Grand Teton Park Continues Efforts to Protect Bighorn Sheep

Grand Teton National Park is continuing a multi-year program to eradicate non-native mountain goats as part of a management plan aimed to conserve a native and vulnerable population of Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep in the Teton Range. The program includes a qualified volunteer culling program this fall, September 22-October 25, to remove non-native mountain goats from the park.

The use of qualified volunteers is a tool identified in the National Park Service’s 2019 Mountain Goat Management Plan. There is widespread interest among local, state, and national stakeholders in conserving the Teton Range bighorn sheep herd. The National Park Service is working on this project in cooperation with federal and state partners including the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and with guidance identified in the 2019 John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. 

A park culling program took place in the fall of 2020 with 108 qualified volunteers successfully and safely removing 43 non-native mountain goats. It is estimated that approximately 50 goats remain in the park.

In the interest of safety and efficiency, the park is only drawing on qualified volunteers who were trained and participated in the program last year. There are significantly fewer mountain goats in the park and removal will be exceedingly more difficult. The park will not be accepting new applicants for the volunteer program.

Last year’s participants must once again undergo a background check, and may not have active warrants, past wildlife violations, or violations associated with Grand Teton National Park. Volunteers identified as shooters must successfully pass a mandatory firearm proficiency evaluation. All volunteers are United States citizens and at least 18 years of age.

The Teton Range is home to a small herd of native bighorn sheep that is currently estimated to have at least 125 animals. As one of the smaller and most isolated herds in Wyoming, that has never been extirpated or augmented, it is of high conservation value to the park, adjacent land and wildlife managers, and visitors. The National Park Service has a responsibility to protect native species and reduce the potential for local extinction of a native species within the park.      

Mountain goats are not native to Grand Teton National Park. Mountain goats were introduced into the Snake River Range in Idaho and over the years, their population expanded and reached the Teton Range. Mountain goats can carry bacterial diseases that are lethal to bighorn sheep. The Teton Range bighorn sheep population has been relatively isolated and is therefore likely ‘naïve’ to these diseases.  

Without immediate intervention, the mountain goat population is expected to grow and could contribute to the potential extirpation of the native bighorn sheep. 

There are key differences between a culling program in a national park and traditional recreational hunting.    

* Culling in a national park is done exclusively for conservation and stewardship purposes, while hunting is primarily for recreation or procuring food.

* Culling in a national park is conducted under controlled circumstances with the supervision of National Park Service personnel, while hunting is performed at the hunter’s discretion, subject to applicable licensing and laws.  

* Volunteers may not keep a trophy when participating in a culling program in a national park. The meat may be donated or distributed to Indian Tribes, qualified volunteers, food banks, and other organizations that work to address hunger, in accordance with applicable health guidelines. 

* Culling in a national park does not generate revenue and does not include fair chase.  


Jeff
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Idaho Woman Ordered To Pay Over $5000 In Restitution For Improperly Storing Food In Campsite At Grand Teton National Park

Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray announced earlier this week that BELINDA J. ARVIDSON, 50, of Idaho was ordered to pay $5,826.99 in restitution for improper food storage, a misdemeanor offense, in Grand Teton National Park. The sentence was handed down by United States Magistrate Judge Mark L. Carman in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, on July 20, 2021. Arvisdon will also serve four years of unsupervised release.

While camping in Grand Teton National Park, Arvidson failed to properly store garbage and beverages resulting in a grizzly bear receiving a food reward when it found the unattended garbage and drink at the campsite. Individuals camping in the area took photos and videos of the grizzly bear while it was in Arvidson’s campsite rummaging through the trash and other food items. The campground contained multiple warning signs about bears and proper food storage as well as bear boxes in which food and other items could be stored.

Due to the bear receiving a food reward, upon locating the bear, it was tranquilized, collared, and relocated by boat to another area of the park. It could pose a danger to humans if the bear were to have another similar incident, and euthanizing the bear may become necessary. The amount of restitution to be paid by Arvisdon covers the National Park Service’s costs for this operation, including the cost of a GPS collar now necessary to track the bear’s movement

Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins said, “Irresponsible behaviors have consequences, and many times it is the wildlife that pays the ultimate price. We all have responsibilities to preserve and protect the incredible wild animals of Grand Teton National Park and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.”


Jeff
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Stage II Fire Restrictions To Go Into Effect Across Northwest Montana

Interagency fire managers agreed to implement Stage II Fire Restrictions that will go into effect at 12:01am Monday, July 26, 2021 across the Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks sites, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Kalispell, Stillwater, and Swan Units, and Flathead County.

