjoys helping her
older sibling put on a bill to accompany her feathers and safety glasses representing nictitating membranes. A total of 67 “ducks” were
dressed that day.

Two other active learning stations
allowed guests to challenge
themselves to pick up various
sources of food with an assortment
of tools to learn about different
shapes and sizes of bills and
beaks, or to try on props to learn
about duck characteristics and
adaptations. Nearby, another
volunteer staffed a small table
with magnifying glasses and water
to demonstrate how a duck’s
contour feathers serve as
a protective outer shell against
wind and moisture.
Earlier in the week, a group of
preschoolers from the Children’s
Learning Center stopped by for
a reading of the 1941 children’s
classic, “Make Way for Ducklings,”
a picture book written and
illustrated by Robert McCloskey.
The book won the Caldecott Medal
for McCloskey’s illustrations, a
prestigious award that recognizes
the year’s most distinguished
American picture book for
children. After the preschoolers
listened to the story, they
discussed the needs of the
mallards in the story and their

search for a safe location to raise
their young.
Later this summer, more art
work will be on display at the
Visitor Center when the Wyoming
winners of the Junior Duck
Stamp contest will be on display.

Students in all 50 states have the
opportunity to participate in the
Junior Duck Stamp curriculum and
enter the contest. The Wyoming
winners from four age categories
are scheduled to be on display at
the visitor center from July 26 –
August 26.

The same two siblings use a more appropriate tool than the clear plastic tongs they
tried first to pick up “bugs.” The activity focused on beaks and bills.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

National Elk Refuge News – June 25, 2013
Summer Camp Sampler Includes Visit to Refuge

While National Elk Refuge volunteer Cindy Templeton shows students photos of some early homesteads in the Jackson Hole valley,
volunteer Margaret Lozar lets the same children experience what the inside of a homestead may have smelled like by passing around a
container filled with sod and charcoal.

Over 70 students got a glimpse of
homesteading earlier this month
through a visit to the historic
Miller House and a series of
activities that centered on early
Jackson Hole history and the
establishment of the National Elk
Refuge. Six groups of students
visited over a two–day span as
part of a summer camp sampler
offered by Systems of Education
and Teton 10.
Systems of Education is a
community–wide system
involving parents, families,
schools, community organizations,
philanthropists, and businesses to
align goals and mobilize resources
to ensure every child in Teton
County has a strong foundation
for lifelong learning, from early
education in pre-school years to
high school graduation and beyond.
A Systems of Education working
group, concerned about summer
learning loss, was approached by
the Teton County School District

and asked if they could create
programs for students that don’t
qualify for summer school but need
additional experiences over the
summer to serve as enrichment
programs.
With the task at hand, the group
looked at working with existing
programs and day camps to
expand learning opportunities to
other students over the course of a
three–week period. The objective
of the summer sampler program
was to introduce youth and
their families to several quality
programs at an affordable rate
so families could then enroll in
their own programs that appeal
most to their children for the
remainder of the summer and
into the following school year. The
varied experiences would also give
the students exposure to outdoor
experiences in Teton County.
The Jackson Hole Children’s
Museum, Presbyterian Church
of Jackson Hole’s JOY Summer

Camp, and Teton Science Schools
stepped up to the challenge of
increasing their capacities and
accommodating 75 more children
during the three–week period.
Systems of Education started
advertising the summer sampler
during parent teacher conferences
in February, prioritizing children
that had the least amount of
exposure to summer camps. Of
the students selected, 70% had
one month or less of any kind
of summer programs; 25% had
no previous exposure to any
kind with summer camps or
programs. Determining that cost
may have been a factor in the
lack of previous summer camp
experience, Systems of Education
worked with an initiative called
Teton 10 to secure funding. Teton
10 is a Jackson Hole effort to get
youth and teens outside, promote
an active lifestyle, connect to
their community, and confidently
engage in outdoor opportunities.

The program is a project of
the Bridger‐Teton National
Forest Children’s Forest and is
administered by Teton Science
Schools and Center of Wonder.
With $17,000 in scholarship
money secured, students could
participate in the three–week
summer sampler program for
an affordable price.
The National Elk Refuge
participated as one of the
community resources that
provided experiences for the
students. Refuge volunteers
organized a series of activities,
first discussing the rigors of
packing up and leaving a home in
the eastern United States over
a century ago for an unknown
destination further west. Students
filled out booklets helping them
imagine what the adventure
may have been like and what
difficulties early pioneers might
have experienced. The lesson took
place inside the historic Miller

House, a home that was large for
its time and is sometimes referred
to as Jackson’s first “trophy home.”
Students sat on the back porch
of the historic house, a scale that

was much more representative of
a one–room homestead. Inside the
back porch, students placed signs
representing a bed, a wood stove,
a chair, and other objects around

As part of the lesson, students were tasked with listing what they would have packed as
they moved out west and what they would have left behind. One student, thinking about
what was most important to take along, simply wrote, “memories.”

National Wildlife Refuge System.
After using binoculars to take in
the views and look for wildlife,
the students passed around skulls,
antlers, horns, and furs while
talking about animals found in the
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.
The learning experience focused
on the needs and adaptations of
animals, stressing the importance
of adequate habitat and the role
of the National Elk Refuge in the
Jackson Hole valley.

Binoculars enabled the students to see coyotes, bald eagles, and an osprey which they
hadn’t seen with their naked eyes.

the room to imagine the limited
space inside a typical homestead
compared to that of a modern–day
home.

From there, students moved
outdoors to discuss the
establishment of the National Elk
Refuge and the purpose of the

“We saw the wheels turning
during some of the lessons,”
said Margaret Lozar, one of
the volunteers that organized
the lessons. “Some of the older
students asked questions that
showed they were really thinking
about some of the key information
– and maybe for the first time,” she
explained. “It was good exposure
to a part of their community.”
The students ranged in age from
grades 1–6.

Students crowd around Refuge volunteer Joe Lozar to get a closer look at the elk hide he pulled out for the students to see and feel.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
June 26, 2013
13-11

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

eastman excavation to begin work on water main leak
Eastman Excavation of Jackson, Wyoming will begin work this week to repair a water main break just north of
the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center at 532 N. Cache Street. The Visitor Center is owned and
operated by the National Elk Refuge.
The area north of the Visitor Center has a high water table, and rain and melting snow can create standing water
conditions in the spring when the ground becomes saturated. However, National Elk Refuge and Town of Jackson
maintenance workers determined the source of standing water this spring was compounded by a leak in the
underground water pipe system and investigated to determine its origin. The National Elk Refuge solicited bids
and awarded the repair work to Eastman Excavation last week. Estimated repair costs total $6,500.
Repair work is expected to be completed by early next week. For safety reasons, people are asked to stay clear
of the North Park area until crews are finished and the work completed. Large equipment will be staged and
operating for the duration of the project. The Visitor Center will remain open during the regular summer hours of
8:00 am to 7:00 pm while the work is completed, with no water shutoffs to the building expected.
For further information, please call the National Elk Refuge administrative offices at (307) 733.9212.

