An area of government-managed public land near the Snake River in Idaho is closed to motorized vehicles and human entry in order to protect vulnerable wildlife wintering there, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced recently.
The Stinking Springs area near the South Fork of the Snake River will remain closed until sunrise on May 1, the BLM announced Dec. 29, "although the opening date may be adjusted depending on weather conditions." The seasonal closures are made in collaboration with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the announcement states.
“Increasing human activity in the Stinking Springs area creates additional stress on the mule deer that winter there, requiring them to deplete their supply of stored winter fat more quickly,” Acting Bureau of Land Management Upper Snake Field Manager Johanna Blanchard said in the announcement. “We appreciate the public’s help every year in avoiding this area to help protect these sensitive animals.”
The Stinking Springs multiple-use area is open from May 1 through Nov. 30. The area attracts approximately 10,000 annually, according to the BLM, and is a designated route for ATV riders, hikers, horseback riders and others.
The Egin-Hamer Area is also closed to human entry to protect wintering deer, elk and moose, the BLM reports. The closure will last until sunrise on April south of the Egin-Hamer Road; until sunrise on May 1 north of the Egin-Hamer Road. A map of the area is available online.
"The seasonal closures apply to BLM-managed public lands in the vicinity of Stinking Springs," the BLM states in the announcement. "The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service also temporarily closes nearby National Forest lands during winter. It is advisable to check with agency offices before planning travel in these areas."
