Beginning March 1 and extending through late July, 13 cliffs in Zion National Park are closed to climbers while park wildlife biologists monitor nesting peregrine falcons.
The following 13 cliffs are closed to climbing, however hiking trails through these regions and all other cliffs will remain open: Angels Landing, Cable Mountain, The Great White Throne beyond single and double-pitched climbs, Mount Isaac in the Court of the Patriarchs, The Sentinel, Mountain of the Sun, North Twin Brother, Tunnel Wall, East Temple, Mount Spry, The Streaked Wall, Mount Kinesava and Middle Fork of Taylor Creek.
According to the Zion National Park website, “Zion National Park is home to a high concentration of breeding peregrine falcons each spring and summer.” The peregrine falcon is the “fastest animal in the world, (and) … can be seen soaring among the scarlet cliffs of Zion.”
Although previously threatened with extinguished in the United States during the mid-1900’s, peregrine falcons have since made a comeback.
“Peregrine falcon populations declined sharply between the 1940s and 1960s due to the widespread use of the pesticide DDT and several other factors” National Parks Service said on their website. “After DDT was banned (1972) and the peregrine was placed on the endangered species list in 1973, Cornell University (later the Peregrine Fund), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), and various natural resource agencies began reintroducing peregrine falcons back into their native range.”
For more information on peregrine falcons, visit the Zion National Park website and for more information on the closed cliffs visit their page detailing the closures.
Story By,
Mitchell Quartz
outside@suunews.com
Photo Courtesy of
National Parks Service
