U.S. Forest Service Press Release
PINEDALE, Wyo. — The Pinedale Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF) is hosting an open house meeting for the public on June 26 to gather public input on a proposed seasonal recreational closure that would minimize human disturbance to migrating mule deer in the spring and fall near the outlet of Fremont Lake.
The meeting will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at Rendezvous Pointe in Pinedale.
In collaboration with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), the Pinedale Ranger District is proposing to close the area to humans from April 1 through April 30 and from Nov. 1 to 30, according to a press release from the U.S. Forest Service (USFS).
The proposed closure area is an important portion of the “Fremont Bottleneck” migration route, which the USFS says is critical for the passage of 4,000 to 5,000 mule deer each fall and spring. It is bordered by residential development and Fremont Lake, and has high levels of human activity.
Recent efforts have been implemented to eliminate non-wildlife friendly fencing, and the acquisition of the Luke Lynch Wildlife Habitat Management area by the WGFD closes it to human presence from Dec. 1 to May 1 each year for the protection of wintering and migrating wildlife.
The public are invited to attend the open house, learn more about the proposed closure and provide written comments. Those unable to attend the meeting are invited to provide comments to rusty.kaiser@usda.gov by July 10.
For more information call Rusty Kaiser, wildlife biologist, Pinedale Ranger District, at 307-231-5980.
