Colorado Parks and Wildlife has closed two state wildlife areas near Durango to protect the wildlife that inhabit the areas during the calorie-lean winter months.
The Bodo State Wildlife Area and Perins Peak State Wildlife Area both closed Dec. 1 and will remains closed through April 30. Areas east of County Road 208 remain closed through July 31.
“It’s important for people to respect the closures so that we give animals a break as they're migrating and utilizing winter ranges, which in our area tends to be a limiting factor,” said Durango Area Wildlife Manager Adrian Archuleta.
Contrary to what some believe, the closures are not in place to protect muddy trails from damage – a notion that can lead people to ignore the closures during dry stretches.
“We run into the same stuff every year – people who went around a gate that's clearly labeled and marked and locked, and then they say the same thing every time: ‘Oh I just didn't see the sign,’ (or) ‘Oh, I didn't notice that the gate was closed,” said CPW spokesman John Livingston.
The agency uses both wildlife officers and cameras to enforce the closures. People who are caught entering closed zones are subject to a fine of $139.50.
In addition to the CPW closures, the Bureau of Land Management has similar regulations in place on lands near Durango.
BLM closures include:
- Big Canyon and Sale Barn trailheads off U.S. Highway 160 are closed to all public use.
- South Rim trail, including portions of Sidewinder and Cowboy trails on BLM property accessed from Carbon Junction trail or Crites Connection.
- Grandview BLM trails accessed from Three Springs.
- Animas City Mountain upper loop trails.
The city of Durango has also closed all upper trails as marked in the Twin Buttes open-space area and Durango Mesa Park Downhill Trails to minimize damage to the trails.
This year’s early snow may have pushed some ungulates to lower ground early this year, Archuleta said.
“A lot of our deer move like clockwork, regardless of snow flying,” he said. “But I think the early snow we did get definitely pushed them into high gear. So we did see animals move down sooner, and they're going to remain.”
An interactive map of all closures can be viewed at bit.ly/3Bbj3mJ.
rschafir@durangoherald.com