– FWS –

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Grand Teton National Park

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
National Elk Refuge

National Forest Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Bridger-Teton National Forest

Jackie Skaggs
307.739.3393

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212,ext 6

Mary Cernicek
307.739.5564

Interagency News Release
For Immediate Release
July 12, 2013

First Significant Fire of the Season in Jackson Hole
Requires Response by Two Teton Interagency Fire Engines
Two Teton Interagency Fire engine crews responded to a report of a half-acre fire on the northern boundary
of the National Elk Refuge at approximately 8:30 PM on Thursday, July 11. Fire investigators are following a
lead that the source of ignition may have been fireworks discharged from the Gros Ventre Campground that
lies just across the Gros Ventre River in Grand Teton National Park.
Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received notice of the Gros Ventre Fire and summoned initial attack
resources to respond. A Grand Teton National Park ranger assisted in locating the best access route to the
fire, which was not near park or refuge roads. Despite high humidity and cool evening temperatures, the Gros
Ventre Fire burned quickly through dry grass and sagebrush. A wetting rain on Thursday evening helped
crews contain the fire shortly after 10:00 PM. Teton Interagency Fire manager Mack McFarland described the
fire behavior as more active than expected for this time of year. “Even with rain and high humidity last night,
it was notable for so early in our fire season.”
This marks the first significant fire incident for the 2013 season, and serves as a reminder that vegetation is
becoming much dryer across the greater Jackson Hole area as summer temperatures increase and humidity
decreases. Fire danger is currently rated as moderate, but nearby areas, including Yellowstone National Park,
have increased to a high fire danger rating. The National Weather Service is predicting the Jackson area may
see temperatures near 90 degrees by next week.
Fireworks are prohibited in Grand Teton National Park, the National Elk Refuge, the Bridger-Teton National
Forest, across Teton and Sublette counties, and on Wyoming state lands. It is critical that everyone comply
with this regulation, especially given the dry conditions and high temperatures throughout Jackson Hole.
Along with the fireworks prohibition on public and county lands, campers are reminded that unattended or
abandoned campfires can easily escalate into wildfires. Campers and day users should never leave a fire
unattended and always have a shovel on hand and a water bucket ready for use. All campfires must be
completely extinguished before leaving a site by wetting and stirring the wood and ashes until they are cold
to the touch.
With the already active fire season across the country, local residents and visitors should exercise extra
caution and practice heightened fire safety at all times. Area residents and visitors are requested to report a
fire or smoke by calling 911 or Teton Interagency Dispatch Center at 307.739.3630.
For more fire information, please visit www.tetonfires.com.

—XXX—

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
July 15, 2013
13-13

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

Two programs scheduled for the week of July 22
at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone visitor center
The National Elk Refuge will be hosting two free programs at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor
Center during the week of July 22 to recognize the Grand Teton Association’s Membership Week. The Grand
Teton Association is a nonprofit organization that operates sales outlets in a number of federally–operated visitor
centers and contact stations throughout the area, with sales supporting educational, interpretive, and research
projects by their partnering organizations. The Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, located at
532 N. Cache Street in Jackson, serves as one of the association’s largest sales outlets.
On Tuesday, July 23, the Teton Raptor Center will be offering an hour-long program at 2:00 pm, featuring a live bird
demonstration. The Teton Raptor Center is a nonprofit organization that takes in injured, ill, and orphaned
birds of prey year-round and provides veterinary care and rehabilitation in an effort to return raptors to the wild.
On previous visits to the Visitor Center, Raptor Center programs have included a hawk, eagle, owl, and falcon.
Guests to next week’s program can view and photograph raptors up close and learn about their habits,
characteristics, and rehabilitation.
National Elk Refuge Facilities Maintenance Worker Amanda Soliday will give a search and rescue demonstration
at 10:00 am on Friday, July 26 with the help of her search dogs, Roscoe and Otis. Soliday, Roscoe, and Otis
volunteer with the Wyoming K-9 Search and Rescue program, a nonprofit organization committed to training
competent search dog teams and assisting local, state, and federal authorities in search and rescue situations.
Roscoe and Otis, 8 year-old and 1 year-old golden retrievers, respectively, have multiple certifications for different
types of search work. Along with giving search demonstrations, Soliday will explain the steps necessary to begin
early training with a search and rescue dog.
Both programs are family–friendly and free of charge.
Current or new Grand Teton Association members will receive a 25% discount off all purchases throughout the
week at any of the association’s locations. The Grand Teton Association also operates a small store at the refuge’s
historic Miller House located ¾ mile north of the refuge’s entrance at the end of East Broadway Avenue. To learn
more about the Grand Teton Association and membership benefits, please visit www.grandtetonpark.org or speak
with Visitor Center staff.
– FWS –

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
July 18, 2013
13-14

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

national elk refuge staff enhanced
Two new staff members have joined the National Elk Refuge, filling vacancies critical to the refuge’s overall
operation.
Cris Dippel has been selected as the new Deputy Refuge Manager of the National Elk Refuge and reported to his
new position on June 16. Dippel replaces Paul Santavy, who moved to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Mountain–
Prairie Region in December 2012. In his new role, Dippel will be leading refuge operations and maintenance,
including biological, range management, law enforcement, fire management, and facilities management programs.
Dippel will also serve as a collateral duty Law Enforcement Officer at the National Elk Refuge.
Dippel has been with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service since 1989. In Colorado, he served as Refuge Manager of a
National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex, which includes Browns Park and Ouray national wildlife refuges and the
Colorado River Wildlife Management Area. During his last two years, he spent much of his time working with oil
and gas leases in the Ouray (northeastern Utah) area.
His extensive U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service experience includes biologist and managerial positions at Tetlin
and Alaska Maritime NWR in Alaska, Kauai NWR Complex and French Frigate Shoals (Hawaiian Islands NWR)
in Hawaii, Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge in Oregon, and Cabeza Prieta NWR in Arizona. Prior to his
full–time work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Dippel earned a B.A. degree in Environmental Biology at
Greenville College in Illinois in 1984 and a M.S. from Emporia State University in Kansas in 1986.
Also new to the National Elk Refuge staff is Law Enforcement Officer Bryan Yetter. He joined the refuge staff in
January 2013, coming from the National Park Service. During the past few months, Yetter has been on a work
detail, completing training required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In addition to working in National Park
Service positions at Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, and North
Cascades National Park, Yetter is a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
“These are key vacancies in our small staff that we were fortunate to fill,” explained Refuge Manager Steve
Kallin. “Both of our new staff members come to us with experience and skills that will be a tremendous asset to

our programs.”

