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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Colorado News

  • Wildlife officials warn of dangers of mixing domestic livestock, wild bighorn sheep

    Wildlife officials warn of dangers of mixing domestic livestock, wild bighorn sheep

    ESTES PARK, Colo. – The use of domestic goats and sheep for hobby livestock or commercialized purposes employed by municipalities and landowners for weed and vegetation control has wildlife officials issuing a warning of potential implications that could impact our wild Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep populations.

    These large groups of domestic animals do quick work on weed control, but there is another side of the equation that conveniently gets left out of the overall picture.

    Wildlife officials have concerns with these ‘weed-control’ domestic goat batallones descending on Estes Park this week. The reason – potential interaction with three different Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep herds in and around Estes Park – may have detrimental impacts.

    Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep historically existed in tremendous numbers in the western United States. Reduced to near extirpation, bighorn sheep have made strong recoveries due to dedicated western wildlife management agencies and forward thinking conservation groups. However, bighorn sheep still face significant threats, especially from diseases transmitted by domestic sheep and goats. 

    The mechanism of disease introduction into wild herds is almost always through comingling. Backyard hobby herds with poor enclosures, escaped domestics and large groups of domestic sheep and goats too close to wild sheep can result in contact and subsequent infection.

    “It only takes one sheep that contracts a disease to hinder an entire herd,” said Chase Rylands, wildlife officer out of Estes Park.

    “The suite of pathogens which kill bighorns are well understood,’ added CPW Wildlife Biologist Joe Halseth. “They cause severe respiratory illness in wild bighorns resulting in low lamb survival, all age die-offs and may inhibit population growth for long periods of time. Unfortunately, there are countless instances in Colorado where this has occurred and many bighorn herds in the state have some low level of chronic illness that limits population growth.” 

    The progression of respiratory disease varies depending on the pathogens present. Symptoms include coughing, nasal discharge and respiratory distress. Adult survivors can become chronic carriers and infect lambs every year.

    Wildlife viewing is a strong economic driver in the Estes Park area, which lies at the center of three distinct sheep herds. The Big Thompson Canyon has the most visible bighorn sheep herd in northern Colorado, with sheep occupying habitat from the mouth of the canyon well up to the town of Estes Park. These sheep often cause ‘sheep jams’ with visitors clamoring for a photograph when they show up close to the highway. The St. Vrain herd readily occupies good habitat along Highway 7 and Highway 36, and Rocky Mountain National Park has a robust herd often viewable to park visitors.

    Bighorn sheep are emblematic of Colorado and Colorado Parks and Wildlife is proud of the decades of work in restoring bighorns and can only hope that future efforts will see more sheep in more wild places in Colorado. Domestic grazers are very important to Colorado’s economy through the meat and wool markets as well as certain ecosystem services they provide. 

    “There are numerous best management practices to reduce disease risk to wild bighorns, but the most successful is to keep domestics far away from wild sheep,” Halseth said.

    The threat of disease introduction when domestics do comingle with our wild herds is so severe that wildlife officials are sometimes forced to euthanize any wild bighorns that come into contact with the domestics, or ones that appear to show signs of illness afterwards. Inaction may result in a cascading effect of disease outbreak, death and poor population performance, which may take decades to overcome.

    “Disease transmission is nothing to be taken lightly with Colorado’s wildlife, especially with bighorns,” Ryands said. “Coexisting with wildlife isn’t always easy, but preventing the comingling of domestic animals with wildlife is most often preventable and essential to sustaining populations of all wildlife.” 

    Colorado is home to an estimated 7,000 bighorn sheep. CPW, as well as other state agencies across the west, cannot take the risk of having an entire wild herd devastated due to a ram coming back to ewes after comingling with domestics.

    “Goats for weed management have been advertised as a win-win,” said Area Wildlife Manager Jason Duetsch. “Although that is in many cases true, it’s also true that they result in a lose-lose scenario in areas where wild sheep are near. Our historic and iconic bighorn populations are extremely susceptible to diseases that domestic sheep can carry with ease.

    “This is most often on small hobby farms in this part of the state or by landowners who rent herds for weed management, unaware or sometimes unwilling to accept the potential for harm.”

