“I’m probably the only person in Jackson Hole that’s happy we don’t have a lot of snow,” said Eric Cole, the National Elk Refuge’s senior wildlife biologist.

U.S. Geological Survey analysis suggests the era of big elk numbers in the Jackson Herd is running short and irrecoverable because of chronic wasting disease.

CHEYENNE -- Snowy weather and low amounts of forage are prompting the National Elk Refuge to begin feeding alfalfa pellets to elk and bison a bit earlier than usual this winter.