– FWS –

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
July 25, 2013
13-15

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

art work to be on display at the
jackson hole & greater yellowstone visitor center
An exhibit featuring the top entries in the 2013 Wyoming Junior Duck Stamp Program has moved to the Jackson
Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center this week, featuring the art work of winners from four age categories.
The art work was on display at the National Museum of Wildlife Art earlier this month and will be featured at the
Visitor Center from July 26 through August 26. The Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center is located
at 532 N. Cache Street in Jackson.
The Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program is a dynamic arts curriculum that teaches wetlands and
waterfowl conservation to students from kindergarten through high school. The program incorporates scientific
and wildlife management principles into a visual arts curriculum. Participants complete a Junior Duck Stamp
design at the completion of their studies, using visual arts to convey what they have learned.
Each spring, students submit their artwork to a state or territory contest, with top entries moving on to a national
competition. More than 27,000 students enter state Junior Duck Stamp art contests each year. The winning design
from the national contest is used to create the Junior Duck Stamp for the following year.
This year, judging for the Wyoming Junior Duck Stamp contest was held at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge
near Green River, Wyoming. Bailey Schupp, age 12, from Pinedale, WY took the top honor with Best of Show.
A virtual gallery featuring art work from the contest is located at www.fws.gov/seedskadee/jrduck/2013/.
Proceeds from the sale of Junior Duck Stamps support conservation education and provide awards and
scholarships for the students, teachers and schools that participate in the program. Through the Junior Duck
Stamp program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service introduces participants to both the Federal Duck Stamp program
and the National Wildlife Refuge System and educates new generations of citizens about the importance of
waterfowl and wetlands conservation.
The Wyoming Junior Duck Stamp Program Art Work Tour Schedule for the remainder of the contest year includes
these state locations:
„„ August 29 – October 28, 2013: White Mountain Library, Rock Springs
„„ November 1 – December 16, 2013: Northwest College, Orendorff Building, Sinclair Gallery, Powell
„„ December 21, 2013 – February 10, 2014: Wyoming Game & Fish Department Office, Casper
„„ February 14 – March 17, 2014: Wyoming Game & Fish Department Headquarters, Cheyenne
More information on the Junior Duck Stamp Program can be found at www.fws.gov/juniorduck/.
– FWS –

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

National Elk Refuge News – July 26, 2013
Two Programs This Week Draw Large Crowds

Two programs at the Jackson Hole
& Greater Yellowstone Visitor
Center entertained audiences of
all ages this week, with a number
of animals sharing starring roles in
the educational presentations.

Top: In addition to being Program Director
for the Teton Raptor Center, Jason Jones is
a master falconer and professional handler.
Below: A youngster in the front row doesn’t
miss a thing as he carefully listens to all
the details during Jones’s presentation.

On Tuesday, Jason Jones of the
Teton Raptor Center presented
an hour–long program, featuring
four birds from the non–profit
organization. The Teton Raptor
Center takes in injured, ill, and
orphaned birds of prey year–round
and provides veterinary care and
rehabilitation in an effort to return
raptors to the wild. Tuesday’s
program included a Great Horned
Owl, a Harris Hawk, a Saker
Falcon, and a Golden Eagle, which
Jones brought out one at a time.
With bird in hand, Jones gave

some background on each raptor
and discussed its characteristics
and habits. A crowd of 180 people
participated in the program,
including a number of children
from day camps and organizations
from throughout the community.
Friday morning, National Elk
Refuge Facilities Maintenance
Worker Amanda Soliday gave a
search and rescue demonstration
with the help of her search dogs,
Roscoe and Otis. Soliday, Roscoe,
and Otis volunteer with the
Wyoming K–9 Search and Rescue
program, a nonprofit organization
committed to training competent
search dog teams and assisting
local, state, and federal authorities
in search and rescue situations.
Roscoe and Otis, 8 year-old and

1 year-old golden retrievers,
respectively, have multiple
certifications for different types
of search work.
During Friday’s presentation,
Soliday had children hide behind
trees and bushes to demonstrate
basic search skills. The problems
became more complex as Soliday
hid other, smaller items in the
grass. Despite complications from
a brain tumor, Roscoe performed
well and drew smiles and applause
from the audience of 76 people.
His shining moment came when
Soliday took a hat off one of the
children, then had the owner, along
with three other children, step out
onto the lawn. Without missing
a beat, Roscoe smelled the cap,
gave a few yelps, and, after only a
few sniffs, ran directly to the hat’s
rightful owner.
The programs this week were
sponsored by the generous support
of the Grand Teton Association, a
nonprofit cooperating association

Above: Roscoe tugs on a toy he receives as a reward for a successful find. Below: Roscoe
receives plenty of lovin’ as he takes a break from his search and rescue demonstration.

that operates bookstores in
visitor centers and contact
stations throughout the Greater
Yellowstone Area. The Association
helps fund a wide variety of
projects and programs for the
National Elk Refuge, Grand Teton
National Park, and the Bridger–
Teton and Caribou–Targhee
National Forests. Proceeds from

all sales are returned to the
federal agencies in support of
art, education, and research.
This week, the Grand Teton
Association celebrates its
membership week. To learn
more about membership benefits,
visit www.grandtetonpark.org/
support-us/become-a-member/.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
August 1, 2013
13-16

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

Refuge makes preparations for bison and elk hunting seasons
Wildlife managers are preparing for two upcoming hunting seasons on the National Elk Refuge. Hunting programs
on the Refuge are used as a management tool to achieve optimum herd size as determined through a cooperative
effort between the National Elk Refuge, Grand Teton National Park, and Wyoming Game & Fish Department
managers.
The 2013 bison hunting season on the National Elk Refuge will begin on August 15 and run through January 12,
2014. Bison hunting licenses are issued by the Wyoming Game & Fish Department. A Refuge–specific bison permit
is required and is provided with the State license. Individuals who have not already applied and been selected for
the 2013 season are not eligible to hunt bison this season.
The Refuge bison hunting season will be comprised of 12 hunt periods of varying length, with a number of
weeklong breaks of non-disturbance incorporated into the season. This is intended to increase the success rate
for hunters since bison, along with other animals, may learn to avoid an area with continued hunting pressure.
Wildlife managers are using the hunt period structure as a tool to achieve herd objectives.
The 2013 Refuge elk hunting season will run from October 12 through December 15 and will consist of 10
consecutive hunt periods. Persons interested in hunting elk may begin applying for Refuge–specific permits
beginning Wednesday, August 14. Applications for elk permits must be submitted electronically by September 25 to
be entered into a computerized random draw. The results of the drawing will be posted on the application web site
by September 26.
Application for National Elk Refuge elk hunting permits is done in cooperation with the Wyoming Game & Fish
Private Lands Public Wildlife Access program. Hunters may initially apply for only one hunt period per hunt unit
and must already have a valid Wyoming elk license to enter the electronic drawing. Elk hunters attempting to fill
two valid licenses on the Refuge during the same hunt period do not need to apply for two Refuge permits.
Bison and elk hunting information, including general information, application procedures, regulations, maps,
weapons restrictions, and access can be found on the National Elk Refuge’s web page at www.fws.gov/refuge/
national_elk_refuge. Printed copies of Refuge regulations can be picked up in Jackson at the Jackson Hole &
Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center (532 N. Cache Street), Wyoming Game & Fish Department (420 N. Cache Street),
or the National Elk Refuge Administrative Offices (625 E. Broadway Avenue). Printable versions (PDF) of
the regulations and maps are available on the web site.
Persons traveling on Refuge roads, including Curtis Canyon and Flat Creek roads, are encouraged to familiarize
themselves with hunt boundaries and be aware that hunters may be in the area.
– FWS –

