The Wyoming Game and Fish Department manages several elk feedgrounds in northwest Wyoming. Over the years, the supplemental winter feeding of elk has grown in complexity. Among the complexities are wildlife diseases, specifically increasing concerns about the spread of chronic wasting disease across the State. While there are benefits to feeding elk on feedgrounds there are also challenges, which is why the Department is preparing to develop a plan that will guide the long-term (ten years and beyond) management of feedgrounds.
“Given the growing complexities of feedgrounds, I feel strongly we are at a point where we needed to talk to the public and give all the facts on the Department’s approach,” said Game and Fish Director Brian Nesvik, “People may be familiar with feedgrounds as it relates to their interests but don’t know the ‘why’ behind the Game and Fish decisions. This is an educational effort.”
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department has wrapped up Phase I of their Elk Feedgrounds Public Collaborative and will now be transitioning to Phase II of this public outreach effort. The Department has contracted with Cody-based private consultant Tara Kuipers to facilitate the public collaborative effort who recently released a summary report of Phase I and what is planned for Phase II of the process. Phase II will involve both shared learning events and extensive discussions with a diverse group of stakeholders that will lead to the development of a long-term elk feedgrounds management plan for the Department. |
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To assist future management decisions, the Department has initiated a multi-phased effort to gather public input. As part of the first phase, Game and Fish held four public discussions in early December on the many intricacies of elk feedgrounds. The four virtual meetings were designed to fully inform the public on feedgrounds and the complexities of management, including disease concerns.
If you missed one of the four virtual public meetings on elk feedgrounds, you are encouraged to watch a recording of one of these meetings and provide your written comments. Check out the recording below.
Given the high interest in the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s elk feedgrounds management plan public process, on January 5, 2021, the Department hosted a supplemental question and answer session for those who were unable to attend the first set of public meetings held in early December 2020. Check out a recording of the supplemental Q&A session below.
This series of online meetings and the early comments period was the first in a multi-phased public process to develop a long-term elk feedgrounds management plan for Wyoming. Stay up-to-date on the Elk Feedgrounds Public Collaborative Process by periodically visiting this site as new information will be posted throughout the process.