    CPW suggests implementing sound fencing practices, such as using an electric outrigger fence (two feet from wire fencing) or double fencing (two wire fences with a minimum spacing of at least 10 feet in between and a height of eight feet). Considerations could also be made for different weed management strategies when effective separation from wild sheep is not practical.

    To learn more about Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, please visit our website at https://cpw.state.co.us/conservation/Pages/CON-Sheep.aspx.

     

     

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  • Bikes now available for checkout in Commerce City

    Bikes now available for checkout in Commerce City

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Rolling out just in time for summer

    It’s time to ride! Bicycles are now available for checkout exclusively at Anythink Commerce City. These colorful, cruiser-style bikes are available to customers ages 16 and older for up to three weeks at a time. Whether you want to take a bike out for a fun summer ride or use it as an alternative mode of transportation, we hope you’ll enjoy this latest addition to the Anythink catalog.

    Our new bicycles were donated by the now-closed Denver B-Cycle rideshare program, with assistance from the non-profit Northeast Transportation Connections (NETC). Thanks to a generous grant from the City of Commerce City’s Derby Catalyst Program, Anythink Commerce City houses the bicycles in a new on-site storage space. Each bicycle comes with a helmet, basket and lock.

    Just a reminder: These bikes can only be checked out from and be returned to Anythink Commerce City.

    To celebrate the arrival of our bicycle fleet, we invite you to join us for cycling programs throughout the summer, including the upcoming Confident Commuting Workshop with Bicycle Colorado this Saturday.

    Event Details

    Confident Commuting Workshop with Bicycle Colorado

    Saturday, June 19, 2021

    10:30 am-12 pm

     

    Anythink Commerce City

    7185 Monaco St.

    Commerce City, CO 80022

    Bicycle Colorado leads this informational workshop to sharpen your bicycle commuting skills. Feel safer and more confident when you ride to work or on local streets. This workshop covers bike selection, clothing and gear, safety tips, laws/rules of the road, bike infrastructure, route-finding and basic maintenance. Space is limited; registration required. Please visit our online calendar to register. 

     

     

     

     

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  • Durango woman found dead after apparent bear attack

    Durango woman found dead after apparent bear attack

    TRIMBLE, Colo. – A 39-year-old woman was found dead Friday night off U.S. Highway 550 near Trimble, north of Durango, after what Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) officials believe was a bear attack.

    An autopsy on the woman will be performed by the La Plata County coroner early next week. The coroner’s office will identify the remains and determine the official cause of death.

    The woman, a Durango resident, was believed to have gone walking with her two dogs earlier Friday, according to information provided to the La Plata County Sheriff’s office by her boyfriend. The victim had last communicated with her boyfriend late in the morning.

    The boyfriend, whose name has not been released, told the sheriff’s office he returned home around 8:30 p.m. and discovered the two dogs outside of their home, but the woman was missing. He started searching for her and discovered her body around 9:30 p.m. He then called 911 to report the incident.

    CPW wildlife officers responded and observed signs of consumption on the body and an abundance of bear scat and hair at the scene.

    La Plata County Sheriff’s deputies assisted in the investigation. CPW called in a dog team from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to search the area. 

    The dog team quickly found a sow (female) black bear with two yearlings nearby. The bears were euthanized and are being taken to CPW’s Wildlife Health Lab in Fort Collins for a necropsy. DNA evidence from the bears and the scene will be sent to Laramie for testing at the Wyoming Game and Fish Wildlife Forensic & Fish Health Laboratory.

    “Bear attacks are extremely rare,” said Cory Chick, CPW Southwest Region manager. “This is a tragic event and a sad reminder that bears are wild and potentially dangerous. Out of an abundance of caution, the bears were removed for public safety. We ask the public to report any encounter with an aggressive bear to CPW.”

    Chick asked the public to avoid the area as the CPW investigation with La Plata County continues. Wildlife officers worked throughout the night and into the morning to process the scene, looking for evidence to corroborate it was a wildlife attack.

    An examination of the sow’s teeth led wildlife officers to believe she over 10 years old.

    CPW has received a few reports from the Durango area of bears becoming active this spring. The majority of these have been sighting reports. On April 19, a resident along the Animas River and La Plata County Road 250 captured a single bear on his game camera and reported that the bear tore down his bird feeder. On March 23, CPW received a report of a bear getting into trash east of Durango off Florida Road.

