A portion of the Methow Wildlife Area has been closed to the public to protect a pair of nesting sandhill cranes.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said a 240-acre section of Big Valley Unit will remain closed through the end of September to protect the cranes, which are an endangered species in Washington.

It is the only documented pair of sandhill cranes ever in the Methow Valley.

Fish and Wildlife said the cranes first showed up in the area last year and hatched two colts – or baby cranes – but neither survived. The cranes returned this year to almost the same nesting area.

“These birds are also extremely wary and repeated disturbance often results in nest desertion and increases the likelihood of predation by other species on unattended nests,” WDFW said. “For this reason, it is important for humans to stay outside of the nesting area.”

The state expects the closure to have minimal impact on users of the wildlife area, which encompasses a total of 34,500 acres north of Winthrop.

The majority of the closed area is agricultural fields, grazing pastures or wetlands.