Agencies Seek Public Comment on Closing Climbing Wall
for Nesting Peregrine Falcons
State and federal agencies want public comment about closing Deception Crag Wall to protect nesting peregrine falcons at a meeting June 12, 6 p.m. in North Bend at Snoqualmie Ranger District, 902 S.E. North Bend Way.
Staff from State Parks, the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and the Department of Fish and Wildlife will be on hand to discuss the specific areas closed, why the closure was necessary and how closures will be handled in the future.
Officials closed the popular rock wall on the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains to climbers after the discovery of a peregrine falcon nest. The area is a combination of State Parks and U.S Forest Service management and both agencies are working with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to protect the peregrine falcon nest through breeding season, which biologists estimate will be the end of June.
The birds are on Forest Service land accessed through Iron Horse Trail State Park and near Olallie State Park. The peregrine is designated a sensitive species and requires the Forest Service to protect its breeding habitat.
Peregrines have dark gray or black plumage on back and wings, and a black mark on the face resembling a mustache. The name “peregrine” means wanderer. The birds that nest in Alaska and northern Canada and winter in South America may migrate as much as 15,500 miles in a year.
For more information about the closure or meeting contact Sonny Paz at 425-888-8757 or Andrew Fielding at 509-665-4312.