HERMITAGE, Pa. – In compliance with federal wildlife laws, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Pittsburgh District will temporarily close select campsites at Shenango River Lake beginning Friday to protect a nesting pair of federally protected bald eagles.
Campers with reservations at impacted campgrounds will automatically receive full refunds, a news release states. To view alternate availabilities and book new reservations, campers should visit Recreation.gov.
Biologists recently observed a mating pair of bald eagles with at least one eaglet in a nest located in the Pine Loop of the campground, between campsites 106 and 108. In compliance with the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service guidelines, the corps will implement a 330-foot no-disturbance buffer around the active nest to ensure the eagles’ safety.
“We are committed to both conservation and customer service,” said Bill Spring, supervisory resource manager at Shenango River Lake. “These bald eagles chose Shenango as their home because of the healthy habitats we maintain, and we appreciate the understanding and flexibility of our campers as we work to protect these iconic birds.”
The buffer zone impacts 154 reservations across 58 campsites, which is approximately 18 percent of the total sites at Shenango River Lake, the release states. Roads and pedestrian access within the buffer zone will be restricted until the eaglets fledge, which is expected to occur in early July.
Rangers and biologists will monitor the nest weekly. If the eaglets fledge sooner than expected, the closed campsites may reopen earlier. If not, the closure will extend in one-week increments, based on the status of the nest, the release states.
The corps urges visitors to respect the buffer zone and avoid any activities that may cause the eagles to abandon the nest.