The Peterman Ridge Unit of the Cowlitz Wildlife Area is temporarily closed to motorized vehicles through April 30 to protect wintering wildlife, a news release by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) stated.
“Winter range closures help safeguard wildlife by reducing human disturbance during the most challenging months of the year,” Richard Vanderlip, manager of WDFW’s Cowlitz Wildlife Area, stated in the news release. “Human activity, particularly motorized vehicles, can force wildlife to use vital energy reserves that are critical for their survival and reproduction.”
Peterman Ridge Unit is accessible by Peterman Hill Road, from Highland Valley Road, off of Highway 12 in Morton, the WDFW website stated.
During the closure, non-motorized access will remain open, including access to Peterman Hill Trail. Signs are posted at the unit’s entry points to notify the public of the closure, the news release stated.
The seasonal closure will reduce habitat fragmentation caused by active roads, increasing the usable habitat available to wildlife. The closure will also protect road infrastructure from damage due to heavy rain and snow during the winter months, the news release stated.
The closure will protect Peterman Ridge Unit species, such as the pileated woodpecker, black-tailed deer and Douglas squirrel.
The Peterman Ridge Unit is part of the Cowlitz Wildlife area, a 14,000-acre expanse along the Cascade Range owned by Tacoma Power and managed by WDFW. The area provides mitigation for the Mayfield and Mossyrock dams along the Cowlitz River, the news release stated.
For more information about the Peterman Ridge Unit, visit shorturl.at/wWhna.
