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In the early 1900s, settlers had moved into Jackson Hole, and the small community of Jackson was begining to grow. Both settlers and elk were coexisiting in the sheltered valley during the winters, but the elk had trouble finding sufficient forage as a result of human activity and cattle.
During the winters of 1909-1911, thousands of elk died beacause they were unable to find enough forage to sustain them through unusually cold and snowy winters. Local citizens, concerned about the fate of the elk and unable to provide sufficient hay for both livestock and elk, requested help from the state and federal governments. Funds were provided for purchase and feeding of hay to the starving elk. In 1912, the National Elk Refuge was established to protect elk winter range. Additional lands have been acquired since then, and today the refuge protects nearly 25,000 acres of prime winter habitat between the towns of Jackson and Kelly. The refuge is fenced only on the south end and on the west side along Highway 89 to keep elk off roadways and out of town. The refuge operates a supplemental feeding program for the elk for two or three months each winter. When the snow develops a hard crust or becomes exceptionally deep, or when forage is scarce, daily feeding begins and continues until the snow melts. Learn more about the National Elk Refuge's Centennial on this site, http://refuges.fws.gov/centennial |
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