Upcoming Bison and Elk Management Plan  

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is in the early planning stages to update the 2007 Bison and Elk Management Plan (Plan) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the National Elk Refuge and the Grand Teton National Park/John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway.    

In late Summer 2023, FWS anticipates publishing a Notice of Intent to update the existing Plan and evaluate the potential environmental impacts of the plan in an EIS pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). The FWS is looking to create meaningful and accessible opportunities for public engagement in the decision-making process, and we are seeking diverse public feedback and the best available science to inform the NEPA process. 

The Plan will describe desired future conditions, management goals, objectives, and strategies for managing healthy and sustainable bison and elk populations on the NER. Opportunities for public input on the Plan and EIS will be available during the NEPA process, anticipated later this year. 

Public Meetings  

Would you like to recommend a location for a public scoping meeting? Submit your suggestion here! Public scoping meetings will be scheduled for late summer/early fall 2023 in Wyoming and possibly eastern Idaho.   

Previous Planning Documents 

2007 Bison and Elk Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement 

2019 Step-down Plan and Environmental Assessment  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT  

Alice Lee, Conservation Planner, by phone at 720-601-1821 or via email at fws-bemp@doimspp.onmicrosoft.com. Individuals in the United States who are deaf, deafblind, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability may dial 711 (TTY, TDD, or TeleBraille) to access telecommunications relay services. Individuals outside the United States should use the relay services offered within their country to make international calls to the point-of-contact in the United States.  

 

 

Programs

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The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages an unparalleled network of public lands and waters called the National Wildlife Refuge System. With more than 560 refuges spanning the country, this system protects iconic species and provides some of the best wildlife viewing opportunities on Earth.
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Facilities

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National Elk Refuge
Wildlife conservation is at the heart of what makes the National Elk Refuge unique and unparalleled in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Conservation of native species and their habitats is the core management mission of the Refuge. The Refuge protects critically important habitat for numerous...
National Wildlife Refuge

Latest News

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National Elk Refuge Seeks Input for Public Meeting Locations
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is in the early planning stages to update the 2007 Bison and Elk Management Plan (Plan) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the National Elk Refuge.