Select areas in the Chisos Mountains in Big Bend National Park will again be temporarily closed between February 1 and May 31 to protect nesting Peregrine falcons.
The areas include a portion of the East Rim Trail from the southern junction of the Boot Canyon Trail to just north of Campsite ER-4, East Rim Campsites ER-4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and technical rock climbing on any rock face within a quarter mile of known peregrine eyries.
While the Peregrine falcon is not on the federally endangered list (it was removed in August of 1999), Texas still lists the animal as a threatened species. As such, the National Park Service is required to protect and preserve the animals, providing human disturbance free areas for the falcons to nest.
No other areas are currently planned for closure, but Peregrine behavior or nesting sites that break from traditional needs could lead to modified restrictions.