The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife will close large swaths of the Asotin Creek and Weatherly units of the Asotin Creek Wildlife Area starting Dec. 15th in efforts to protect wintering elk herds.
The action affecting 20,000 acres is in response to the loss of grass and other habitat as a result of large wildfires that burned much of the area last summer. In addition, the agency plans to feed elk in the area this winter. According to a news release from the agency, about 95 percent of the elk winter range in the area was damaged by the fires.
The closure affects all manners of access, including motorized, horseback, bicycling and hiking.
The Charley Creek area of the Weatherly and Asotin Creek units and the Lick Creek, North Fork of Asotin Creek and South Fork of Asotin Creek will be closed to all human entry until April 1st.
The shooting range near the confluence of the South and North forks will remain open. (Lewiston Tribune, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife)