The intent of Fire Restrictions is to reduce fire risk and prevent wildfires during periods of high to extreme danger by decreasing potential sources of ignition. Each year, 70 to 80% of wildfires are human-caused and this summer the trend has continued. Northwest Montana is currently experiencing drought conditions including extremely dry forest fuels and weather forecasts of high temperatures accompanied by wind, low humidity, and minimal precipitation. Fires continue to burn across Montana and the West where firefighting resources are in high demand.

Stage II Fire Restrictions prohibit building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire, campfire, or wood stove fire.

Also, please keep wildfire prevention in mind when visiting your public lands. Never park in tall, dry grass. The heat from your undercarriage and exhaust pipe can cause accidental ignition. When traveling to and from your public lands with any type of trailer ensure your chains are properly connected. Dragging chains can easily spark a wildfire.

Know Before You Go! Visit www.MTFireInfo.org for fire restriction information across Montana.


Jeff
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Updated Food Storage Restrictions for Flathead National Forest

The Flathead National Forest has updated the existing food storage restrictions for all Flathead National Forest lands outside of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and reminds the public to be bear aware. The updated order can be found on the Flathead National Forest website. The intent of food storage restrictions is to reduce the likelihood of a bear getting into unsecured food and garbage. Bears can become food conditioned if they receive a food reward. Food conditioned bears can lead to an increase in conflicts between humans and bears, which compromises the safety of both.

The order requires all attractants to be stored in an acceptable manner when unattended. Attractants can include, but are not limited to;

* Human Food
* Garbage
* Pet Food
* Livestock Feed

Acceptable methods of food storage include;

* Secured in a hard-sided recreational vehicle, vehicle trunk, trailer cab, or dwelling
* Suspended at least 10 feet up and four feet out from an upright support
* Stored in an approved bear-resistant container
* Stored within an approved and operating electric fence

As always, there is inherent risk to recreating in bear country and it is vital that everyone does their part to be Bear Aware and Recreate Responsibly. It is often said, “a fed bear is a dead bear.” Please don’t be responsible for a bear becoming conditioned by receiving human food rewards. For more information on approved bear-resistant containers please visit the Flathead National Forest website.


Jeff
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Partnership Improving Sections of Teton Crest Trail - Paintbrush Divide

Grand Teton National Park in partnership with the Grand Teton National Park Foundation are working to improve sections of the Teton Crest Trail. There will be intermittent 30-minute closures on a section of the trail near the summit of Paintbrush Divide between July 22-27 and August 5-10. Visitors planning on hiking over Paintbrush Divide during these dates should expect delays in both directions.

The Teton Crest Trail is a 45-mile long trail through the high country of the Teton Range. Sections of the trail were built by the Civilian Conservation Corps dating back to 1934, and despite constant use, much of the trail has remained largely untouched by park maintenance crews since then.

Paintbrush Divide is the highest point along the Teton Crest Trail at 10,700 feet/3,261 meters in elevation. The eastern slope is a scree slope and over time, water flow from melting snow and yearly visitor use has eroded and shifted the trail. The trail damage now poses safety hazards to hikers.

During construction, loose materials such as rocks and gravel may be moved downhill and cause a safety hazard to hikers below. For safety purposes, the trail will have intermittent closures during construction activities. Closures will allow uninterrupted work to be performed and time to clear the trail of any newly created hazards.

Work on Hurricane Pass, another highly impacted section of the Teton Crest Trail, began last summer and will continue this summer. There will be no delays at Hurricane Pass.

The Grand Teton National Park Foundation has committed to help enhance and sustain the park’s spectacular trails. The Foundation’s support enables the National Park Service to assess, plan, and execute specialized trail initiatives. The recent completion of restoration projects at Jenny Lake, including the backcountry trails leading to Hidden Falls and Inspiration Point, and the current Snake River Gateways project are other successful examples of how the Foundation and the park work in partnership to enhance the visitor experience and protect park resources.


Jeff
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Dust Abatement Activities on Moose-Wilson Road Next Week

The unpaved section of the Moose-Wilson Road in Grand Teton National Park will be temporarily closed for seasonal dust abatement beginning 4 a.m. Tuesday, July 27 and will reopen by 8 a.m. Thursday, July 29. This routine dust abatement application happens several times during the summer on the approximately one-mile of unpaved section of the seven-mile road.

During the dust abatement application July 27-29, motorists and bicyclists should plan to use an alternate route as this temporary closure will prevent making a ‘through trip’ on the Moose-Wilson Road between the Granite Canyon Entrance Station and the Teton Park Road at Moose, Wyoming.

For those wishing to reach the Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve parking area or Death Canyon Trailhead, access will be possible by traveling south from the Teton Park Road Junction near the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center.

