refuge also provides horse drawn sleigh rides to the public during the winter months so that visitors have the opportunity to see portions of the herd up close. The furthest consistent migration of elk to the refuge is currently from the southern portion of Yellowstone National Park, making it the second-longest ungulate migration in the lower 48 states. (The migration of pronghorn between the Green River basin and Jackson Hole is longer). The refuge is nearly of meadows and marshes along the valley floor, sagebrush and rock outcroppings along the mountain foothills. The largest single herd of bison under federal management, comprising 1,000 plus individuals, also winter on the refuge. Bighorn sheep, along with pronghorn, mule deer can be found. Rare sightings of wolf packs and grizzly bears have occurred, while coyotes and red foxes are more common. The most abundant birds include red-winged blackbirds, magpies, crows and ravens, along with trumpeter swans, which can be found along Flat Creek, which flows out of the refuge south into the town of Jackson. A total of 47 mammal species and 147 bird species have been documented on the refuge. The refuge has a lower elevation and much milder climate than the rest of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which is why so many animals are drawn to winter on it. Most of it is snow-covered from November until March. Snowfalls are followed by sunny days, when some of the snow melts temporarily. South-facing slopes are free of snow for most of the winter. References Bibliography Galloway, N. L., Monello, R. J., Brimeyer, D., Cole, E., & Hobbs, N. T. (2017). Model Forecasting of the Impacts of Chronic Wasting Disease on the Jackson Elk Herd. External links National Elk Refuge, United States Fish and Wildlife Service National Elk Refuge: Refuge Road Wildlife Viewing Guide, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges in Wyoming Protected areas of Teton County, Wyoming Wetlands of Wyoming Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem Protected areas established in 1912 1912 establishments in Wyoming