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Big Bend National Park closing certain areas to protect nesting falcons

Starting Feb. 1 and ending May 31, the park will be once again closing select areas in the Chisos Mountains to protect the falcons.

BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK, Texas — Big Bend National Park will be closing select areas in the Chisos Mountains to protects nesting falcons beginning Feb. 1 through May 31.

According to a press release, the areas closed to the public are a portion of the East Rim Trail from the southern junction of the Boot Canyon Trail to a point north of Campsite ER-4.

The following East Rim Campsites are also closed: ER-4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Also the technical rock climbing on rock faces within a forth of a mile of known peregrine eyries will be closed.

Credit: Big Bend National Park

In August 1999, the Peregrine falcon was removed from the endangered species list. In Texas, however, it's still considered a threatened species.

The National Park Service policies require the protection of all state-listed species.

The NPS doesn't plan on closing any other areas, but restrictions may be changed if Peregrine behavior or nesting sites do not follow traditional trends.

To see the full release from the National Park Service, click here.

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