ASSATEAGUE ISLAND, Md. - Parts of Assateague Island National Seashore are now closed to visitors as part of the park's annual effort to protect nesting birds, including the federally threatened piping plover.
The National Park Service said the red hatched areas on the north end of the island show where there is restricted access. Doing this protects sensitive habitats where birds lay eggs directly on the sand and among dune grasses.
The National Park Service said the red hatched areas on the north end of the island show where there is restricted access. (NPS)
Park staff placed signs along both the bayside and oceanside warning visitors not to enter the restricted zones. The protected areas include interior sections of the Maryland Oversand Vehicle zone, specifically between kilometer markers 21.8 to 22.8 and 23.5 to 24.5.
Visitors can still enjoy areas north of Assateague State Park, but park guidance asks people to stay below the high tide line and avoid bringing pets into sensitive areas.
The closures will remain in place through September.
Similarly, The Point in Cape Henlopen State Park closed last month to protect the nesting grounds of endangered bird species. DNREC said that the spring and summer nesting season is critical for piping plovers, American oystercatchers, least terns, red knots and other shorebirds. The ocean-side beach at The Point is scheduled to reopen to the public Sept. 1. The bayside beach will remain closed until Oct. 1 to accommodate shorebirds migrating south for the winter.