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Grand Teton National Park

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
National Elk Refuge

National Forest Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Bridger-Teton National Forest

Jackie Skaggs
307.739.3393

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212,ext 6

Mary Cernicek
307.739.5564

Interagency News Release
For Immediate Release
August 20, 2013

Teton Interagency Fire Managers Increase Fire Danger Rating to Very High
MOOSE, WY —Teton Interagency Fire managers announce that the fire danger rating has been elevated
to ‘Very High’ for the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton National Park and National Elk Refuge as
of Tuesday, August 20, 2013. With exceptionally dry conditions, local residents and visitors alike should
practice heightened fire safety at all times.
When determining fire danger ratings, fire officials evaluate several factors such as: the moisture content
of grasses, shrubs and trees; projected weather conditions (including temperatures and possible wind
events); the ability of fire to spread after ignition; and the availability of fire-fighting resources. A fire
danger rating of ‘Very High’ means that fires can start easily, spread quickly and burn intensely.
Recent hot temperatures, low humidity and windy conditions have combined to increase the potential for
intense fire activity across the Teton Interagency fire area. In addition, the fire preparedness level is listed
as 5—the highest level—both nationally and for the Eastern Great Basin fire region which is the region
covering the Greater Yellowstone Area. Preparedness level 5 means that firefighting resources are
concentrated at numerous large fires, and therefore limited for any new fire starts in the region.
Teton Interagency fire personnel have extinguished a near record number (125) of unattended or
abandoned campfires this summer. Abandoned campfires can quickly escalate into wildfires, and it is
extremely important that all campfires are completely extinguished and cold to the touch before campers
leave their site. Visitors should never leave a fire unattended. The fine for an abandoned campfire is
$225, but campers can also be held liable for suppression costs if their campfire becomes a wildfire.
To report a fire or smoke, call Teton Interagency Dispatch Center at 307.739.3630. For additional fire
information, visit online at www.tetonfires.com .

—XXX—

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Grand Teton National Park

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
National Elk Refuge

National Forest Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Bridger-Teton National Forest

Jackie Skaggs
307.739.3393

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212,ext 6

Mary Cernicek
307.739.5564

Interagency News Release
For Immediate Release
August 27, 2013

Fire Danger Lowered to ‘High’
Due to cooler temperatures, shorter days, and recent rainfall, Teton Interagency Fire officials
have lowered the fire danger rating to ‘high” on the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton
National Park and the National Elk Refuge.
Additionally, fire officials utilize a combination of fire models, fuel moisture sampling, and fire
activity data to determine the wildland fire danger, and it is evaluated on a weekly basis
throughout the fire season.
Although fire officials are reducing the fire danger, significant moisture is still needed to reduce
the potential for new starts and to limit ignitions from becoming larger fires. While warm dry
weather is creating late season opportunities for recreationists, it is also prolonging the fire
season.
High fire danger means all fine fuels ignite readily and fires start easily from most sources. It
also means unattended brush and campfires are likely to escape. When ignited, fires will spread
rapidly and their control may become difficult unless they are effectively managed while they are
still small.
“While campfires are a welcome addition during cool fall nights, abandoned campfires can
quickly escape as the day warms and afternoon winds develop,” said Andy Norman, deputy fire
management officer on the Bridger-Teton National Forest.
As a reminder, the following are year-round wildfire prevention restrictions in place on all Forest
and Park Service administered public lands in Wyoming:
•
•
•
•
•

Abandoning or failing to fully extinguish a campfire;
Discharging or using any fireworks;
Discharging a firearm using incendiary or tracer ammunition.
Burning, igniting, or causing to burn any tire, wire, magnesium, or any other
hazardous or explosive material.
Operating any off-road vehicle on public lands unless the vehicle is equipped with
a properly installed spark arrester.

Campfires remain a concern for fire officials, who are asking the public to build campfires away
from material that easily could ignite, keep the fires small and make sure they are completely out
before leaving. For more information, visit www.tetonfires.com.
—XXX—

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

National Elk Refuge News – August 29, 2013
Teton Interagency Fire Personnel Assist in Idaho

Above: Pictured left to right: Chip Collins, National Park Service / Grand Teton National Park; Mike Bentley, US Forest Service /
Bridger–Teton National Forest; Lori Iverson, US Fish & Wildlife Service / National Elk Refuge; Tobin Kelley, US Forest Service /
Bridger–Teton National Forest; and Traci Weaver, National Park Service / Grand Teton National Park. Below: The view from fire camp.

The Teton Interagency Fire
program was well represented
at the Beaver Creek Fire near
Hailey, Idaho earlier this month,
a large wildfire that received
national media attention. The
fire, which began on August 7,
quickly grew in size and required
the oversight of a Type 1 Incident
Management Team.
When the lightning–caused fire
began, the National Interagency
Fire Center had issued a
prepardedness level of 5 for the
Eastern Great Basin Geographic
Area, which includes, among other
areas, western Wyoming and the
southern half of Idaho. Ranging
from 1 to 5, Preparedness levels
refer to the number of incident
management teams and crews

already committed to fires. The
higher the number, the greater
the demand and competition
for resources. Shortly after the
Beaver Creek Fire began, the
national preparedness level also
jumped to 5, the highest level on

the scale. Personnel, crews, and
equipment were scarce due to the
increased fire activity, including
multiple large fires in Idaho.
However, the Beaver Creek Fire
became the top priority fire in
the nation, outcompeting other

incidents for needed personnel.
Teton Interagency Fire program
staff assisted with management
of the wildfire by filling Fire
Behavior Analyst, Resource Unit
Leader, and Fire Information
Officer positions. Though over
1,000 people were eventually
assigned to the incident, the
five from the Teton Interagency
Fire program worked closely
together at the Incident Command
Post and attributed their close
working relationship to some of
the successes in their respective
roles. “It’s always helpful to have
people from your home area on
an incident with you,” explained
Chip Collins, who serves on the
Great Basin National Incident
Management Team that responded
to the fire. “You know each other’s
strengths, you already have
cohesion, and you have the support
of one another when you need it,
both on the incident and when
you’re back at home.”
A sixth member of the Teton
Interagency Fire program was
assigned to the incident when
fire activity and progression
slowed and the fire transitioned
to a Type 2 management level
earlier this week. Elizabeth
Watson from Jackson Hole Fire/
EMS is currently serving as a
Medical Unit Leader, completing
participation in the incident by all
the organizations within the Teton
Interagency Fire program.
Additional photos of the Beaver Creek Fire can be viewed on the Great Basin National
Incident Management Team #1’s Flickr site at www.flickr.com/photos/100460143@N08/