    Bears are active statewide and it is important to be Bear Aware. To learn more about how to be safe in bear country, visit the CPW website.

    FATAL BEAR ATTACKS IN COLORADO
July 25, 1971: A honeymooning couple was attacked while tent camping near Grand Lake in Grand County. A large older bear entered the tent, injured the woman and pulled the 31-year-old man away from the campsite. The man was killed. The bear was later found and destroyed. Further examination of the black bear found that it had worn, abscessed teeth and a plastic bucket in its stomach.

    Aug. 10, 1993: A 24-year-old Buena Vista man was attacked and killed after a male bear broke into a camper 20 miles north of Cotopaxi in Fremont County, presumably in a search for food. The camper tried to stop the attack by shooting at the bear, but it only injured the animal. The bear was injured by a bullet that grazed its rib cage, possibly increasing the intensity of the attack. A 250-pound, very aggressive male black bear with a fresh bullet wound to the rib cage was trapped and destroyed six days later. A necropsy on the bear revealed human remains in its digestive system.

    Aug. 7, 2009: A 74-year-old woman was killed and partially eaten by a bear or bears at her home near Ouray, in Ouray County. As sheriff’s deputies were investigating the scene, they were approached by a 250-pound, 5-year-old male black bear that exhibited aggressive behavior. Deputies shot and killed the bear after it approached them and showed no fear of people. Results of the necropsy on that bear were inconclusive as to whether it was involved in the original incident. Early the next morning, federal wildlife officers killed a 394-pound, mature male black bear that approached the home and exhibited aggressive behavior. A necropsy on the large older boar revealed human remains and remnants of clothing in its digestive system. A CPW investigation determined the victim illegally fed bears through a fence in her yard.

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  • Lake Trout Tournament at Blue Mesa Reservoir Continues

    Lake Trout Tournament at Blue Mesa Reservoir Continues

    Blue Mesa Reservoir lake trout tournament continues through July

    GUNNISON, Colo. – The 2nd Annual Blue Mesa Reservoir Lake Trout Tournament at Blue Mesa Reservoir is in full swing and anglers have plenty of time to fish for $10,000 in prize money. The reservoir is located near Gunnison in western Colorado.

    The tournament, sponsored by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, is free and no registration is required. The tournament continues through July 31 and everyone who participates has a chance to win cash prizes. The goal of the tournament is to maintain adequate kokanee fry survival by limiting predation from lake trout; and, in turn, to maintain quality kokanee fishing opportunities.  Abundant kokanee are also the key to maintaining excellent lake trout growth and condition to support trophy lake trout opportunities at the reservoir.

    The tournament started Feb. 1 and so far about 50 anglers have participated and about 900 lake trout heads have been turned in. One tagged fish has been caught in 2021 and the lucky angler will receive $250. There are about 20 more tagged fish in the reservoir.

    “Colorado Parks and Wildlife is asking anglers to be our partners in helping to manage the renowned Blue Mesa Reservoir fishery,” said Dan Brauch, aquatic biologist for CPW in Gunnison. “We know we can have an excellent kokanee fishery and a trophy lake trout fishery, but we need to continue our work for both species and we need the help of Colorado’s anglers.”

    Anglers are asked to harvest smaller lake trout; only heads from lake trout that are under 24 inches in length accepted in the tournament.  Last year the 339 anglers who participated caught 4,055 of the target-sized lake trout.

    Here’s how the tournament works: Anglers who catch and keep lake trout 24 inches or smaller will remove the heads and place them in a plastic bag provided at one of three boat ramps at the reservoir: Iola, Elk Creek and Lake Fork. Heads can also be turned in at CPW’s offices in Gunnison (300 W. New York Ave.) or Montrose (2300 S. Townsend Ave., U.S. Highway 550).

    Cash prizes will be awarded in three categories at the conclusion of the tournament:

    1) Anglers catching the most fish: 1st place, $1,000; 2nd place, $500; 3rd place, $250.

    2) Anglers will be entered in a raffle for every lake trout head turned in. A total of 20 winners will be selected and each will receive $200.

    3) CPW has tagged about 20 fish in the reservoir but anglers won’t know if they’ve caught one. CPW will scan the heads later to check for tags; those who caught tagged fish will receive $250 for each.

