A rarity in California, a pair of Bald Eagles have set up residence a short distance outside the park by nearby Bass Lake.
Sierra Star: “‘The Sierra National Forest has instituted a temporary area closure to protect a bald eagle nest and eagle hatchling in the Bass Lake Recreation Area near the Forks Campground,’ said Bass Lake District Ranger David Martin. ‘This year the eagles again chose to nest in very close proximity to the junction of the Goat Mountain hiking trail and Forest Road 7S24, the road paralleling the Bass Lake campground access along Road 222.’
He added that the closure does not include the Forks Campground or Forks Resort area.
The U.S. Forest Service and California Department of Fish and Game wildlife biologists and a volunteer eagle specialist have been monitoring the nest and know that the eagles have been incubating eggs since late February. They hatched at least one young on or around April 1.
The closure includes an area roughly 1/4 mile in radius around the nest tree, those portions of Forest Road 7S24 that lie within the closure area, and the portion of the Goat Mountain trail from the Forks Campground to the edge of the closure area.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife service has requested that the closure be in effect until Aug. 1.”
Please do NOT go try to see the birds. The area has been closed to all persons. Trespassers could face fines and/or time in jail.