Officials are restricting public access at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area starting Feb. 4 due out of caution for residents.

There was a snow goose die-off due to HPAI at the beginning of January at flooded quarries in Lower Nazareth Township in Northampton County and Upper Macungie Township in Lehigh County. This has officials concerned about the spread of the virus. The game commission cleaned up over 5,000 dead snow geese from both sites.

"With the continued warming trends and the anticipated arrival of snow geese to Middle Creek, this decision was made out of an abundance of caution for human and domestic animal health," a statement from the game commission said.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is closing some areas of Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area in Lancaster and Lebanon counties starting Feb. 4 die to bird flu.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission plans to close parts of Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area as bird flu continues to spread."Due to highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) that is currently affect