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Thirsty bees shut down part of Joshua Tree National Park
A closed and blocked campground at the Joshua Tree National Park on Jan. 3, 2019.
(
Mark Ralston
/
AFP
)
Topline:
An uptick in bee activity has shut down some parts of Joshua Tree National Park, including a visitor center and campground.
Why now: The Cottonwood area has been temporarily closed since Tuesday for visitor’s safety, according to a park alert.
Why it matters: The affected area encompasses the visitor center on Pinto Basin Road, parking, restrooms, and the Cottonwood Campground.
A map of Joshua Tree National Park, specifically the Cottonwood area.
(
Joshua Tree National Park
)
The backstory: This kind of closure isn’t new for Joshua Tree. When water becomes scarce in the summer, bees can be attracted to air conditioner condensation, bathrooms, and even your sweat.
What's next: The closure is expected to limit the water and give the bees enough time to move on. The Cottonwood area is closed through at least Monday.
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Go deeper: Learn more about Joshua Tree National Park.
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