News Releases and Refuge Stories

January 19, 2012
Refuge to Assess Conditions After Current Storm

January 13, 2012
Unique Program Combines Education and Fitness

2011 Public Use Report
large file - may require additional download time

News Release and Refuge Story Archive

 

Comprehensive Conservation Planning

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Take a Virtual Tour of the National Elk Refuge and the

Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center.

Webcam at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center
(located at and maintained by the Rustic Inn)

The sun peaks over the Sleeping Indian, and its light creeps slowly across Jackson Hole. Light dances on newly formed hoar frost and creeps over bundles of fur and antlers starting to stir from a cold winter night. As the sun reaches the base of the Grand Teton, orange and yellow light bathes the landscape and 5,000 wintering elk. By ten o'clock, adventurous visitors braving the winter cold venture out on the refuge in horse drawn sleighs to get an up close view of these majestic animals.

Welcome to the National Elk Refuge, one of 553 National Wildlife Refuges throughout the country administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). The mission of the USFWS is to work with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

The National Elk Refuge works to provide, preserve, restore, and manage winter habitat for the nationally significant Jackson Elk Herd and habitat for endangered species, birds, fish, and other big game animals, and provide compatible human uses associated with the wildlife and wildlands.

Fun Facts

•  The Jackson elk herd was used as a nucleus herd to replenish other elk herds and elk re-introductions across the country.

•  The migration of the Jackson Hole Elk is the longest herd migration of elk in the lower 48 states.

•  It is winter range for the largest bison herd (more than 800) in the National Wildlife Refuge System.

•  It is the world's largest wintering concentration of elk with national and international significance.