Access To Ponds Restricted On Sand Creek Wildlife Management Area

Managing wildlife always involves managing the habitat that is important to a specific species. Sometimes managing habitat also means managing how humans use it. Sand Creek Wildlife Management Area (WMA) outside of St. Anthony, Idaho is managed to benefit many species of wildlife, the trumpeter swan being among them. The WMA management plan calls for securing breeding and brood rearing habitat for waterfowl, including trumpeter swans. This means that Fish and Game will always delay opening access to portions of the WMA until July 1, 2015. Pond 4 is specifically closed to all public access, not just fishing. The only ponds that will be open for the May 23rd opening day of fishing are Blue Creek Reservoir and Pond 1. According to Sand Creek WMA Manager Eric Anderson, "Access is being restricted, because nesting waterfowl are generally intolerant of disturbance by humans, especially trumpeter swans." This is the twenty-second year that Fish and Game has closed some ponds for the opening weekend of fishing season. Ponds 2 & 3 do not contain any fish and are not scheduled for any stocking in the foreseeable future. The cooperation of the public and sportsmen at Sand Creek WMA will help ensure the success of the nesting efforts. The remainder of the WMA is open to the public, and anglers are invited to enjoy fishing at Ponds 1, and Blue Creek Reservoir. Area users are asked to respect all wildlife, especially nesting waterfowl, and obey all signage, even though they may not be specifically mention in printed regulations. According to Anderson, "One WMA rule the public needs to heed is that in areas where there is waterfowl nesting that dogs must be kept on a leash until July 15."