Agencies Okay Plan To Manage
Buffalo Herd At Jackson Hole

JACKSON, Wyo. — State and federal agencies last Thursday announced they had approved a long-term management plan for the Jackson Hole buffalo herd that would cap the herd at 350 to 400 animals.

In a joint statement, the Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest, National Elk Refuge and Wyoming Game and Fish Department said they found the plan would have no significant environmental impact.

The plan, which will not affect the Yellowstone National Park buffalo herd, will use public hunts to help keep the Jackson herd below 400 animals while encouraging cooperation with ranchers to minimize the risk of transmitting brucellosis from buffalo to livestock.

That risk prompted Wyoming to submit to a federal study of its brucellosis-control efforts to prevent other states from imposing sanctions on Wyoming beef.

The study recommended the testing of cattle for brucellosis in Fremont, Teton, Sublette, Lincoln, Hot Springs and Park counties before sale and recommended that national park and National Elk Refuge managers look at management programs to keep wildlife from mingling with livestock.

The agencies released a draft buffalo herd management plan in November 1994, and released a final environmental assessment in September 1996 after review of extensive public comment.

The plan, which allows buffalo to spend the winter on the National Elk Refuge, as they have for 20 years, will go into effect beginning this winter.

National Elk Refuge spokesman Jim Griffin said there are about 380 buffalo in the Jackson Hole herd. Griffin said the plan will require the agencies to assess the risks of the potential of brucellosis transmission from buffalo to cattle.

He also said the federal and state agencies will work with ranchers who hold grazing permits in the area to time their cattle movements to ensure the least risk of transmission.

And Griffin said biologists will continue work on developing an effective wildlife vaccine. The buffalo herd will be vaccinated when a vaccine is proved safe and effective, he said.

Another disease-prevention component of the plan would require ranchers in the area to vaccinate all cattle that graze in or move through Grand Teton National Park. Griffin said most ranchers in the area already vaccinate their livestock.