Peregrine Falcon in flight, California

Prescott AZ (July 16, 2013) — Effective Tuesday, July 16, 2013, climbing and other activities on the cliff face of Thumb Butte will once again be open to the public after closing on February 1, 2013.

Community Forest Trust monitoring volunteers identified peregrine falcons nesting sites at both Thumb Butte and Granite Mountain this season. The final results of the monitoring efforts, to determine if the peregrines successfully produced any young this year, are expected soon.

The timing of the Doce Fire during the peregrine nesting season has had an unknown impact on the Granite Mountain nesting peregrines.

“I want to remind folks that the climbing area on Granite Mountain is within the closure area for the Doce Fire and will remain unavailable until the closure area is modified or opened. This fire area closure is in place for both public safety and resource protection reasons,” said wildlife biologist Noel Fletcher. “With the Granite Mountain climbing area unavailable at this time, local climbing opportunities on the Prescott National Forest are limited. Visitors are asked to work together to share the limited climbing resources until the Granite Mountain area can be re-opened.”

If you have any questions about the peregrines and their management on the Bradshaw Ranger District, contact Noel Fletcher at 928-443-8020.

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