Beginning Saturday, March 8, visitors to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area again will have regular access to the property.
The Game Commission in early February closed public access to several locations at Middle Creek, including the popular wildlife-viewing area Willow Point, due to concerns about highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which at the time was being detected in increasing numbers of wildlife species and locations statewide.
The HPAI outbreak is ongoing nationwide, and the Game Commission continues to respond to reports and detect new cases in wild birds across the Commonwealth. However, there have been no mass mortality events in Pennsylvania approaching the scale seen in early January, when upward of 5,000 dead snow geese were removed from two sites in the Lehigh Valley. With limited HPAI reports and detections occurring within Middle Creek and its immediate surroundings, the Game Commission is comfortable lifting the access restriction previously put in place.
Visitors to the site, and Pennsylvanians everywhere, are advised to:
- Always view wildlife from a safe distance
- Avoid wildlife feces, and
- Never handle sick or dead wildlife
Sick or dead wild birds, or any wild animal behaving abnormally or causing concern, should be reported to the Game Commission at 1-833-PGC-WILD (1-833-742-9453).
The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture continues to advise domestic bird and poultry owners to maintain heightened biosecurity and, if possible, keep poultry indoors to safeguard their health. Any questions regarding domestic animals should be directed to the Department of Agriculture at 717-772-2852.
Those with questions about visiting Middle Creek can call the Visitor Center at 717-733-1512.
The Wildlife Drive, which is closed seasonally and remained closed in recent weeks, will reopen on Saturday, as well. Visitors are reminded that certain areas of Middle Creek are regularly closed to the public throughout the year to prevent disturbance of wildlife. and remain closed. Please adhere to posted signs indicating these areas.