Electronic signs will be placed on Wyoming Highway 390 to alert park visitors and local residents of the scheduled road closure. For travelers heading south to Teton Village from the Moose area, signs will also be placed near the junction of the Teton Park Road.

The product used for dust abatement is a slurry of magnesium chloride, the same product that is used to treat dirt roads in and around Jackson Hole. This product coats the road surface, but it can also adhere to the undercarriage of vehicles. Motorists who drive the unpaved portion of the Moose-Wilson Road after it reopens on Thursday may want to rinse off their vehicles to eliminate any residue.

Roadwork schedules may change, or be delayed, due to weather conditions, equipment malfunction, or other extenuating circumstances.


Jeff
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Fire Restrictions To Go Into Effect for NW Montana

Interagency fire managers agreed to implement Stage I Fire Restrictions that will go into effect at 12:01am Saturday, July 17th, 2021 across the Flathead National Forest, Glacier National Park, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Kalispell, Stillwater, and Swan Units, and Flathead County.

Interagency fire managers are implementing Stage II Fire Restrictions that will go into effect at 12:01am Saturday, July 17th, 2021 across the Kootenai National Forest, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation Libby Unit, Sanders and Lake County lands.

Interagency fire managers are implementing Stage II Fire Restrictions that will go into effect at 12:00am Friday, July 16th, 2021 across Lincoln County lands.

The intent of Fire Restrictions is to reduce fire risk and prevent wildfires during periods of high to extreme danger by decreasing potential sources of ignition. Each year, 70 to 80% of wildfires are human-caused and this summer the trend has continued. Northwest Montana is currently experiencing drought conditions including extremely dry forest fuels; forecasts of temperatures above normal accompanied by low humidity, wind, and minimal precipitation; and competition for firefighting resources, as fires continue to burn across Montana and the West.

Please click here to review the appropriate Fire Restrictions Order for the land you are visiting, as well as a complete list of what is and isn’t allowed.


Jeff
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Grand Teton initiates habitat restoration projects

Grand Teton National Park staff have initiated habitat restoration projects in the southern part of the park. The work is part of a multi-phase restoration effort to replace approximately 4,500 acres of former non-native grass fields with native sagebrush steppe habitat. A healthy sagebrush ecosystem in Grand Teton is vital for the diversity and abundance of native plants and wildlife species like elk, bison, moose, pronghorn, and sage grouse that rely on them. Through the support of the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, the park has worked to return these pastures to their former, native glory.

Beginning in the late 1800s, Jackson Hole homesteaders converted large swaths of local sagebrush steppe habitat to hayfields for agricultural use. The smooth brome they planted provided their livestock with nutrition year-round as the hay could be stored for winter use. Since this time, the homesteaders have moved away from Antelope Flats and other areas of Grand Teton. However, the converted pastures have persisted, decreasing the value to wildlife in the heart of year-round habitation and migration corridors.

Since 2007, Grand Teton park staff, through the support of the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, have worked to return these pastures to their native sagebrush steppe habitat. This is a long-term project and successful restoration of these areas takes years to complete. To date, 1,320 acres are in various stages of restoration, with areas furthest along containing diverse, well-established native plants that provide a source of food and shelter for a wide range of pollinators and wildlife. Wildflowers, sagebrush, and other native plants can now be seen in these locations.

In June, park staff from Vegetation Ecology and Management at Grand Teton initiated restoration on 110 more acres of former hayfields. During this operation, staff applied herbicide to remove non-native pasture grass at two different locations.

The first of these sites, 90 acres located in the South Slough unit west of Mormon Row, is part of the Antelope Flats sagebrush habitat restoration called for in the 2007 Elk and Bison Management Plan.

The second site where restoration work has taken place is 20 acres located in the McBride unit south of the Jackson Hole Airport and east of North Spring Gulch Road. This project specifically aims to restore sage grouse habitat.

During restoration operations, park staff apply herbicide by tractor, UTV, and backpack sprayers. The application results in dead vegetation and bare ground. When non-native grass has been successfully removed, park staff will seed with a mix of native grasses, shrubs and forbs (wildflowers).


Jeff
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Enrollment Now Open for New Opportunity in Glacier National Park with the Glacier Institute

For those looking for new ways to experience and learn about Glacier National Park, there is a new option. The Glacier Institute is now taking enrollments for its Going-to-the-Sun Road Day Program. As the non-profit education partner for Glacier National Park, the Glacier Institute strives to help the park achieve their education goals by providing in-depth, field based educational experiences.

“With the expectation of transportation challenges this year, we wanted to be creative in finding ways to help visitors get out into the park and have meaningful learning experiences,” says Pete Webster, Acting Superintendent for Glacier National Park. “The Glacier Institute was eager to assist us in this way, and we’re excited to partner with them on this pilot program.”

