Although spring seems to have arrived early, that does not mean the winter closure of the Sage Hills trails has ended early. The trails on the PUD property and the Land Trust properties are closed until April 1. The PUD has been monitoring the mule deer on their property and the deer are still present in large numbers. So apparently are trespassers, which distresses the PUD. If you want to keep having access to a place, it's not a good thing to distress its owner.
Here is a news release the PUD has distributed in hopes of educating the public that the closure is still in effect. And to explain why.
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Reminder: Sage Hills Trail closed until April 1
Deer and other wildlife are finding much-needed feed in the grass and shrubs appearing along with spring-like weather in the hills west of Wenatchee. With increasing numbers of deer gathering at lower elevations, the seasonal closure of Sage Hills Trail that passes through Chelan County PUD’s wildlife preserve is more vital than ever.
Last week PUD staff counted the most deer in the wildlife preserve of anytime this winter. They have also seen more trespassing by people ignoring the closure, said Von Pope, PUD wildlife program manager. The animals are already stressed from the winter and intrusions into the habitat make an already difficult situation worse, Pope said. About a third of the popular Sage Hills Trail, managed by the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, crosses the PUD wildlife preserve. The trail is closed to people until April 1.
“Protecting wildlife is why the Sage Hills Trail is closed from Dec. 1 until April 1 every year,” Pope added. “We work closely with the Land Trust and state wildlife officials to do what’s best for the animals.”
Chelan PUD, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust coordinate the winter trail closure to protect wintering mule deer and other wildlife. The PUD owns about 960 acres in the hills west of Wenatchee and manages the area as a wildlife preserve as required by its federal license for Rock Island Dam.
Until the Sage Hills Trail reopens on April 1, hikers and mountain bikers are encourage to use the Apple Capital Loop Trail, Saddle Rock and the Jacobsen Preserve trails.
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For more information contact Von Pope, Chelan County PUD wildlife program manager, at (509) 661- 4625, or von.pope@chelanpud.org.
