The National Park Service has initiated temporary closures in sections of Acadia National Park, including Jordan Cliffs Trail, Precipice Trail, and Valley Cove Trail, effective March 1. These measures are taken annually to provide peregrine falcons with undisturbed space for nesting during their critical breeding period. The closures, also affecting the Precipice Trail parking lot, will remain in effect until further notice.
Amanda Pollock, a contact for the park, confirmed that these actions protect peregrine falcons from inadvertent human disturbance or harassment. Research indicates that nesting peregrine falcons are particularly vulnerable to human activities. Such disturbances can diminish the attentiveness of adult falcons to their eggs or chicks, potentially leading to dire outcomes. The National Park Service emphasizes that human activities near a nesting area carry the risk of temporary or permanent abandonment of the nest by adult birds. When a nest is abandoned, chicks are left susceptible to hypothermia, starvation, and predation, jeopardizing the species' reproductive success.
To ensure compliance with the closures, signs have been placed at trailheads and trail junctions within and around the restricted areas, clearly indicating where public entry is prohibited. The National Park Service states that entry into a closed area constitutes a violation of federal regulations. Such violations are punishable by a fine, imprisonment, or both, underscoring the seriousness of these protective measures. Park authorities will actively monitor the closure areas, and any violations will be strictly enforced. The National Park Service will reopen the affected areas once park resource managers have determined it is safe to do so, indicating that the closures are temporary and condition-dependent.
The importance of these protective measures is further highlighted by observations from the previous year. In 2025, Acadia's cliffs hosted three breeding pairs of peregrine falcons. One pair nested near Valley Cove Trail, another near Jordan Cliffs Trail, and a third near Precipice Trail. While two chicks from nests near Precipice Trail successfully survived until they could fly, the other two nests unfortunately failed. The National Park Service noted that various reasons contributed to these failures, with human disturbance identified as a potential factor. By establishing and enforcing these temporary closures, the National Park Service aims to mitigate such risks and support the successful breeding of peregrine falcons within Acadia National Park. These consistent annual efforts by the National Park Service are part of a broader commitment to conservation, aiming to provide adequate nesting space and protect this important species within the park's unique environment.