    Winning anglers will be contacted in early August.

    Unchecked lake-trout population growth caused significant declines in kokanee abundance in previous decades, Brauch said. Recently, the number of predatory lake trout has been reduced and kokanee abundance has improved. CPW research shows that smaller lake trout, those 24 inches and smaller, consume the most kokanee. Consequently, the tournament is focused on removing those fish.

    “We appreciate angler participation in maintaining balance in the Blue Mesa fishery,” Brauch said. “Working together, we will continue to provide quality opportunities for both kokanee and trophy lake trout.”

    Maintaining abundant kokanee supports quality-fishing opportunities for kokanee and provides a source of kokanee eggs for restocking needs at up to 25 waters in Colorado. Abundant kokanee are also essential for maintaining continued growth of trophy lake trout at Blue Mesa Reservoir.

    For more information about fishing at Blue Mesa Reservoir, including how to catch lake trout, research studies and management planning go to: https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/BlueMesaReservoirFisheryManagement.aspx.

    You may also call the Gunnison CPW office at: 970-641-7060.

     

  • Coloradans Urged to Reduce Wildfire Risk During Wildfire Awareness Month

    Coloradans Urged to Reduce Wildfire Risk During Wildfire Awareness Month

    DENVER – Colorado experienced one of its most active wildfire seasons in history in 2020, including its three largest fires on record. With below-average snowpack and ongoing drought across much of the state increasing the possibility of another challenging wildfire season in 2021, state and federal agencies that manage wildfires and forests are urging residents to join in efforts to reduce wildfire risk.

    Governor Jared Polis has signed a proclamation declaring this May as Wildfire Awareness Month, an annual observance to encourage residents to better prepare their homes and communities for wildfires. With about half of all Coloradans – about 3 million people – living in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), it’s important for people to take action to reduce the risk wildfire poses to their homes and create more fire-adapted communities.

    The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control anticipates above-average temperatures and below-average precipitation through June, which will result in the continuation of drought conditions across the state, and the emergence of above-average significant wildfire potential over the southeast portions of Colorado this spring. The long-range warm and dry projections suggest an earlier than normal start to the core wildfire season during the second half of May across all of southern Colorado.

    “Wildfire is a concern for all communities and our entire state, and all of us need to be a part of the solution,” said DFPC Director Mike Morgan. “We are calling on those that live, work and play in Colorado to help reduce the impact of wildfires by being vigilant, respecting fire restrictions when they are in place, and doing your part to protect your property from wildfire.”

     

    Practical Steps to Lower Wildfire Risk

    With Wildfire Preparedness Day on Saturday, May 1, many communities across Colorado will be taking steps to reduce their risk of fire. Colorado is home to 188 official Firewise USA® sites, places where neighbors are working together to reduce their risk.

    Whether they live in a recognized Firewise USA® site or not, homeowners living in the WUI can do a number of practical activities to protect their home and property from wildfire while practicing social distancing. The Colorado State Forest Service recommends the following wildfire preparation activities:

    • Rake and remove pine needles and dry leaves 5 feet from the home, as well as under decks, porches, sheds and play structures.
    • Remove leaves and needles from roofs and gutters.
    • Sweep porches and decks clear of any burnable plant material.
    • Move firewood piles at least 30 feet from the house, preferably uphill.
    • Transfer items under decks or porches to a storage area.
    • Cover any exposed eave or attic vents with 1/8-inch metal mesh screening.
    • Ensure home address signs are clearly visible from the street.
    • Contact your local Office of Emergency Management to register for emergency notifications and encourage your friends, family and neighbors to do the same.
    • Confirm at least one alternate path out of your neighborhood other than the one most commonly used and be prepared for potential evacuation requiring the alternative route.

    “Accomplishing these simple tasks will increase the chances your home will survive a wildfire,” said Mike Lester, state forester and director of the CSFS. “These are activities you can do on your own, while staying safe from the virus. Not only will you be preparing yourself, your home and your family for a potential fire, you’ll be giving a leg up to firefighters who may be called to protect your home. Remember, lowering your home’s wildfire risk begins with you. You have the ultimate responsibility to prepare your home and property for wildfire.”

