Grand Teton elk reduction program starts next weekend

The annual elk reduction program in Grand Teton National Park begins on October 6.

Federal law requires the park to maintain a sustainable population of the Jackson elk herd. To keep the numbers low enough, they’ve had to harvest elk each year for decades.

Park Spokeswoman Jackie Skaggs says an over-sized elk herd could harm the park.

“The risk of having too large of a population is that they would over-graze the range," Skaggs said. "And that would probably be a detrimental impact to other species.”

Skaggs says visitors need to be aware that hunting will be going on in the park, east of the Snake River. She says anyone recreating in that area should wear hunter orange.