Last summer, Coloradans were trapped inside their homes amidst the Covid-19 pandemic and mandatory quarantine, making this summer and its fewer restrictions even sweeter. Sadly, Coloradans are once again finding some of their favorite trails closed, only this time it is for a random reason you would not expect: aggressive falcons.
While wildlife sightings are among the many perks of hiking Colorado's trails, some can be more dangerous than others, including nesting Peregrine Falcons.
According to OutThere Colorado, "falcons have been observed acting aggressively toward climbers in the area of Lumpy Ridge Area due to nesting," adding that "falcons become territorial during nesting seasons and pose a threat to climbers because they can fly at speeds of more than 200 mph."
As per the article, such spots as the Lumpy Ridge Area, Left Book, The Bookmark, and Bookmark Pinnacle were all included in the closure, which protects both the climbers/hikers and the birds.
While closing a trail because of animals may seem extreme, it is actually quite common around Colorado and includes not only falcons but other birds and 4-legged animals as well.
As of this publication, the National Park Service has numerous closures listed on its website, including such popular Rocky Mountain National Park areas as The Book (closed due to raptors), parts of the Colorado River (bald eagles), and Horseshoe Park (bighorn sheep).
