Ian Brickey, ian.brickey@sierraclub.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, the Sierra Club and Wyoming Wildlife Advocates released a report on the healthy management of elk populations in Wyoming. The report, titled "Healthy Elk Management in the Intermountain West: Alternatives to Feedgrounds," lays out strategies for managing elk populations in the face of threats like chronic wasting disease, which is exacerbated by Wyoming's policy of supporting feedgrounds for elk.
Last month, Wyoming released its own draft management plan for elk populations in the state. However, that plan had significant shortcomings. The draft plan timeline for any meaningful action is far too slow to affect the trajectory of wildlife diseases, most notably chronic wasting disease. Wyoming is the only intermountain state that routinely feeds large numbers of elk during winter months. The state offers no real justification for continuing this old-fashioned and harmful practice.
As shown in this new report, other states like Montana, Colorado, and Idaho have large herds of elk (as many or more than Wyoming) but do not run winter feedlots for elk to placate livestock owners or outfitters.
The new report is available online.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.