Angi Bruce, Director of the Wyoming Game & Fish Department, called into SVI Radio’s Weekday Wake-Up on Tuesday, January 6 for her monthly report. Director Bruce discussed the next phase of the Elk Feedground Management Plan, tracking the Jackson Elk Herd and potential impacts from what has so far been a dry, mild winter.

(0:00) Into this hour’s guest interview segment and joining me live over the phone this morning (0:04) with the monthly report for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, that’s Director Angie (0:08) Bruce. (0:09) Good morning, Director. (0:10) How are you today? (0:11) Good morning, Duke.

(0:12) I’m doing well. (0:13) Excellent. (0:14) Well, appreciate your time as always.

(0:15) And for the update from what’s happening with the game and fish, something that you and (0:19) I have talked about a couple of times in recent months has been the elk feed grounds. (0:24) And it sounds like this year the game and fish is moving forward into kind of phase (0:28) two of developing an elk feed ground plan moving forward. (0:33) Absolutely.

(0:34) And, Duke, thanks for bringing this up, too, because, you know, like any good thing there (0:39) in Wyoming that happens, there tends to be a lot of rumors out there. (0:42) So a chance to kind of clarify what we’re doing and why, I just really appreciate that. (0:48) So back in 2020, the commission approved a CWD statewide plan for us.

(0:55) But when we did that plan, we left out the feed grounds on purpose. (0:59) They’re basically, they’re just too complicated. (1:02) Not only CWD, but brucellosis, it includes seven different jurisdictional authorities (1:07) regarding land management.

(1:09) Very complicated. (1:10) So we did a separate process for the feed ground plan. (1:14) And the commission approved a feed ground plan in 2024.

(1:17) So what are we doing now? (1:19) Now, because we operate 21 individual feed grounds, we’re going back through on a kind (1:24) of like a finer scale. (1:26) These are more of an action plan, guidance for our internal staff, different strategies (1:31) on each individual elk herd and the associated feed grounds with that elk herd. (1:38) So we started two of them, Jackson Elk Herd and Pinedale Elk Herd.

(1:43) And we’re visiting with individual stakeholders. (1:46) We’re going to have public meetings. (1:48) We should get those on the calendar any day now.

(1:50) So look for those in January, February. (1:53) To gather input. (1:54) And this, again, is really an action plan for our staff to use, but we really, really (2:01) need feedback.

(2:02) And let me give you an example of why these are so important. (2:05) Out of these 21 feed grounds, many of them are not on Game and Fish property. (2:10) They might be on Forest Service, BLM land.

(2:13) And therefore, we don’t have complete control over the situation like I would like. (2:19) What if something happens where we’re not able to feed on a federal land in the future? (2:26) Maybe 10 years from now, maybe 20. (2:28) Maybe it had never happened.

(2:29) But we owe it to ourselves to be prepared on how we’re going to address any sort of (2:34) situation that might come up with feeding elk. (2:37) And so that’s really what this is about, is trying to figure that out, strategize, document, (2:42) get input. (2:43) Folks, look for those public meetings coming up.

(2:46) And then, like always, we’ll be taking this to our Game and Fish Commission, another opportunity (2:51) for public comment, and then getting their approval later on this year. (2:55) You know, Director, a couple of questions along with that. (2:59) And first, I’d like, if you could, go back to 24.

(3:01) You mentioned the first overall plan was approved then. (3:05) If you could just summarize maybe some of the main points of what was approved and what (3:10) you’re trying to implement now as you do the fine-tooth approach, as you say. (3:14) Yes.

(3:16) Great question, Duke. (3:18) So I think the clarifying thing in that 2024 plan online, anybody can go look at it, is (3:26) really our goal here is to maintain healthy elk populations in the area. (3:33) Do we want to decrease the reliance on our feeding? (3:38) Absolutely.

(3:39) How we exactly get that done is where the tough part comes into play. (3:43) You know, is the goal of the Feedground Plan to close feedgrounds? (3:47) Absolutely not. (3:48) But I think we can all agree that, you know, this started over 100 years ago of feeding (3:53) elk.

(3:54) And we are left to deal with it, and we are dealing with it. (3:58) But if folks think that we’re going to stop feeding or shut down feedgrounds anytime soon, (4:04) that is just not in the plan at all. (4:07) You know, I look at the feedground closest to us in our listening area is the Alpine (4:13) Feedground.

(4:14) And it’s certainly a lot smaller than some of the others that you mentioned, Pinedale (4:19) and Jackson and whatnot. (4:22) But it has its own unique needs. (4:25) And so I think that really goes to emphasize the importance of going through individually (4:31) one by one now, right? (4:32) You’re exactly right.

(4:34) There’s little nuances with each of them. (4:36) And so that’s really what these, you know, very detailed, more feedground action plans (4:41) for the specific feeding operations is so valuable. (4:45) You know, and our goal is to reduce the spread of disease.

(4:49) If that’s brucellosis or CWD, we also want a healthy population. (4:53) So if we can feed in ways and have different strategies to do that, you know, one of the (5:00) easiest thing that folks can help us out with if they see any wildlife elk, in particular (5:06) mule deer as well, but acting funny, having signs of chronic wasting disease or just not (5:14) looking right to give us a call because that’s what we really hone in on. (5:17) We target those unhealthy animals.

