Active eagle nest dims campsites

PRIEST LAKE — The U.S. Forest Service is temporarily closing two campsites on Kalispell Island due to the discovery of an active bald eagle nest.

The closure affects campsites Nos. 30 and 34 in the island’s Three Pines campground. The nest was discovered during a recent bald eagle survey and it’s the first year an active nest has been confirmed since 2014, according to the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

As required by the IPNF’s Land Management Plan and the National Bald Eagle Management Guidelines, the IPNF is seasonally restricting camping activities near the nest. During the breeding season, bald eagles are sensitive to a variety of human activities. If agitated by human activities, eagles may expend energy defending the nest rather than tending to their young, or may abandon the nest altogether, the Forest Service said.

Activities that cause prolonged absences of adults from their nests can jeopardize young as unattended nestlings are subject to predation, the agency adds. Young nestlings are particularly vulnerable because they rely on their parents to provide warmth or shade, without which they may die as a result of hypothermia or heat stress. If food delivery schedules are interrupted, the young may not develop healthy plumage, which can affect their survival.

“We ask the public to please be understanding and patient with this closure, which is expected to remain in place through August 2018,” said District Ranger Felipe Cano.

On Kalispell Island, there are approximately 48 individual campsites not affected by the closure that are available on a first-come/first-serve basis, and a group site that can be reserved online at recreation.gov. For additional information, please contact the Priest Lake Ranger District at 208-443-2512.