Deep Creek Trail #311 Closed for Public Safety
Release Date: Jul 13, 2016
Contact(s): Willie Sykes
LIBBY, Mont. July 13, 2016 – Forest Supervisor Christopher Savage has signed a closure order for the Deep Creek Trail #311, located approximately 7 miles east of Fortine, Montana. A dead cow is laying just off the trail approximately 2 miles from the Deep Creek Road trailhead.
The order prohibits anyone from being on National Forest System Trail (NFST) #311, the Deep Creek Trail, from its junction with the NFST #72, North Fork Deep Trail, to its junction with NFST #26, the Whitefish Divide Trail.
Dead animals of any kind are known bear attractants and the carcass has created a clear threat to public safety by significantly increasing the potential for a negative human and bear interaction near that food source. There is no practical way to remove the carcass. Because of the threat presented by this situation, the Forest Supervisor has acted with public safety in mind and has temporarily closed the trail until the threat has subsided.
The district will post the closure order on both ends of the closed segment of trail as well as all major trail portals from which the public can access the closed trail.
National forest users can contact the Eureka Ranger Station at 406-296-2536 to ask about the current status of the trail.
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