Winter Athletes Weigh In on Potential Teton Closures Leading Up to October 20 Working Group Meeting
Image: Zach, stock.adobe.com
The Bighorn Sheep Working Group, an interagency collective that has been working to conserve the bighorn sheep population in the Teton Range for three decades will meet on October 20, 2021 to review their recommendations for winter closures in the Teton Range.
Leading up to the call the group released a report of recommendations that they say could result in a 47 percent increase in winter habitat for the big horn sheep and closures of 5 percent of high value ski terrain. The full report can be read here.
Previous research found that current winter closures protect just 3 percent of the sheeps’ high-quality winter habitat and that bighorn sheep avoid areas of outdoor recreation, resulting in a decrease in available habitat.
Image: Bertran de Born, stock.adobe.com
The potential closures inevitably affect local winter athletes and many are speaking out leading up to the virtual meeting.
In an Instagram post local mountain guide and athlete Zahan Billimoria calls the potential closures a “seismic shift in wilderness access” in the area and asks people to attend the meeting to “Say no to banning human-powered travelers from the wilderness.”
Pro snowboarder Nick Russell says “Whichever stance you side with, make your voice heard!” in his Instagram post on the topic.
In response, activist and athlete Rafael Pease takes a stand for the sheep populations, and also calls attention to the impact of development and expansion relative to “a bunch of skiers / snowboarders.”
Will you weigh in? The public has access to attend the virtual meeting on October 20, 2021 at 6pm MST via the link below.
