BYU-Idaho Students Cited For Egin-Hamer Violations

Thirteen Brigham Young University-Idaho students were directed to clean up glow sticks and other garbage the BLM says they left behind during a visit to the Civil Defense Caves in Fremont County on Saturday.

The caves are located within the Bureau of Land Management’s Egin-Hamer Winter Closure area.

BLM law enforcement officer Jeff Long says three of the 13 students were issued citations for driving vehicles into the area, which is closed to human entry from Jan. 1 to April 30. Usually, winter snow pack discourages people from accessing the caves, but Long says mild weather has allowed ready access this year.

Closure violations are only part of the bureau’s concerns. BLM Recreation Planner Monica Zimmerman says trash and garbage are piling up in the caves. Thousands of glow sticks, graffiti and pieces of old furniture litter the floors.

“While most people take care of their public lands,” said Zimmerman, “a few individuals show a blatant disregard for the land.”

As part of a combined effort by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Jefferson and Fremont counties, and the Bureau of Land Management, the Egin-Hamer Closure has been in place for 14 years to protect wintering deer, elk and moose herds.