Moose Day is an annual moose census conducted by Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation in partnership with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Grand Teton National Park, and the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Trained community scientists cover more than 240,000 acres of public and private land and record moose presence (seen or sign of moose) and other wildlife.

The Moose Day data are combined with Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s aerial survey data to paint the most accurate picture of moose populations in Teton County, WY.

Trained community scientists play a central role in Moose Day. Teams of two or eight are assigned parcels to survey, often near private lands or developed areas where WGFD biologists face logistical challenges. Volunteers document moose sightings, tracks, scat, and browsing evidence. This collaborative approach allows for more comprehensive data collection, filling gaps that would be difficult for professional biologists to cover alone.

2026 was a record-setting year for volunteer participation with 155 community scientists donating their Saturday morning to survey designated areas for moose (and other wildlife). Volunteers included an assortment of folks including local community members, visitors from Kentucky, Salt Lake City, and Idaho Falls, local high school students, and local biologists. Total cumulative volunteer hours were 514 hours.

Moose Day community scientists counted 103 moose in total. These data, combined with Wyoming Game and Fish aerial surveys and removing duplicates, resulted in a count of 289 total moose in the Jackson Moose Herd. For the full herd, the calf ratio is 41 calves per 100 cows and bull ratio is 96 bulls per 100 cows.

• A team of four USFS wildlife biologists surveyed the Gros Ventre and Slide Lake area. From their snowmobiles, they recorded 22 moose over six hours.

• A team of two GTNP employees surveyed the Antelope Flats area. From their skis and car, they saw 11 moose. They also saw 16 moose outside of their survey area.

• Some volunteers were joined by Wyoming PBS documentarians who were shooting a short documentary on the community effort.

• Some volunteers were joined by KHOL Radio.

The data collected during Moose Day help:

• Identify areas where moose are wintering successfully.
• Track population trends over time.
• Inform land management decisions to protect critical moose habitats.

By participating in Moose Day, volunteers play a direct role in wildlife conservation efforts, helping researchers and land managers better understand and address the challenges facing this iconic species.

Beavers have played an important role in Jackson Hole throughout history – that importance is still being understood while this keystone species continues to help shape our ecological future. 

The thirst for the dense and soft furs of the North American beaver (Castor canadensis) helped to drive European settlement of Jackson Hole and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. In the 1820’s, Jedediah Smith told a reporter that the Hudson Bay Company’s trappers had harvested 80,000 beavers around the Snake River in a four-year period. Just a decade or two later, however, beavers were scarce and trapped out of most drainages in the area. 

Without beavers building dams and shaping the ecosystem to their needs, expansion of cattle ranching, and other new land uses, stream systems and riparian habitats in the American West changed over the next 200 years. Unimpeded by once prolific beaver dams, water flowed faster, banks eroded, and the lush, sponge-like riparian habitats began to dry up. We now are starting to understand just how much influence the once abundant beaver had on our ecosystem and landscape.  

Beavers build dams that turn small streams into deep water ponds. Adapted to a watery environment, they rely on this deeper water to hide from predators, access food and building materials more safely, and cache food for the winter months.  

80% of vertebrate species in Wyoming rely on riparian, or wetland, ecosystems, yet these stream-side habitats occur in just 4% of the state’s land area. Beaver ponds are important homes for waterfowl, moose, otters, trout, amphibians, and other species. Beaver created wetlands also moderate floods and water temperatures, store water later into the summer, recharge ground water, filter pollutants, create fire breaks, amongst other benefits to the ecosystem and people alike, particularly in the face of climate change. 

While beaver populations are rebounding, many of their habitats have been altered by stream degradation, fire, or development. This summer, JHWF is going to be borrowing tactics from beavers to help restore riparian habitats.

1. Trail Creek Project*

One of our exciting “boots on the ground” projects is the Trail Creek Riparian Restoration. Trail Creek is a tributary to Fish Creek. Its headwaters were heavily impacted by the Pack Trail fire in 2024 and much of the riparian vegetation in the area burned. 

Fire-impacted streams often suffer from increased erosion and loss of riparian habitat. To help this system heal, we will be installing 10–20 Beaver Dam Analogues (BDAs) along a quarter-mile reach. These man-made structures mimic the function of real beaver dams, slowing down water, trapping sediment, and storing more water in the soil – eventually helping to restore and expand streamside habitat so inviting that real beavers might just decide to move back in. *This work is permit-dependent

Click the arrows on the right of the image to see more about process-based restoration. 

2. Sublette County Stream Restoration 

The eastern front of the Wyoming Range holds critical habitat for mule deer, pronghorn, elk, and sage-grouse. Many of the perennial and ephemeral stream systems these species and others rely on in the region are also very degraded. We are teaming up with the BLM to repair BDAs, plant willows, and build Zeedyk structures in several priority streams. This restoration work will help to restore wet meadows, stop erosion, and hold water in drought-stressed waterways. 

Restoration isn’t a “one and done” deal – it’s a commitment. The Trail Creek project is at least a three-year endeavor, and we need your help to make it happen. 

• Volunteer: Pending final permitting, we are hosting a 2-day volunteer project in September 2026 to help install BDAs and kickstart the process on Trail Creek. Keep an eye out for the official project announcement and sign up. 

• Long-term Stewardship: Following the installation, we’ll conduct annual visits for maintenance and adaptation, ensuring these structures do their job as the landscape evolves. 

• Donate: Support this work by donating to Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation and ensure that habitat restoration is done right.  

Every winter, moose in Jackson Hole face extreme challenges. They rely on shrubs like willows and aspen for food, but deep snow and cold temperatures make survival tough. Unlike deer or elk, moose don’t migrate long distances to escape snowpack. Instead, they use their long legs and specialized hooves to navigate deep snow and access food. However, energy conservation is crucial—any unnecessary movement could cost them valuable resources they need to survive the winter.

To better understand how moose are faring during this critical time, the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation (JHWF) hosts its annual Moose Day. Volunteers from the community gather data to track moose locations, signs, and winter behavior. This data is part of Nature Mapping Jackson Hole, a program designed to give everyday people a role in local wildlife conservation.

Moose populations in Jackson Hole have been declining due to habitat loss, warming winters, increased human activity, and disease. Winter is a particularly critical period to monitor because it’s when moose are most vulnerable. Deep snow can trap them in small areas, limiting their ability to find food and avoid predators. Meanwhile, access to key resources like willow flats or aspen groves becomes vital for survival.

The data collected during Moose Day helps:

• Identify areas where moose are wintering successfully.
• Track population trends over time.
• Inform land management decisions to protect critical moose habitats.

By participating in Moose Day, volunteers play a direct role in wildlife conservation efforts, helping researchers and land managers better understand and address the challenges facing this iconic species.