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BLM closes local trails

Animas Mountain, Twin Buttes, Grandview now off limits
The lower part of Animas City Mountain trail will remain open during winter. Signs at the trailhead will detail the closure area and the closure is marked. In 2012, from left, Janae Chochon, Chelsea Malinchak and Jadrianne Lippman hike the trail on Dec. 1.

As of Monday, several more trails and public lands in the Durango area were closed by the Bureau of Land Management to accommodate the needs of wildlife during winter.

Areas affected include most of Animas City Mountain, the Twin Buttes open space and the Grandview Ridge trails, including Sale Barn, South Rim and Cowboy.

A 1.5-mile loop at the bottom of Animas City Mountain that connects to Dalla Mountain Park and the Birkett Drive trailhead will remain open. Dalla, Overend Mountain Park and Horse Gulch-area trails – including the Meadow Loop, Telegraph and Anasazi – also will remain open. Carbon Junction Trail also is open.

The closures are made annually by the BLM, in conjunction with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the city of Durango, to protect wildlife habitat.

The areas may be closed to public use at any time between Dec. 1 and April 15 if snow is deep enough in the high country to force the animals to lower elevations.

“Deer and elk are vulnerable to disturbance in winter and must conserve energy to survive,” Connie Clementson, BLM Tres Rios field manager, said in a news release Monday. “When folks hike, bike and bring their pets into this critically important winter habitat, it impacts wildlife.”

The BLM said in the news release that new closure structures are being placed on Durango-area trails “to help reinforce the importance of not entering the areas and reduce stress on the animals during these times when less forage is available.”

The closures will last until at least March 1. The closures have been made since 1996, when land officials noted an increase in public use and an effect on animals.

Details about the restrictions are posted at most trailheads.

As of Dec. 1, the Bodo State Wildlife Area was also closed to the public. Perins Peak Wildlife Area has been closed since Nov. 17, the day after the end of the last elk/deer hunting season.

State Parks and Wildlife keeps Bodo open April 1 through Nov. 30 for general use. It is open south of County Road 210 only for small-game hunting Dec. 1 through March 31. Smelter Mountain Trail is open 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the same period to foot traffic only. Dogs are not allowed.

johnp@durangoherald.com



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