The National Elk Refuge (NER) outside of Jackson, Wyoming provides, preserves, restores, and manages winter habitat for the nationally significant Jackson Elk Herds as well as habitat for endangered species, birds, fish, and... [ view full abstract ]
The National Elk Refuge (NER) outside of Jackson, Wyoming provides, preserves, restores, and manages winter habitat for the nationally significant Jackson Elk Herds as well as habitat for endangered species, birds, fish, and other big game animals. The NER is a beloved stronghold for wildlife viewing and recreation (of which elk are a primary attraction), but has also been the center of controversy around supplemental wildlife feeding. While there have been many benefits associated with wintering large numbers of elk and bison on the refuge, high animal concentrations caused by more than 100 years of supplemental feeding have created an unnatural situation contributing to increased risk for potentially major outbreaks of diseases. High density herds also cause damage to and loss of habitat when the animals overgraze willow, cottonwood, and aspen stands - thereby reducing other wildlife associated with woody vegetation.
The negative consequences associated with high-density elk and bison concentrations motivated development of a 2007 management plan, with the overall objective of progressively transitioning from winter feeding of elk and bison on the NER to greater reliance on free-standing forage, while maintaining population and herd ratio objectives and public support. That plan has not been fully implemented due to strong competing values ascribed to elk and the practice of feeding, and concerns about wildlife conflicts should feeding be reduced or eliminated. Given these strong competing values, a thoughtful outreach, engagement, and public participation strategy is needed to successfully implement the 2007 plan.
This part of the roundtable discussion will describe the key components of the NER engagement plan for transitioning away from the 100-year-old practice of supplemental feeding. In particular, I will discuss the process of identifying and articulating the "decision space" for meaningful engagement (i.e. what decisions need to be made and how will public engagement factor into decision-making?); and balancing local stakeholder values with regional and national values. This talk will highlight some of the key tensions between attempting to incorporate meaningful engagement into federal management of natural resources while also fulfilling agency policies and procedures.
