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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – The Bureau of Land Management’s seasonal road wildlife closures on specific roads in the Grand Junction Field Office begin Dec. 1 to reduce stress on wintering wildlife and prevent road damage.  

Specific BLM roads in the Grand Junction Field Office are closed to motorized use from Dec. 1 through April 30 each year to protect critical big-game winter range and other sensitive areas as well as to prevent road damage during poor driving conditions. 

“Wintering wildlife is particularly sensitive to disturbance during the winter,” said Heidi Plank, wildlife biologist with the BLM.  “Repeated disturbance can affect their ability to survive the winter.”

The closure includes: Blue Mesa, Beehive, Chalk Mountain, Grand Mesa Slopes at Horse Mountain, Sink Creek, Mesa Creek and the Lands End roads.  Also, 16 Road will be closed at Garvey, Post and Lapham canyons.  

The Coal Canyon Road in the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Area will be closed to motorized use Dec. 1 through May 31.  Rapid Creek is open only during the big game seasons for hunter access and remains closed the rest of the year. 

Maps of closure areas can be found online at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/fo/gjfo.html

While gates will be locked on some roads, other areas will be closed through signing. All of the areas continue to be open to non-motorized recreation such as hiking and horseback riding. Many gated roads are monitored by law enforcement through multiple means.  Violators to closures will be prosecuted.  

For more information, call the BLM information desk 970 244-3000.