Grand Teton National Park wants to keep bighorn sheep healthy, so they are extending two wildlife closures until May 15, 2023. These closures are near Static Peak, Mount Hunt, and Prospectors Mountain. People are not allowed to use these areas during this time.
The park has been closing these areas since the late 1990s and early 2000s to protect bighorn sheep during winter. The park also asks visitors to avoid bighorn sheep winter zones until mid-May.
According to Park Superintendent Chip Jenkins, this winter has been very tough on wildlife populations in Wyoming, and bighorn sheep need our help to survive. During spring, when winter fat reserves are gone and new plant growth is limited, bighorn sheep must conserve their energy. To help them, it is important to give them space and not disturb them.
If you plan to go into the backcountry, it is your responsibility to know where the prohibited areas and winter zones are. You can find maps of these areas at go.nps.gov/tetonclosures and tetonsheep.org.