    Prevention When Outdoors

    Looking back at the wildfires of 2020 in Colorado, there were many lasting impacts on emergency responders and the public. Many of these wildfires occurred in proximity to roadways, communities and recreational areas, posing considerable threat to public safety and affecting our water, air, state and local economies, and more.

    In Colorado, we have seen a 20 percent increase in human-caused wildfires over the past five years. Last year, 9 out of 10 wildfires were preventable. Residents and visitors to Colorado are encouraged to make 2021 a year that we all take action to reduce the number of human-caused wildfires and reduce the impacts to communities.

    “We are committed to sharing stewardship with our communities and partner agencies to improve the resilience of forest and grassland areas and to develop fire-adapted communities,” said Frank R. Beum, regional forester for the USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region. “We rely on our communities and forest and grassland visitors to be the first defense against preventing unwanted, catastrophic wildfires.”

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, spending time outdoors has become more popular than ever. The Recreate Responsibly Coalition offers guidelines and tips for getting outside and staying healthy while practicing responsible outdoor recreation and wildfire prevention activities. Learn more at www.recreateresponsibly.org.

    Wildland fire management in Colorado is an interagency partnership among local, state and federal agencies. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control and USDA Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region work with other local, state and federal agencies to coordinate wildland fire management on a statewide basis. The Colorado State Forest Service works with the National Fire Protection Association to implement the Firewise USA® program in the state and provides technical assistance to homeowners and communities to help them take action and ownership in preparing their homes against the threat of wildfire.

    By working together in these efforts, the ultimate goals of these agencies are resilient, fire-adapted landscapes and communities that best provide for firefighter and public safety and protection of our natural resources.

    For more information about reducing wildfire risk, search for the hashtag #COWildfireAware during May on Twitter and Facebook, or visit bit.ly/COWildfireMitigation.

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  • The superintendents of 12 Denver metro school districts are asking state health officials to end mandatory quarantines for students who are exposed to COVID-19 at school.

    “The protective health benefits for these students from quarantines have been small — and the costs to their development and academic progress have been great,” says a letter sent to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Monday.

    The letter was signed by the superintendents of Jeffco Public Schools, Aurora Public Schools, Douglas County School District, Cherry Creek School District, Westminster Public Schools, Mapleton School District, Adams 12 Five Star Schools, 27J Schools in Brighton, Englewood Schools, Littleton Public Schools, Elizabeth School District, and Platte Canyon School District.

    Denver Public Schools and several smaller metro area districts did not sign the letter.

    The state public health department did not respond to a request for comment. But the Tri-County Health Department, which oversees public health in three metro-area counties, said in a statement to Chalkbeat that what the superintendents are proposing “is a reasonable approach that deserves strong consideration.”

    COVID-19 cases are trending upward in Colorado, with the biggest upticks occurring among middle and high school-aged children, State Epidemiologist Dr. Rachel Herlihy said at a press conference Tuesday. COVID outbreaks at schools are also on the rise, she said.

    Herlihy did not speculate why cases are rising among teens. The superintendents also sent the letter to Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, who said Tuesday he believes social activities are a more likely cause for the teen uptick than exposure at school, though he did not provide evidence.

    Polis has been an advocate for in-person learning throughout the pandemic and previously loosened quarantine guidance when school officials said it was too onerous. In response to questions Tuesday about whether he would move schools to remote learning due to rising cases, Polis said he doesn’t expect to change school safety guidance.

    “We just have a few more weeks of school this year,” he said. “They’ll finish out the year with the kinds of precautions they’ve had in place to avoid major outbreaks.”

    In their letter, the superintendents said rates of COVID transmission in schools are low. As evidence, they cited data from 13 school districts that tracked the number of students in quarantine each week as well as the number of quarantined students who tested positive.

    The data shows 59 quarantined students across the 13 districts tested positive for coronavirus since January. That’s less than 0.2% of quarantined students, the superintendents argued. The total number of students in quarantine in the 13 districts varied week to week, with the highest number being more than 3,000 quarantined students per week.

    Not all people who quarantine get tested for COVID. And not all of the superintendents from the 13 districts that participated in the data tracking signed the letter.

