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After six incredible years of paw-some service, K9 Tigger, an 8-year-old Dutch Shepherd with the Adams County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit, will be honored at a special retirement ceremony on July 16 at 4:00 p.m., in the K9 training area at our patrol substation (4201 E. 72^nd Ave., Commerce City, 80221).

K9 Tigger joined the unit in 2019 and quickly earned a reputation as one of the most dependable—and paws-itively determined—working dogs in the region. Over the course of his career, Tigger has been credited with:

• 165 arrests, including 11 suspect apprehensions involving bites
• The detection and seizure of over 2.8 kilograms of methamphetamine, 19.3 kilograms of cocaine, 334 grams of fentanyl, 12.3 grams of heroin, and 1.56 grams of ecstasy

With a nose for justice and a bark backed by bravery, Tigger has played a vital role in countless investigations and high-risk operations, helping to protect the community and take dangerous drugs off the streets.

The retirement ceremony will feature remarks from Sheriff Claps, a presentation honoring Tigger’s career, and an opportunity for media and the public to meet the guest of honor himself. The guest of honor is expected to celebrate his retirement with a well-earned treat or two.

Members of the press are invited to attend this tail-wagging tribute to one of the agency’s finest. Following the ceremony, photo and interview opportunities will be available.

RSVP requested by the end of the day on July 15.

The Adams County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit consists of ten dogs and is dedicated to supporting law enforcement efforts through specialized canine teams trained in narcotics detection, suspect apprehension, and search and rescue operations. The skilled dogs and handlers work tirelessly to keep the community safe.

The Adams County Retired K9 Foundation was founded in 2020 and works to reduce the financial burden on handlers after they adopt their K9 partner when they retire. If anyone would like to donate to support Tigger, or any of our retired K9s, please visit acretiredk9.org or scan this QR code.

Colorado’s wolf population is growing.

A Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson confirmed Thursday that staff have seen new wolf pups this spring.

The agency is monitoring four den sites, relying on aerial observations, ground observations, remote trail cameras as well as public sightings to do so, the spokesperson said.

Parks and Wildlife does not yet have a reliable count of how many pups there are.

“(Parks and Wildlife) staff have begun to get minimum counts of pups by both direct observations and indirect methods,” the spokesperson said. “It is important to note that sighting numbers (especially from early season sightings) are not a guaranteed number of animals since certainty in detection is low, based on continued denning, moving to rendezvous sites and being in varied habitat.”

Glenwood Springs — Next week, the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission will convene for a hybrid meeting in Glenwood Springs. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. on Wed., June 11, and recess at 12:55 p.m. The commission will reconvene at 8 a.m. on Thu., June 12, and adjourn at 3:30 p.m. A complete agenda along with all materials for this meeting is available on CPW’s website for public review. The meeting will be streamed live on CPW’s YouTube page. Parks and Wildlife Commission agenda items include: Department of Natural Resources update Department of Agriculture update Colorado Outdoor Strategy Launch update GOCO update Staunton State Park Draft Management Plan Project 7 Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Plan Licensing and Reservations System Vendor Selection and update Sweetwater update CPW Stakeholder Human-Bear Workshop update Program Overview: Small Game Management Program Overview: Waterfowl and Migratory Bird Management Bobcat Research update The Consent Agenda includes: Wildlife Damage Claims Real Estate Projects The public is encouraged to email written comments to the commission at . Details on providing oral public comments for hybrid meetings are available on CPW’s website. The commission meets regularly and travels to communities around the state to facilitate public participation. This opportunity keeps constituents informed about the development of regulations and how the commission works with Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff to manage the parks, wildlife and outdoor recreation programs administered by the agency. Learn more about the Parks and Wildlife Commission on CPW’s website.

 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife received a mortality alert for male gray wolf 2507 on May 31. The agency has confirmed the mortality took place in northwest Colorado. As a federally listed species under the Endangered Species Act, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is investigating. A final determination of the cause of death will not be made until the investigation is completed, including the necropsy, a foundational component of the overall investigation process. No additional details are available at this time. CPW continues to monitor four potential dens. It is likely there are an unknown number of new pups that were born this year. CPW is developing plans for the coming year’s translocation efforts, so Colorado’s wolf population will continue to grow, leading toward a self-sustaining population.