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
September 3, 2013 13-19

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

historic miller House to set record for busiest season
Visitation at the historic Miller House is on track to hit an all–time high this year, the busiest season since the
facility opened to the public in 2005. Over 3,000 people have already visited the site, with several weeks left in the
2013 season. The charming homestead will remain open through the close of business on Sunday, September 22.
Located in a tranquil setting next to a cluster of cottonwood trees, the Miller House sits approximately ¾ mile
north of the National Elk Refuge entrance on East Broadway Avenue in Jackson. Entrance to the Miller House is
free of charge.
The Miller House and surrounding land was the first piece of property purchased for the creation of the National
Elk Refuge, established in 1912. Decorated with period pieces, the homestead gives visitors the opportunity to
learn more about the establishment and early history of the Refuge. Volunteer naturalists are on hand to share
stories, answer questions, and give tours of the building. Additionally, the Grand Teton Association operates a
small sales outlet at the Miller House, carrying unique items representative of the early 20th century.
Hours of operation are from 10:00 am through 4:00 pm daily, including weekends. More information on the Miller
House can be found on the Refuge’s web page at http://1.usa.gov/1cozUvV, with photos of the historic site stored
on the Refuge’s photo gallery.
– FWS –

National Park Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
Grand Teton National Park

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
U.S. Department of the Interior
National Elk Refuge

National Forest Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Bridger-Teton National Forest

Jackie Skaggs
307.739.3393

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext 6

Mary Cernicek
307.739.5564

Interagency News Release
For Immediate Release
September 4, 2013
Fire Danger Drops to Moderate

Campers and Hunters Reminded to Remain Vigilant
Recent rains received throughout the Teton Interagency Fire area have given firefighters a much-needed
respite from fire activity and resulted in the fire danger dropping to Moderate.
The welcome moisture also minimized activity on several lightning-caused fires in the Teton Interagency
area. The following fires are exhibiting minimal fire behavior; however, Teton Interagency fire personnel
will continue to actively monitor and patrol these areas as conditions warrant:
• The 200-acre Snake Fire three miles east of the south entrance to Yellowstone National Park on
the border of the Bridger-Teton National Forest, but primarily in Yellowstone
• The 180-acre Moose Fire in Grand Teton National Park on the west side of Jackson Lake in the
upper basin of Moose Creek
• The 1,065-acre Green Fire in the Upper Green River on the Pinedale Ranger District
• The 698-acre Kendall Mountain Fire in the Bridger Wilderness, east of Boulder Basin
Currently no closures are associated with these fires, but hunters and other visitors are urged to use
caution if traveling near any of these uncontrolled fires or recently burned areas and to be aware of the
associated hazards such as falling snags, active flame, rolling rock/debris, and hot smoldering stump holes.
The Teton Interagency Fire area, which includes Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton National
Park, National Elk Refuge, as well as Lincoln, Sublette, and Teton counties, have dealt with a total of 50
wildland fires so far this year. Approximately one third of those were human caused. More than 145
campfires have been left unattended or abandoned by recreationists.
Fires can still start easily during Moderate fire danger. Hunters and other forest visitors are reminded not
to become complacent with fire while recreating on public lands. Campfires always need to be cold to the
touch before leaving them.
For more fire information, please visit www.tetonfires.com
—XXX—

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
September 9, 2013 13-21

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

2013 Elk hunting permit application period to close soon
National Elk Refuge Manager Steve Kallin issued a reminder today that the on–line application period to apply for a
2013 Refuge–specific elk hunting permit will close later this month. Hunters could begin applying for elk hunting permits
on August 14; the on–line application period ends on Wednesday, September 25. Hunters may initially apply for only one
of ten hunt periods, scheduled from October 12 through December 15. Results of the computerized random draw will
be posted on the application web site on Thursday, September 26.
When the results of the random draw are posted, the on–line system will continue to be active to allow access to any permits
that were not issued during the initial random draw. Any unissued (leftover) permits will be available on a first–come, first–
served basis. Persons who were successful for one hunt period during the September 26 random draw are also eligible to
reapply for a leftover permit valid for another hunt period.
Once the season begins, hunters will also have the opportunity to apply for alternate permits, issued during weekly
computerized draws.
The application process for Refuge elk hunting permits is conducted in cooperation with the Wyoming Game & Fish
Department Private Lands Public Wildlife Access Program. A full set of instructions on how to apply for a National Elk Refuge
elk hunting permit, including information on the permit application process, hunt area maps, hunt periods, and regulations can
be found on the Refuge’s web page at www.fws.gov/refuges/national_elk_refuge. Hunters should review all regulations and
maps prior to applying for a permit.

– FWS –

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
September 10, 2013 13-22

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

Free Family event to highlight bison
The National Elk Refuge is sponsoring a free, family event on Saturday, September 14 that will focus on the life
and history of bison. A variety of activities are planned from 9:30 am through 4:00 pm at the Jackson Hole & Greater
Yellowstone Visitor Center, located at 532 N. Cache Street in Jackson.
A welcome table will be set up in front of the visitor center to greet visitors and provide a schedule and location
of programs. Staff will also have a variety of items on hand such as a bison hide, skull, horns, and bones for
guests to view and handle. A bison costume and hand puppet will be available to visitors for a fun dress–up and
photography opportunity. Inside the visitor center, guests will be treated to a display of traditional tools made from
bison horns and sinew, along with a poster showing other traditional uses.
Scheduled presentations and activities include:
„„

9:30 –11:00 am; repeated from 1:15 – 2:30 pm: Two crafts projects will be available. Participants can use brown
paper in the shape of a bison hide to construct a winter count, which is a documented history or calendar where
events are recorded by pictures. Artists can tell a story from a time period of their choice. Guests can also use
paper and yarn to make a variation of a parfleche rawhide bag decorated with geometric shapes. A parfleche
was traditionally used for carrying food, personal items, and tools.

Left: Lone Dog Winter Count, from
Lakota Winter Counts, an on–line
exhibit
Right: Parfleche envelopes by Debra Box,
Native American Trading Company

„„

9:30 – 11:00 am: Bison Olympics. A series of physical challenges will give participants an awareness of the size
and speed of the mighty creatures and a respect for safe viewing distances when observing or photographing
bison.

„„

11:00 am – 12:00 pm; repeated from 3:00 – 4:00 pm: A speaker will present a slide show giving an overview
of historical bison hunting and subsequent near extinction of the American icon, along with current hunt
management goals of the National Elk Refuge.
– continued –

„„

12:30 – 1:00 pm: A refuge volunteer will read the children’s book The Buffalo are Back by Jean Craighead George.
This beautiful picture book, illustrated by Wendell Minor, tells the compelling story of the bison’s dramatic
comeback in our country.

