Castle Wilderness anti-logging protesters trespassing

The Alberta provincial government has told protesters blocking access to a southwestern Alberta logging operation that they are now considered trespassers.

Protesters have been picketing and trying to stall the construction of access roads into the Castle Wilderness area west of Pincher Creek since Jan. 11.

Despiteextreme freezing temperatures,a few dozen environmentalists remained to speak out against the Spray Lake Sawmills plan to harvest 120 hectares of trees in the area this winter.

The department will have to see how the protesters choose to react to this notice, said Duncan MacDonell, with Albertas Sustainable Resource Development.

"Failure to comply is considered trespassing and now well monitor the situation and look at our options as we go forward and see what happens," MacDonnell said.

MacDonnell said fines and arrests are possibly but not being considered at this point.

Protesterstold CBC Newsthey are consulting their lawyers.