Texas’ Big Bend National Park temporarily closes to protect nesting peregrine falcons

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, Texas (KXAN) — In an announcement made on Friday, officials at Big Bend National Park in southwestern Texas announced that portions of the park will be closed from February 1 to May 31. said.

Officials said the temporary closure was for certain areas of the Chisos Mountains to protect nesting peregrine falcons.

“In August 1999, the Peregrine Falcon was removed from the Federal Endangered Species List in the wake of its resurgence from the brink of extinction. It’s been done,” said a park official.

Per National Park Service policy, protection and conservation are required for all state-listed species and all species of concern, regardless of federal or state classification.

The following areas will be closed to the general public from February 1st to May 31st:

• A portion of the East Rim Trail from the South Junction of the Boot Canyon Trail to a point just north of Campground ER-4.
• East Rim Campgrounds: ER-4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
• Technical rock climbing on cliffs within ¼ mile of known falcon groves.

Officials say the NPS has no plans to close other areas, but the restrictions could change if peregrine behavior or nesting sites don’t follow traditional trends.

“Thanks to the efforts of federal, state and private agencies, peregrine has made a remarkable comeback since it was placed on the federal list in 1970,” the official said.