JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — The number of elk drawn to National Elk Refuge feed lines this winter is up slightly from a year ago.

An annual count done last week by federal and state wildlife managers tallied a total of 8,390 elk using four feeding areas on the refuge. That's more elkusing the preserve's feed lines than in any year since 1998, when the count was near 8,500.

Refuge biologist Eric Cole tells the Jackson Hole News & Guide that this year's count is well above the five-year running average and much higher than the objective of 5,000 elk.

The National Elk Refuge has averaged just over 6,800 elkon feed since the winter of 2010-11.

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Information from: Jackson Hole (Wyo.) News And Guide, http://www.jhnewsandguide.com