„„

1:30 - 3:00 pm: Build a Bison. Visitors of all ages will enjoy an assortment of wearable props that represent
a bison’s hide, tail, wedge-shaped nose, thick skull, and horns. Through this fun and interactive program,
participants will learn about bison characteristics and adaptations.

For more information on Saturday’s event, please call 307.739.9322.

– FWS –

page 2

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
September 20, 2013 13-23

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

North Highway 89 multi-use Pathway season to be extended
National Elk Refuge Manager Steve Kallin announced today a trial adjustment to the seasonal closure dates on the North
Highway 89 multi–use pathway from Flat Creek to the Gros Ventre bridge. Beginning this fall, the annual closure will begin
on November 1 rather than the October 1 date previously used since the pathway opened in the spring of 2011.
The seasonal closure was a key condition of the agreement between Teton County and the National Elk Refuge for pathway
use on U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service property. A collaborative decision was made with the County after a 2009 Environmental
Assessment determined the restriction was legally required. Another alternative identified during the planning process called
for locating the pathway on the west side of the highway with fewer restrictions, but public comment supported the east side
placement despite the seasonal closure.
During the planning phase of the pathway construction in 2007, Refuge staff identified the annual closure dates as
October 1 through April 30, basing the dates on current VHF radio elk collar data and yearly observations of elk migration to
and from the Refuge. The seasonal dates were in response to one of the primary management concerns that migrating elk
attempting to enter the Refuge through elk jumps (openings in the Refuge fence designed for eastward animal movement)
would be inadvertently hazed by pathway users onto Highway 89, resulting in vehicle/wildlife collisions. Refuge staff agreed
to work with the County over a three– to five–year period after the pathway opened to better analyze impacts of the pathway
and determine if seasonal use of the pathway could be expanded.
Beginning in 2008, Refuge staff transitioned to the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) elk collars, which provide additional
data with much more accurate location information. The equipment can monitor and record elk movements as frequently as
every two hours. Additionally, Refuge personnel implemented a south unit elk hunt in 2007 as a means to increase harvest
numbers and reduce the size of the elk herd to meet management objectives. Kallin explained, “Elk started arriving at the
Refuge later in the season after the southern end of the Refuge was opened to hunting; that trend was verified by recent
data collection.”
For the past 2½ years since the pathway opened, biologists have collected GPS elk collar data and conduct weekly elk counts
on the area south of the Gros Ventre Hills during both the spring and fall migration periods. Additionally, Brian Schilling from
Jackson Hole Community Pathways deployed motion–detecting trail cameras at elk jump locations during the fall migration
period in 2011 and 2012. Captured images were recorded along with the specific location, date, time, and species. The
resulting information from the various data collection methods was factored into the decision to adjust the seasonal closure
dates. Most notably, the refined data collected from the GPS collars documented that 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 and is one of the
last to migrate to the Refuge each fall. Also, one–third of all pathway crossings occur during daylight hours.
During the spring, the Refuge fence along the highway restricts elk leaving the Refuge from crossing to the west until
they reach the Gros Ventre River. While highway and pedestrian safety during the spring migration remain paramount
considerations, an additional management concern includes stress to wintering animals remaining on the Refuge. “Though
elk may not visibly appear to be stressed by the presence of pathway users, studies confirm the steady presence of humans
reduces the amount of habitat elk will use, thereby increasing the concentration of animals on the rest of the Refuge,” Kallin
explained. “Our management goals clearly state our intent to look at ways to reduce concentrations of animals that could
increase the risk and spread of disease.”

– continued –

GPS collar data showed that peak spring elk movements occur during the second and third weeks of April. Consequently,
the spring lifting of the closure is still scheduled for May 1. However, Kallin emphasized the Refuge is developing criteria
and will determine on a yearly basis whether the pathway can be opened as early as April 15 in years when spring arrives
unusually early.
Kallin emphasized the mission of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the agreement that was developed when the pathway
was approved. “Most people’s confusion over what we can and cannot allow on the Refuge can be traced back to a
lack of understanding of the Service’s mission and how we differ from other public lands in the area.” Unlike neighboring
federal lands with multiple recreational opportunities, the National Elk Refuge is mandated to prioritize habitat and wildlife
conservation, adhering to a “wildlife first” mission when considering or allowing public uses.
The Refuge will retain the authority to enact emergency closures during both the spring and fall seasons to mitigate for
wildlife considerations. The pathway seasonal closure dates, based primarily on elk movement data, will be placed in the
Draft Refuge Comprehensive Conservation Plan, which will become available for public comment before the end of the
calendar year.

– FWS –

page 2

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
October 1, 2013
13-24

Steve Kallin
307.733.9212, ext. 2

Government shutdown affects national Elk Refuge operations
Refuge Manager Steve Kallin announced this morning that programs and services on the National Elk Refuge will be affected
by the shutdown of the Federal Government.
Because of the lapse in appropriations and pursuant to law, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will close most of its operations,
including public access to all national wildlife refuges. All activities will be canceled on refuge lands and public buildings for
the duration of the Federal Government shutdown. Closures and suspended activities on the National Elk Refuge include:
„„

The Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, located at 532 N. Cache Street in Jackson, will remain closed
until further notice. General travel information will be available from the Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce office at
112 Center Street or by telephone at (307) 733–3316. Additional locations for Chamber of Commerce information will be
temporarily available; call the Chamber of Commerce offices at the telephone number above, or visit their web site at
www.jacksonholechamber.com for other information locations.

„„

The North Highway 89 multi–use pathway from Flat Creek to the Gros Ventre River, located on federal land, will be closed
to pedestrian, bicycle, and other non–motorized travel. Maps of additional multi–use pathways in the Town of Jackson
and Teton County can be found at the Jackson Hole Community Pathways link at www.tetonwyo.org/pathway/topics/
maps/100286/.

„„

Bison hunting on the National Elk Refuge will be suspended during the Federal Government shutdown. The current Refuge
bison hunt period, scheduled to run through October 4, will be canceled for the remainder of the hunt period unless there
is a change in government shutdown status. If the Federal Government reopens before October 4, any Refuge bison hunt
permits will again become valid. Hunting during all remaining Refuge bison hunt periods will only be available if the Federal
Government is not in shutdown status.

„„

Elk hunting is scheduled to begin on the National Elk Refuge on October 12. Similar to bison hunting, Refuge elk hunting
opportunities will only be available if the Federal Government is not in shutdown status.