 

GRAND JUNCTION — After responding to three recent attacks, Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds the public to be aware of potentially aggressive cow moose while recreating outdoors during calving season. The moose conflicts in Park, Grand and Routt counties highlight their innate aggression toward dogs and the need for awareness while hiking, especially near water with thick vegetation where moose are often found and can be difficult to see. Cow moose give birth to calves in late spring and early summer. During this time, they can become more aggressive toward perceived threats to their young. Cows will hide their calves to protect them from predators but will stay nearby. Turn around or leave an area if a calf is spotted. If a moose begins to charge, get behind objects like trees or boulders to put obstacles in its path. Respect posted signs warning of aggressive moose behavior or calf activity on trails. Choose a trail with good visibility and make noise when recreating through thick vegetation. Most moose conflicts involve dogs. When recreating near riparian or willow habitats, keep dogs on-leash to avoid startling moose near a trail. Off-leash dogs can venture off-trail, surprising hidden moose calves or cows. Cows will, in turn, chase retreating dogs, which can bring the moose in contact with humans. Three recent attacks: On Fri., May 30, two women walking four dogs off-leash encountered a cow moose along Fourmile Creek Road in Fairplay. The moose charged and trampled the women multiple times. Eventually, they  were able to climb onto a nearby roof to escape. A neighbor hazed the moose away with a fire extinguisher. Neither woman sought medical treatment. CPW officers responded to the scene and found two cow moose. Unable to definitively identify which moose was involved in the attack, no further action was taken. On Sat., May 31, a couple was returning home from a walk with their dog near Columbine Lake in Grand Lake when a cow moose charged at them, knocking the woman to the ground. The woman managed to crawl under a small storage area next to their house, but the moose continued to charge and attempt to stomp her. When the moose continued to show aggression towards the woman and showed no signs of leaving, the boyfriend shot and killed the moose. The woman was treated on scene with injuries to her face, shoulder and arms. CPW officers did not cite the man, as the investigation determined the moose was shot in self-defense while actively posing a threat to human health and safety. The dog was on a leash at the time of the attack, and officers believed the cow was protecting a calf, which was bedded out of sight from the victim and her boyfriend at the time. CPW officers searched the area and located the calf moose. The calf was humanely euthanized by CPW. “The decision to euthanize the calf was not easy to make,” said Hot Sulphur Springs Area Wildlife Manager Jeromy Huntington. “While rehabilitation can be successful in some cases, it’s not a guaranteed solution. In the case of this moose calf, taking it to a rehab at such a young age would not be in the best interest of the animal’s long-term survival in the wild.” According to CPW’s wildlife regulations, wildlife taken to a rehabilitation facility is primarily intended for the purpose of returning the wildlife to the wild, and no wildlife may be held for more than one year. “At this age, the only thing this moose will know is human interaction for survival. If rehabilitation in a facility is successful, we believe the moose would already be habituated to humans which can lead to increased potential of threat to human health and safety,” said Huntington. On the evening of Sun., June 1, a woman was walking her two dogs at River Creek Park in Steamboat Springs when she was attacked by a cow moose. A man on a paddleboard passing by found her on the ground near the river. As he helped her toward the parking lot, the moose returned and kicked him. The woman was transported to the hospital by EMS with serious injuries. After evaluation, she was flown to a facility on the Front Range. The man was evaluated at the scene and released. CPW officers observed a cow moose and her two calves in the same area after the incident and believed the cow was protecting her young. Both dogs were on a leash at the time of the attack. For the safety of the public and wildlife, CPW and the City of Steamboat Springs have implemented a closure at River Creek Park, effective through Wed., June 4. CPW officers will continue to assess the area over the next 48 hours. While moose encounters with people are quite common, conflicts with moose are low. Since 2019, CPW has responded to 22 injuries from moose attacks. However, conflicts can occur even when following best practices for living in moose habitat. Please report any moose conflicts to a local CPW office. Media with questions regarding the moose attack in Fairplay, contact Northeast Region PIO Kara Van Hoose. For questions regarding the moose attacks in Grand Lake and Steamboat Springs, contact Northwest Region PIO Rachael Gonzales.