National Elk Refuge to Starve Elk

[Hud]

Just received this in the: Blog.eastmans.com
According to Mike Eastman, the FWS at Jackson Hole, Wyoming is preparing to discontinue feeding elk at the National Elk Refuge. They have been listening to the environmentalist, because the environmentalist believe deer will spread CWD to wintering elk. 

In my opinion since deer eat browse and elk feed mainly on hay, they can try separating the feeding areas, and switching from salt licks to salt cubes that would be consumed by both, and monitor the situation. Don't just starve the elk.

The time for public comment ends today, but send your comments anyway to:

NationalElkRefuge@fws.gov

or call the Acting Refuge Manager at (307) 201-5436

Don't wait,
Barry

[Hud]

Updates from Wyoming:

https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/this_just_in/weaning-jackson-elk-off-refuge-feed-may-start-this-winter/article_053fb780-784b-5dbb-8b48-028f60a55c6f.html

https://www.jhnewsandguide.com/jackson_hole_daily/local/park-hunt-starts-saturday/article_d6231f9a-b673-581a-a880-30f08b21e25f.html#tncms-source=block-contextual-fallback

[lt-m-grow]

I have actually always thought it odd that they still fed the animals in the first place.  Been known for a long time that it is poor wildlife management practice and misguided.   Of course, nature can be harsh, but it also is balanced.

https://wildlife.tufts.edu/dont-feed-deer-winter-heres/
https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/documents/winterdeerfeeding.pdf

[Terry Green]

 

[Hud]

The history of the National Elk Refuge dates back to 1912.  After the town of Jackson Hole was built on the Elk wintering grounds, and people began to take notice of all the starving elk.  Prime wintering ground in many states was developed for housing and ski resorts. The introduction of the Canadian Wolf was an attempt to reduce herd sizes, although it wasn't advertised as such. Read Wolfer, by Carter Niemeyer. Here is more on the history of the Refuge:

https://www.fws.gov/nwrs/threecolumn.aspx?id=2147510350

https://jacksonholehistory.org/national-elk-refuge-1912-2012/

https://www.fws.gov/nwrs/threecolumn.aspx?id=2147510356

The RMEF established in the 1980's by a few hunters in Montana has been successful in getting land owners to protect land for the Elk and wildlife.