Tagged: Grand Teton

The annual elk reduction program in Grand Teton National Park begins on October 6.

Federal law requires the park to maintain a sustainable population of the Jackson elk herd. To keep the numbers low enough, they’ve had to harvest elk each year for decades.

Park Spokeswoman Jackie Skaggs says an over-sized elk herd could harm the park.

“The risk of having too large of a population is that they would over-graze the range," Skaggs said. "And that would probably be a detrimental impact to other species.”

Grand Teton National Park Officials are planning on a proposed re-route of the northern section of the Moose-Wilson road. For much of its nine-mile stretch, the narrow road winds between steep hills on one side and wetland habitat on the other.  The road is frequently congested with cars that stop to look at bears, moose, and other animals that live by the road.

A bill sponsored by Congresswoman Cynthia Lummis could help the federal government buy a parcel of land in Grand Teton National Park. Wyoming currently owns the land and could sell it for development if the federal government doesn’t buy it. But the federal government needs additional revenue to be able to afford the 107-million-dollar price tag.