„„

Fishing on the National Elk Refuge, scheduled to be open through October 31, is suspended during the Federal Government
shutdown. This includes the Gros Ventre River along the north boundary of the Refuge, Upper Flat Creek from the McBride
Bridge and northeast toward the Bridger–Teton National Forest, Lower Flat Creek between a posted boundary at the Old
Crawford Bridge site upstream to the McBride Bridge on the Flat Creek Road, and Nowlin Creek from its confluence with
Flat Creek to the Closed Area boundary sign ¼ mile upstream.

„„

The National Elk Refuge’s web page will be unavailable for public viewing. Instead, web visitors will be redirected to a
U.S. Department of the Interior web site at www.doi.gov/index.cfm.

The Refuge Road and Flat Creek Road will remain open as a travel corridor and access road to other federal and private lands.
– continued –

For programs experiencing a lapse in appropriated funding, only limited functions will continue, such as those necessary to
respond to emergencies and to protect human life or property. In addition to national wildlife refuges, other Service public
lands and services closed to the public include waterfowl production areas, Ecological Services field offices, fish hatcheries,
fish technology and health centers, and fish and wildlife conservation offices.
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Director Dan Ashe said in a statement, “Closing off public access to our national wildlife refuges and
public lands is the last thing we want to do, but is consistent with operations called for during a government shutdown. This is
difficult news for families, birdwatchers, hunters and anglers, and recreationists who enjoy the great outdoors on refuges – as
well as for the many local businesses who depend on the tourism and outdoor recreation economy they generate.”
Additional information about the Federal Government’s operating status both today and in the days to follow is available at
www.doi.gov/shutdown and www.opm.gov.

– FWS –

page 2

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
October 17, 2013
13-25

Steve Kallin
307.733.9212, ext. 2

national Elk Refuge Reopens operations after Federal government shutdown
Refuge Manager Steve Kallin announced this morning that due to the enactment of a continuing resolution on October 16,
public programs and services on the National Elk Refuge affected by the shutdown of the Federal Government are now fully
operational. Activities on the National Elk Refuge now reopened include:
„„

The Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, located at 532 N. Cache Street in Jackson, reopened this morning,
October 17, operating on the winter schedule of 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily. The popular multi–agency visitor center is staffed
during the winter season by personnel from the National Elk Refuge, Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, Bridger–Teton
National Forest, and the Grand Teton Association. The facility is a source of items such as maps, brochures, permits, and
Federal lands passes. The Visitor Center also includes an extensive bookstore, with proceeds from the sales benefiting
educational programming on the National Elk Refuge.

„„

The North Highway 89 multi–use pathway from Flat Creek to the Gros Ventre River, located on federal land, is open to
pedestrian, bicycle, and other non–motorized travel through October 31. A seasonal closure of the multi–use pathway will
go into effect on November 1; more information on the seasonal closure is posted at http://1.usa.gov/1752owt.

„„

Bison hunting on the National Elk Refuge will resume today, October 17, adhering to the hunt period schedule published
prior to the season. All bison hunting permits for Hunt Period #5 (October 12–20) are currently valid. Further information on
bison hunting, including general hunting information, hunt periods, application procedures, regulations, maps, weapons
restrictions, and access can be found on the National Elk Refuge’s web page at http://1.usa.gov/1gnsi21.

„„

Elk hunting on the National Elk Refuge will begin today, October 17. All hunting permits for Hunt Period #2 (October 14 – 20)
are currently valid. Further information on elk hunting, including general hunting information, hunt periods, application
procedures, regulations, maps, weapons restrictions, and access can be found on the National Elk Refuge’s web page at
http://1.usa.gov/H6h1Tl.

„„

Fishing on the National Elk Refuge resumes today, October 17, through October 31. Additional information on the Refuge
fishing season can be found at http://1.usa.gov/1gnscHN.

„„

The National Elk Refuge’s web page is again available for public viewing at www.fws.gov/refuge/National_Elk_Refuge/.

– FWS –

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
October 30, 2013
13-26

Steve Kallin
307.733.9212, ext. 2

national Elk Refuge partnerships target grizzly bear education
The National Elk Refuge is pleased to partner with both a State agency and local non–profit during the fall elk and bison
hunting seasons to increase public education on grizzly bear management and reduce conflicts between humans and bears.
The Wyoming Game & Fish Department (WGFD) is sponsoring a free educational program at the Jackson Hole & Greater
Yellowstone Visitor Center, located at 532 N. Cache Street in Jackson, on Thursday, November 14 from 3:30 to 5:00 pm.
The program will highlight grizzly bear management in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. WGFD presenters that afternoon
include Dan Thompson, Large Carnivore Management Section Supervisor from the Lander Regional Office and Mike Boyce,
Large Carnivore Biologist from the Jackson Regional Office. The biologists will distribute bear education materials from
3:30 – 4:00 pm, followed by a showing of the 9–minute video Yellowstone Grizzly Bears: A Success Story. The film, produced
by the State wildlife management organization, tells the story of the once–dwindling population of grizzly bears in the Greater
Yellowstone Ecosystem. The video shares the collaboration and cooperation of grizzly bear management by multiple State and
Federal agencies. Following the short film, the guest biologists will answer questions and lead a discussion with attendees.
The film Yellowstone Grizzly Bears: A Success Story is also available for viewing on the National Elk Refuge’s multimedia link
page at http://1.usa.gov/1hqPMl0 and available on YouTube at www.youtube.com/watch?v=S98tneF-VaM.
In addition to the WGFD program, the National Elk Refuge has partnered with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition (GYC) this
fall to provide bear–deterrent pepper spray for licensed hunters during the 2013 Refuge elk and bison hunting programs.
With the help of local board members and supporters, the GYC purchased and donated 250 canisters of bear spray to the
Refuge for distribution. The purpose of the program is to educate hunters in the field who are interested in bear spray and
would not otherwise use it as part of their own personal safety.
The canisters are available on a first–come, first–served basis for licensed hunters in the field who do not own or are not
carrying bear–deterrent spray. Law enforcement officers will provide bear spray canisters to hunters in the field who are
interested in participating in the voluntary program; the canisters will not be distributed from other locations. In addition to
the bear spray, law enforcement officers will carry informational materials that explain bear spray’s effectiveness and best
practices for its deployment.
The bear spray program was prompted by an expanding grizzly bear distribution and recent sightings on the National Elk
Refuge this summer. On August 21, a sow grizzly bear and three cubs were spotted scavenging on bison carcasses. The
following week, a single adult grizzly bear was seen crossing Highway 89 from the Refuge. These two events represent the
first two documented occurrences of grizzly bears on the Refuge in two decades.“We are encouraging hunters to take the
proper precautions because we expect to see more bear activity on the Refuge as the grizzly range expands,” said Refuge
Manager Steve Kallin. “This program is an important part of a larger effort to educate hunters, with the goal of preventing
dangerous encounters and improving safety for hunters and bears.”
Chris Colligan, Wildlife Program Manager for the GYC, explained, “Our hope is to increase the voluntary use of bear-spray by
hunters on the NER to significantly reduce the chance of hunters incidentally killing grizzly bears. Maintaining social tolerance
for grizzlies as they expand their range into suitable habitat is vital for long-term conservation of bears.” Colligan added, “Bear
spray is a proven tool in avoiding conflicts – it’s a win–win for hunters and bears.”
– continued –

Bear–deterrent pepper spray is also available for purchase from many outdoor retailers in Jackson as well as at the Jackson
Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center. Proceeds from sales at the Visitor Center are returned to the National Elk Refuge in
support of educational programming.
Elk and bison hunting seasons on the National Elk Refuge run through December 15 and January 12, respectively.

