JACKSON HOLE CONSERVATION ALLIANCE

P.O. Box 2728

Jackson, WY 83001

(307) 733-9417

www.jhalliance.org

12/1/07

Help Jackson Hole's Wildlife Survive the Winter

Winter is the most stressful time of the year for wildlife, and the annual Don’t Poach the Powder campaign kicks into gear this week to let people know that recreating in winter wildlife closure areas can be deadly to Jackson Hole’s cherished elk, deer, moose and bighorn sheep.

“Deep snow, scarce food and cold temperatures make energy conservation key for winter survival,” said Franz Camenzind of the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance. “When we disturb wildlife, we force them to spend energy avoiding us, which can result in their death.”

A group of government agencies and conservation organizations plus a grant from the Wyoming Governor’s Big Game License Fee Coalition make this campaign possible. The group is spreading the word that “poaching” closed areas on foot or with dogs, skis, snowboards or snowmobiles can be as harmful to wildlife as poaching with a rifle.

“Everyone agrees that our wildlife are special,” said Lloyd Dorsey of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. “Here’s an easy way to respect their need for habitat and help them survive the winters.”

The Don’t Poach the Powder campaign creates public awareness of closures by publishing ads in local newspapers, airing radio spots, and distributing brochures at Forest Service offices, visitor centers and local ski shops. Maps of closed areas are also available at www.jhalliance.org/dontpoach.pdf.

“One of the primary goals of this campaign is to show people where the winter range closure boundaries are and spread the word about why these areas are so important to wildlife,” said Melissa Harrison, Executive Director of the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation. “Many of the violations are not intentional and could be avoided if people knew where the closure areas were located.”

Don’t Poach the Powder is sponsored by Bridger-Teton National Forest, Grand Teton National Park, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance, Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation, National Elk Refuge, Sierra Club–Wyoming Chapter, Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Wyoming Governor’s Big Game License Fee Coalition.

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The Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to responsible land stewardship to ensure that human activities are in harmony with the area’s irreplaceable wildlife, scenic and other natural resources.