(5:21) We’ll often sample those, put them down, sample them to help us understand the diseases in (5:27) the area. (5:28) If they’re moving, if they’re growing, if they’re decreasing, and that information is (5:32) very powerful for us. (5:34) Wyoming Game and Fish Director Angie Bruce on the weekday wake up this morning.

(5:37) Speaking of elk, I just noticed this this morning, the Game and Fish is doing a new (5:42) study aimed at tracking one of the largest elk herds in North America and the Jackson (5:47) elk herd. (5:47) Tell us what this is about. (5:49) Oh my gosh, what a remarkable project.

(5:52) So you know, oftentimes we want to think we know our big game. (5:57) We know our wildlife in the state. (5:58) And then we do these collaring projects where we put GPS collars on them and get their exact (6:03) movements, what habitats they’re using at different parts, different times of the year.

(6:08) And oftentimes we’re surprised or we hone in our knowledge and we gain more details (6:14) from it. (6:14) So that’s exactly what we’re doing here. (6:16) We’re trying to decipher, you know, a lot of our elk come to these feed grounds in the (6:22) winter.

(6:22) But where do they go from there? (6:25) Some are short migrants, some are long migrants. (6:28) Do they all come to the same winter spot and then disperse? (6:31) That’s really what we’re trying to gain from this study is understanding where they (6:35) all move to during their spring migration and then what habitats are they using. (6:42) If we want to, you know, this then will fold back into everything we do with management (6:47) of elk, such as our hunting seasons.

(6:50) If we want to target a particular part of the herd, this will give us that information (6:57) to just really target in. (7:00) And so, yeah, exciting study, like you said, very extensive. (7:04) I think the elk over there have been studied probably more than any other elk in the state.

(7:09) And we’re going to continue to understand their movement patterns. (7:14) Director Angie Bruce, Wyoming Game and Fish Department on the Weekday Wake-Up. (7:16) Director, it doesn’t seem like it was that long ago.

(7:18) I was talking with then Director Nesvick about the crazy winter we had a handful of (7:24) years ago and the huge amount of snowpack and the impact it had on Wyoming’s wildlife. (7:29) But now this year, it’s kind of been the opposite. (7:32) And of course, we still have plenty of winter ahead of us.

(7:35) And so who knows how things will turn out? (7:37) But what kind of impact could an extremely mild, low snowpack winter have on Wyoming’s (7:43) wildlife? (7:45) Well, yeah, definitely. (7:47) You know, we might be enjoying this warm fall we had and now this winter, and it just doesn’t (7:52) seem like it’s going to let up. (7:53) You know, we’ve had a lot of warm times in the past, but this seems pretty continuous (7:58) and it’s starting to have us nervous, one, moisture related.

(8:04) Of course, we know what the drought does to wildlife and limits the resources available (8:10) for them to be healthy by less food on the landscape. (8:13) Gosh, I’m really quite nervous, Duke, too, if we don’t get more precipitation here this (8:19) winter is what is the wildfire season going to look like? (8:23) And then could we have more large wildfires to deal with? (8:27) And wildfires can be helpful to certain habitats, but in moderation. (8:31) We don’t want large fires that destroy a lot of habitat at once.

(8:36) So worried about the future, but then just maybe being cautious for folks. (8:41) You know, I got a lot of good positive hunting reports this year, but then a lot of people (8:46) that, you know, the elk were not where they thought they would be or the mule deer, because (8:52) this weather is affecting their movement patterns. (8:56) Over here in eastern Wyoming, we see a lot of elk still up high and haven’t come down (9:02) yet for their winter range.

(9:04) And so we’re seeing that, but then also we’re wondering about the amount of forage that (9:10) they have, and will they be as healthy going into the spring? (9:15) But then also that vegetation, if it doesn’t get the moisture, what’s that going to look (9:20) like this spring? (9:21) But, Jen, also just a note of caution for those who like to get out and ice fish. (9:26) Be very careful, triple check that ice, make sure it’s thick enough. (9:30) Don’t just assume it’s like any other winter, so take extra precaution there as well.

(9:35) Yeah, absolutely. (9:36) In fact, we’re heading into that time of year where there’s a few fishing derbies, and I (9:40) know the Game and Fish partners with a handful of local communities to put those on. (9:44) So fingers crossed that we have some good ice for those.

(9:47) Exactly. (9:48) I hope so. (9:49) I don’t know if they changed the derbies up and have them from the shoreline or anything (9:53) different if the ice is not thick enough.

(9:56) But those are definitely wonderful days that we hope some weather changes and that we’re (10:01) able to get out on the ice. (10:02) Director Angie Bruce this morning with the Wyoming Game and Fish. (10:06) Director, thank you for your time.

(10:07) Anything we missed that you’d like to mention today? (10:10) No, I just welcome everyone a Happy New Year and hope that your New Year’s resolutions (10:15) include getting outside more, enjoying Wyoming’s wildlife. (10:20) It’s Wyoming Game and Fish report this morning. (10:22) It’s the weekday wake up on SVI Radio.