MONTICELLO, Utah - As stewards, the BLM is responsible for managing wildlife habitat while keeping public landscapes healthy and productive. Beginning March 1, 2018, three climbing walls: Reservoir Wall, Cat Wall, and The Wall, will be temporarily closed to the public during peregrine falcon nesting season. All other walls, cliffs and climbing routes will remain open.
Peregrine falcons use shallow depressions on ledges, cliffs and even high-rise buildings to create nests. Pairs mate for life, and once they establish a nesting site, they may return to the same nest year after year. Minimizing human disturbance at critical times of the year aids in successful fledging.
Climbing routes will be reopened as soon as practical. Wildlife biologists will monitor the three temporarily closed climbing walls throughout the 2018 nesting season, to determine which nest sites are active, which are not and when fledging occurs. Typically, by late April or May, biologists can determine whether there are active nests in an area. Walls without active nests will be opened at this time. Walls with active nests will remain closed to climbing activities until the young birds have fledged, usually in late July. Notices of these temporary closures will also be posted on the ground with signs at trailhead areas.
The peregrine falcon was removed from the Federal Endangered Species list in 1999. Peregrine populations in Utah continue to recover statewide, thanks in part to cooperation from the public and climbing communities in helping land managers protect nesting habitat during critical times of year.
Persons who use a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) may call the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1-800-877-8339 to leave a message or question. The FRS is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Replies are provided during normal business hours.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
