National Elk Refuge.........................

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Has anyone had a chance to review the bison/elk management plan for the National Elk Refuge, Grand Teton National Parl, and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway?

The following is from the USFWS web site:

The Services are seeking public comment on the draft document, which is available for download at: http://www.fws.gov/bisonandelkplan. The public comment period will conclude on September 30, 2005. Copies of the draft plan and EIS are also available by calling (307) 733-9212 or by writing to: Bison and Elk Management Planning Office, National Elk Refuge, P.O. Box 510, 675 E. Broadway, Jackson, Wyoming 83001, no later than September 30, 2005. Comments may be sent by email to: bison/[email protected].

The Services will hold a series of combination open houses and formal hearings in late August to further discuss the draft plan and EIS. The meetings are scheduled for the following dates:

August 29, 2005, Lindley House, 1102, East Curtiss, Bozeman, MT
August 30, 2005, Virginian Lodge, 750 Broadway, Jackson, WY
August 31, 2005, Holiday Inn, 900 E. Sunset, Riverton, WY

The afternoon open houses will run from 2:00-5:00 p.m., and the public hearings will run from 6:30-9:00 p.m.

 

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Elk, bison alternatives at a glance


Alternative 1 ? ?No action?
?Retains current management regime,
?Supplemental feeding during most winters for elk & bison,
?Maximum of 7,500 elk on National Elk Refuge in winter & 2,500 in Grand Teton National Park in summer ? same as current conditions,
?Bison numbers would grow to ?undetermined number? above 1,000,
?No Brucellosis vaccination.

Alternative 2 ? ?Minimal management of habitat & populations with support for migration?
?Lower elk numbers, but they would fluctuate based on predation, disease, weather factors. Numbers would range from 1,200 to 6,000 on refuge, 600 to 3,000 in park,
?Bison numbers would be between 250 and 500,
?Winter feeding would be phased out within 10 to 15 years,
?No hunting of elk or bison on the refuge or in the park,
?Promote elk migration to Green River Basin.

Alternative 3 ? ?Restore habitat, support migration, phase back supplemental feeding?
?Elk numbers to 1,000 to 2,000 on refuge, 500 to 1,000 in park,
?Bison numbers between 800 and 1,000,
?Bison hunt, elk hunt when needed on refuge and in park,
?Winter feeding phased out within 15 years; severe winters (estimated 2 out of 10) feeding would be used,
?Promote elk migration to Green River Basin.

Alternative 4 ? ?Restore habitat, improve forage and phase back supplemental feeding? (USFWS preferred alternative)
?Elk numbers 4,000 to 5,000 on refuge, 1,300 to 1,600 in park,
?Bison numbers 450 to 500,
?Bison, elk hunt when needed on refuge and park,
?Winter feeding phased out within 15 years; severe winters (estimated 2 out of 10) feeding would be used,
?Vaccinate elk for Brucellosis with Strain 19; vaccinate bison when adequate vaccine is found.

Alternative 5 ? ?Restore habitat, improve forage and continue supplemental feeding? (SFW WY preferred alternative)
?Elk numbers 7,500 on refuge, 2,500 in park,
?Bison numbers at 400,
?Bison, elk hunt on refuge and park,
?Supplemental feed during most winters,
?Vaccinate elk fro Brucellosis with Strain 19, bison with RB51.

Alternative 6 ? ?Restore habitat, adaptively manage populations and phase out supplemental feeding? (USDA - APHIS preferred alternative)
?Elk numbers 2,400 to 3,200 on refuge, 1,200 to 1,600 in park,
?Bison numbers at 400,
?Bison hunt on refuge, elk hunt on refuge and park when needed,
?Winter feeding phased out within 5 years.


The table above first appeared in the Casper Star Tribune on July 22, 2005.