The Going-to-the-Sun Day Program offers participants a hands-on, in-depth view of what makes Glacier National Park part of one of the world’s most critically important ecosystems. Participants can expect a full day of adventure and education with a naturalist-led hike and interpretation to some of the park’s most popular points. There are four daily options to choose from, each of which requires a different hiking ability. While there are no age restrictions, guests are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the website and choose a course that fits their comfort level with distance and elevation gain.

To meet the demand and make an impact for the community, the Glacier Institute has purchased five additional vehicles and hired seven additional staff to facilitate these programs. “We see this as a great opportunity to further our mission,” says Anthony Nelson, Executive Director of the Glacier Institute. “In addition to experiencing the beauty of the Going-to-the-Sun Road, we’ll use education to get them to fall in love with the park and understand its importance.”

The courses began on July 1st and each of the four options will be offered daily. Each course runs from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and starts and ends at Glacier Institute’s main office at 320 Nucleus Avenue in Columbia Falls. Participants can park for the day near the main office or inquire at their lodging about hotel shuttle service. In addition, the local transit system, Mountain Climber, will offer round-trip shuttles to and from the Glacier Institute main office for $5 per person or $10 per family. Current plans include multiple shuttle stops Monday-Friday in both Kalispell and Whitefish. Additional service days will be added as needed. Participation in this course acts as your Going-to-the-Sun-Road ticketed entry reservation for the day. A Glacier National Park pass will still be required and can be purchased in advance at recreation.gov.

Registration is now open online at www.glacierinstitute.org. Each course is $100. Glacier Institute members receive a 10% discount. For additional information, call the Glacier Institute at (406) 775-1211.

With more than 740 miles of trails meandering throughout the park, hiking is the absolute best way to see Glacier National Park. In fact, the park offers a wide variety of outstanding hikes that take-in the best scenery Glacier has to offer. If you do plan to visit Glacier this year, please note that our hiking website also offers a wide variety of accommodation listings and other things to do to help with all your trip planning.


Jeff
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Maine fugitive caught and sentenced for earlier stunt to gain attention at Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park

Acting United States Attorney Bob Murray announced today that AARON E. MERRITT, age 37 of Madison, Maine pleaded guilty to trespassing on the Old Faithful thermal area in Yellowstone National Park (YNP). Merritt appeared in front of Magistrate Judge Mark L. Carman in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming on July 1, 2021, for the arraignment and sentencing.

On July 7, 2020, while wearing a raccoon skin hat and waving an American flag, Merritt ran out on the thermal area and up to the geyser of Old Faithful more than once. He then failed to appear for his court hearing on July 23, 2020, and a warrant was issued for his arrest. He was arrested on June 5, 2021, in Maine and made his appearance at the Yellowstone Justice Center in YNP. Merritt was sentenced to 15 days imprisonment with credit for four days served. He was fined $200 plus $30 in court costs and a $10 special assessment fee. He was also banned from YNP. This case was handled by YNP law enforcement rangers and prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Hambrick.


Jeff
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Going-to-the-Sun Road Opening Day Vehicle Numbers 41% Higher Compared to 2019

Going-to-the-Sun Road successfully opened on June 25 and preliminary data shows a 41% increase in the number of vehicles on Going-to-the-Sun Road over opening day in 2019.

The seasonal opening of Going-to-the-Sun Road marked the beginning of a new phase of the ticketed entry system, designed to reduce vehicle congestion on the road. While the system is working well, getting the park close to maximum capacity without reaching the point of severe congestion and gridlock, park officials continue to evaluate and make changes to manage visitation levels.

Due to the ticketed entry system, park officials have avoided implementing West Entrance closures to relieve severe congestion. Data suggests that congestion and gridlock would have required the West Entrance to temporarily close at least 15 times from Memorial Day weekend through the end of June in the absence of the ticketed entry system. Overall, the number of vehicles on Going-to-the-Sun Road during the same period was up 20% from 2019 levels.

With the road open, the number of Going-to-the-Sun Road ticketed entry reservations available on Recreation.gov 48-hours in advance has increased. Tickets for the end of August are also still available for visitors planning trips later in the summer. Tickets are not required before 6 am or after 5 pm, and not required for other areas of the park.

The park is seeing expected changes in visitation patterns, with traffic more spread out throughout the day. Visitors can expect long lines and wait times at 5 pm when tickets aren’t required, which can be avoided by arriving closer to or after 6 pm.

July 1 marked the first day of operation for the park’s Ticket-to-Ride shuttle service. Tickets for the shuttle are still available and can be reserved on Recreation.gov 60-days and 48-hours in advance.


Jeff
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