Rocky Mountain National Park Closes Areas To Protect Raptors

ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK, Colo. (AP) - Rocky Mountain National Park has closed several areas to hikers and climbers to protect raptor nesting sites.

Park spokeswoman Kyle Patterson says wildlife managers decided to temporarily close the areas so the birds of prey can nest undisturbed. The closures in the Lumpy Ridge and Sheep Mountain areas started Sunday and are expected to continue through the end of July.

The specific sites affected include Checkerboard Rock, Lightning Rock, Batman Rock, Batman Pinnacle, Thunder Buttress, The Parish, Alligator Rock, Sheep Mountain and Twin Owls, Rock One.

The closures include all climbing routes, outcroppings, cliffs, faces, ascent and descent routes and climber access trails to the rock formations.

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