– FWS –

page 2

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
November 22, 2013 13-27

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

refuge road winter travel restrictions begin december 1
In conjunction with Bridger–Teton National Forest winter travel restrictions, a portion of the National Elk Refuge
Road will be closed to public travel from Sunday, December 1, 2013 through Wednesday, April 30, 2014 to protect
wintering wildlife. The closure, which begins approximately 3½ miles northeast of the Refuge’s entrance on
Broadway Street in Jackson, includes both Curtis Canyon and Flat Creek roads.
Elk and bison hunters with National Elk Refuge permits will be allowed to drive through the closure to access hunt
parking lots during the days their permits are valid. Hunters must drive directly to the designated lots to park and
stay within the specified boundaries while hunting. The elk season concludes at dusk on Sunday, December 15,
with the bison season running through Sunday, January 12. No public travel beyond the closure will be allowed
after the hunting seasons conclude.
The Refuge Road is a popular destination in the winter as elk, bighorn sheep, and other animals can frequently
be seen close to the roadway, providing both wildlife viewing and photography opportunities. Travelers on the
roadway often stop, park, or leave vehicles unattended while observing wildlife, obstructing the safe movement
and passing of other vehicles. While visitors are encouraged to take advantage of the rich wildlife viewing
opportunities during the winter months, drivers that want to extend photography and wildlife viewing experiences
should pull off the roadway, safely park, and allow for the free movement of other traffic.
All visitors and residents using the open portion of the Refuge Road need to note that travel is confined to the
roadway only. All off–road travel is prohibited, including walking, skiing, or other recreational activities. Dogs are
also limited to the roadway and must be leashed at all times. This limits disturbance to wintering animals during a
time when energy conservation is key to their survival.

– FWS –

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
December 4, 2013
13-28

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

winter programs to begin on the National elk refuge
The National Elk Refuge is pleased to announce the 2013 / 2014 winter program schedule for the Jackson Hole & Greater
Yellowstone Visitor Center. The visitor center, open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily, is located at 532 N. Cache Street in Jackson.
The Refuge’s most popular educational program takes place from the unique confines of a horse–drawn sleigh. Sleigh rides
begin for the season on Monday, December 16 and operate daily from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, except for Christmas Day. The rides
are an exciting way to observe and photograph wildlife on the Refuge. In addition to elk, passengers routinely see coyotes,
bald eagles, trumpeter swans, ravens, and other wildlife.
Participants purchase sleigh ride tickets at the visitor center and are transported on a free shuttle bus to the sleigh boarding
area three miles north of Jackson. Sleighs depart three to four times each hour throughout the day, with rides typically lasting
an hour. The sleigh rides are operated under contract by Double H Bar, Inc. Rates are $19 for adults and $15 for children ages
5 through 12, with children under age 5 riding for free. Reservations are required for private tours and groups of 20 people or
more; smaller groups or families may make reservations, but advanced booking is not necessary. Additional information on
sleigh rides, including group rates, reservations, and gift certificate purchases, is available by visiting http://1.usa.gov/1hwpEXj
or calling 307.733.0277.
For an additional opportunity to enjoy the abundant wildlife wintering on the Refuge, naturalists will offer wildlife viewing
excursions five days per week to those interested in a guided tour along the Refuge Road where elk, bighorn sheep,
waterfowl, and other animals can frequently be seen close to the roadway. Participants will accompany a naturalist to learn
more about Refuge history and wildlife management other than in a traditional visitor center setting.
The wildlife excursion program begins on Tuesday, December 17 and runs through Saturday, March 15. Tours are available
Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 1:30 – 4:00 pm, with an additional morning trip offered on
Saturdays from 9:30 – noon. Group size is limited; reservations are required. Beginning December 5th, call 307.734.9378 or stop
in the visitor center to reserve a seat. The wildlife viewing excursions are offered free of charge through the generous support
of the Grand Teton Association.
The Grand Teton Association is a nonprofit organization that operates sales outlets in a number of federally–operated visitor
centers and contact stations throughout the area. The Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center serves as one of
the association’s largest sales outlets. All full–price merchandise is discounted 20% through December 24, with current or
new Grand Teton Association members receiving 25% off. Sales support educational, interpretive, and research projects on
the National Elk Refuge. All store visitors that mention they heard advertising for the December sale will be entered to win two
sleigh ride tickets. The drawing will take place on December 26.
For further information on winter programs, please visit the National Elk Refuge’s web site at http://1.usa.gov/1cX7ZCo.

– FWS –

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
National Elk Refuge

PO Box 510
Jackson, Wyoming 83001

For immediate release
December 23, 2013
13-29

Lori Iverson
307.733.9212, ext. 6

Endangered Species Act 40th anniversary to be highlighted at visitor center
The National Elk Refuge is pleased to join the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s commemoration of the Endangered Species Act
40th anniversary. The Service wraps up a year-long commemoration of the Act that has been so successful in stabilizing
populations of species at risk, preventing the extinction of others, and conserving the habitats upon which they depend.
President Nixon signed the Endangered Species Act into law on December 28, 1973. This Saturday, December 28, naturalists
will be on hand at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center to provide more information about the Act and offer
a fun and challenging quiz spotlighting some of Wyoming’s threatened and endangered species. The Endangered Species Act
will be the focus of an informal naturalist “Feature Creature” program from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Visitor Center lobby as
well as on the wildlife viewing excursions offered at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm.
When Congress passed the Endangered Species Act in 1973, it recognized that our rich natural heritage is of “aesthetic,
ecological, educational, recreational, and scientific value to our Nation and its people.” It further expressed concern that
many of our nation’s native plants and animals were in danger of becoming extinct. The purpose of the Endangered Species
Act is to protect and recover imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service helps administer the Endangered Species Act and has the primary responsibility for
terrestrial (dry land) and freshwater organisms. The Commerce Department’s National Marine Fisheries Service shares
responsibilities through administration of marine wildlife such as whales and anadromous fish like salmon. As of December 20,
2013, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service had listed 2,145 species worldwide as endangered or threatened, with 1,519 occurring in
the United States.
Visitors unable to schedule in a stop at the Visitor Center on December 28 will still have an opportunity to learn more about the
Endangered Species Act. The quiz, answer key, and other on-line resources are posted on the National Elk Refuge’s web page
at http://1.usa.gov/JVDioP.

– FWS –



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