Annual seasonal motorized travel closure in place to protect South Hills area wildlife
Organization:
BLM Office:
Media Contact:
TWIN FALLS, Idaho – The Bureau of Land Management Burley Field Office has implemented the annual seasonal motorized travel closure in the South Hills area to prevent resource damage and protect crucial mule deer winter range and sage-grouse habitat. The closure, which has gone into effect each winter since 2000, will be in place until March 15, 2019. The area is still open to the public for non-motorized use.
Signs are posted in the area to notify the public of the closure to the following roads, as well as any two-tracks or trails tied to these roads:
- Dry Creek
- Cherry Spring
- Indian Springs (closure begins 1.5 miles south of Foothills Road)
- North Cottonwood Creek
The closure applies to all motorized vehicles except those specifically authorized to access the area. Motorized travel authorization is provided for search and rescue operations, emergency medical services and law enforcement personnel, and administratively approved actions such as livestock grazing, access to private lands and resource monitoring or research studies.
“Increased human disturbance from motorized vehicles and off-trail recreation forces mule deer to move to lower quality habitat and expend energy that they are trying to conserve,” said Eric Killoy, BLM wildlife biologist. “This, in turn, limits foraging ability and reduces fat reserves essential for survival and reproduction. To sustain healthy populations of mule deer in the South Hills and surrounding areas it is crucial to minimize disturbance during these next few months.”
The Magic Valley Regional Office of the Idaho Department of Fish & Game supports the need to protect wildlife in the area. “The habitat is important to maintain mule deer herds over-wintering in the South Hills, and the area is popular for hunting and wildlife viewing during other periods of the year,” said Craig White, Magic Valley regional supervisor.
For more information regarding the road closure, or nearby areas available for motorized travel throughout the winter, please contact Dennis Thompson, BLM Burley Field Office recreation planner, at (208) 677-6600.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.