Wyoming Centennial Scenic Byway
National Elk Refuge, WY

The Refuge was created in 1912 as a result of public interest in the survival of the elk herd. The refuge provides a winter home for an average of 7,500 elk, one of the largest wintering concentrations of elk. The refuge is the only one in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service devoted primarily to elk management.

Today the refuge is comprised of nearly 25,000 acres of land consisting of native grasses and other elk forage. The Refuge is comprised of meadows and marshes along the valley floor, sagebrush and rock outcroppings along the foothills. A diversity of food and shelter provides for the rich mixture of wildlife species found at the National Elk Refuge. Elk are on the refuge for about six months (November to April) and are supplementally fed for 2-3 months, depending on the severity of the weather.

When snow becomes too crusty or deep, refuge managers feed pelletized alfalfa hay to the elk. Winter mortality on the refuge is about 1.5%. Elk spend summers in Grand Teton National Park (50%), the Bridger-Teton National Forest east of the park (25%), or in the southern part of Yellowstone National Park (25%).