Southern Portion of Egin-Hamer Closure Opens on April 1

That portion of the Egin-Hamer Closure Area that is south of the Egin-Hamer Road is scheduled to open at sunrise on April 1st. The area north of the road surrounding the dunes remains closed until sunrise on May 1st. The active portions of the St. Anthony Sand Dunes are open, but the remainder are closed until the start of May. BYU-I students are reminded that the Civil Defense Cave is within that portion of the closure that remains closed for April. Maps of the closure are available at the regional Idaho Department of Fish & Game (IDFG) and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Offices in Idaho Falls. The closure is patrolled not only by law enforcement officers from BLM and IDFG but also the Fremont County Sheriff's Department. Department staffs are allowed as part of their administrative duties to enter the closure to carry out enforcement activities. Department staff and volunteers are already entering the area to observe sage grouse performing courtship displays on their mating leks. Survey crews under the direction of the BLM are also entering the closure. Since snow remains out in the desert, it is critical that humans give wildlife a wide berth. Many animals are preparing to give birth to their young, and it is important that energy reserves be maintained in the event late spring harsh weather occurs.