Areas of , including Cottonwood Visitor Center, parking area, restrooms and Cottonwood campground, have been closed due to increased bee activity. Park officials have explained that in the summer, water becomes scarce and bees seek alternative sources of hydration. This can include water in bathrooms, condensation from air conditioners, and even visitor sweat.
They are closing the Cottonwood area to visitors for safety and to reduce the moisture that attracts the bees. This closure will reduce the water available for bees and encourage them to disperse. Officials have confirmed that the bees are the aggressive honeybee type, and it’s not the first time areas of Joshua Tree National Park have been closed because of them.
In 2020 Jumbo Rocks and Cottonwood had to be sealed off because of big spikes in the numbers of swarming bees. Last year, Joshua Tree National Park officials offered the following . Officials also reassured visitors: “Bees are an essential part of Joshua Tree’s desert ecosystem.
Just like any other wildlife in the park, this is their home. We ask that you please treat them respectfully, and they will do the same.”.
