Elk Feedgrounds

The Wyoming Outdoor Council advocates the gradual, long-term phasing-out of Wyoming’s 23 elk feedgrounds. Supplemental feeding unnaturally concentrates the animals, which leads to higher rates of infectious diseases and the destruction of habitat. Other western states manage their elk successfully without feeding the animals and, as a result, the herds have lower levels of disease prevalence.

Feeding the Problem

A film by Danny Schmidt:

A brief history

The first elk feedground, the National Elk Refuge, was created in 1912. Wyoming developed its state-run feedground system, in earnest, in the 1930s and 1940s to prevent substantial numbers of elk dying during severe winters, to protect rancher-stored hay crops meant for cattle, and to prevent elk from foraging on cattle grazing allotments. Over the years elk have lost progressively more winter forage to human development. The state has continued operating feedgrounds over the years to maintain artificially large and stable elk populations.

Threat of disease

Because winter feedgrounds foster unnaturally dense concentrations of elk, diseases such as brucellosis are transmitted more easily among animals. Approximately 30 percent of elk that use feedgrounds in Wyoming are infected with brucellosis, whereas the disease typically is absent or nearly so for elk that are not associated with feedgrounds. Even more concerning is the potential spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) to Wyoming’s feedgrounds. CWD is an always-fatal, highly contagious neurological disease, and the prion that causes the disease can persist in soils for many years. As a result, if elk contract the disease, they are likely to contaminate the feedground, thereby passing on the disease to other elk for years to come. The potential impact of CWD on Wyoming’s elk herds could be devastating.

In October 2008, a moose that was euthanized in Star Valley Wyoming, approximately 15 miles from an elk feedground, was infected with CWD.

Phasing out feedgrounds is fundamental to reducing the potential spread of CWD and the prevalence of other diseases such as brucellosis. However, eliminating long-established feedgrounds will be complicated. Elk will have to be encouraged to use their historic migration routes and to return to their traditional winter ranges. Land managers will have to improve forage on these winter ranges, and the state will have to find alternative ways to mitigate potential conflicts between elk and ranchers. Recognizing these challenges, the Council has been actively involved in disseminating information about the threats posed by feedgrounds, has promoted the enhancement of elk winter range, and has partnered with other conservation groups to produce a plan outlining how best to phase out feedgrounds. In addition, the Council regularly provides public comments on issues involving elk feedgrounds on public lands and is engaged in litigation seeking more responsible management of Wyoming’s prized elk herds.