National Elk Refuge fields questions about what feeding elk could mean for Jackson Hole’s water
A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service meeting in Jackson Hole addressed the potential implications of feeding elk and bison on the National Elk Refuge. The concern centers around the town's water supply, with three of Jackson's drinking water wells situated on the refuge. The refuge's senior wildlife biologist, Eric Cole, stated that prions likely bind to soil and may pose less of a threat to groundwater than previously anticipated.
However, researchers are still investigating the potential impact of prions on soil, plants, water, and human health. As of April 2025, CWD had been detected in wildlife across 36 U.S. states and four Canadian provinces, up from 26 states and three provinces in 2019. The National Elk Refuge is collaborating with Jackson to begin water testing to assess the risk of prions in the town's water supply.
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