Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge closed

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says it’s closing Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge due to high levels of the Pearl River.

The closure, announced Thursday, will affect primitive-weapon and archery deer seasons on the federal tract, but not waterfowl season.

NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune reports (https://bit.ly/2jXaaB1 ) regulations require closure of the refuge, located in eastern St. Tammany Parish, whenever the Pearl River at the Pearl River, Louisiana, gauge reaches 15.5 feet. Forecasters are expecting it to remain at or above that height through at least Jan. 31.

The closure is necessary because high river levels force wildlife to group up on emergent ridges, where they become susceptible to over-hunting.

Waterfowl season will close on the refuge at sunset Sunday.

___

Information from: The Times-Picayune, https://www.nola.com