    The superintendents who signed the letter urged state officials to follow the lead of other states that have jettisoned quarantine if students were wearing masks when the exposure occurred. They argued that continued mask wearing, home isolation for students or staff who test positive for COVID, and directives for people with symptoms to stay home as well would be enough to maintain low levels of COVID transmission within schools.

    “If similar standards are quickly adopted here, we can give tens of thousands of students the opportunity to finish the school year with consistency, predictability, and focus that they’ll otherwise lose out on as they get on and off the quarantine carousel,” they said.

    Dr. John Douglas, the executive director of the Tri-County Health Department, which oversees school districts in Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas counties, said in a statement that while it’s difficult to document the source of new COVID-19 infections, his department finds the low transmission rates in schools to be “reassuring.”

    “Although we are concerned about rising rates of infection in school-aged children across the metro area and the state over the past few weeks, we feel that the superintendents have raised an important issue,” Douglas said.

    Colorado quarantine guidance calls for students who were in close contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19 to quarantine at home. Close contact means a student was within 6 feet of a sick person for 15 minutes or more, even while wearing masks.

    State guidance says most people can exit quarantine after 10 days. People who test negative for COVID-19 five days after their exposure can exit quarantine after seven days.

    Chalkbeat Colorado bureau chief Erica Meltzer and reporter Yesenia Robles contributed to this story.

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  • Lynx: Shadows of the Forest – a feature film released by Colorado Parks and Wildlife

    Lynx: Shadows of the Forest – a feature film released by Colorado Parks and Wildlife

    DENVER – A new film released Wednesday by Colorado Parks and Wildlife showcases the ‘Shadows of the Forest’ in Colorado’s high-elevation wilderness – the Canada lynx.

    The film was published on CPW’s YouTube, Facebook and Instagram channels. It tells the story of lynx in Colorado and how the big-footed felines are representatives of wild values and the natural world. The film was produced by Sean Ender of Peak to Creek films.

    Part of CPW’s mission is to take care of the native species in the state. Prior to Colorado’s reintroduction of lynx starting back in 1999, no other state or Canadian province had ever completed a successful lynx reintroduction.

    Colorado declared the lynx reintroduction efforts a success in 2010 and this film tells the story of that history and the research and collaborative efforts taking place with the U.S. Forest Service to protect their habitats and study the species. 

    “As a scientist, we’re trained to spend our lives mired in details, trying to design the perfect sampling scheme or experiment, running some complicated analysis, and attempting to publish a paper in a prestigious scientific journal,” said Jake Ivan, Wildlife Research Scientist with CPW. “That is all well and good and serves an important purpose. What’s lost in that cycle is the story our research has to tell.  

    “In this video, Sean does a great job of capturing that story, and conveying it in a way that is interesting, informative and captivating. I hope people will enjoy this story and along the way maybe learn a bit about lynx, hares, forest management and the research effort that goes into trying to understand it all.”

    CPW is in charge of the management and monitoring of lynx in Colorado, but it is a species that lives in the national forest system. The U.S. Forest Service is really the ones providing the habitat for lynx and their primary food source, snowshoe hares.

    Ender, owner of Peak to Creek films, captured some of the collaborative work taking place between CPW and the USFS. The film also showcases some of the facilitating science behind the research.

    “I really enjoyed learning about the complexities and multiple layers of science at work to keep lynx on the landscape in Colorado,” Ender said. “When Jake first told me they can gather DNA from footprints in the snow I was shocked. Filming Doug tossing a giant snowball around to the point where he’s left holding a lynx track was fascinating. It’s really fun to capture moments like that in the field and share the cutting edge work CPW is doing to conserve a species they worked so hard to bring back.”

    On Thursday, a second film on lynx will also be published across the same channels. That one showcases exploratory movements lynx make across Colorado and beyond, and Ivan talks about the biology of the big-footed felines.

    Want more on the Canada lynx, listen to our podcast episode featuring the species.

     

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  • 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office to Release Doves in Honor of Crime Victims

    17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office to Release Doves in Honor of Crime Victims

    Adams County — 17th Judicial District Attorney Brian Mason announces a Dove Release event to observe National Crime Victims’ Rights Week in the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office (Adams and Broomfield Counties).

    The annual week long series of events to honor crime victims in Adams County traditionally begins with a dove release. This year, with the victims of the tragic Boulder shooting on the hearts and minds of all Coloradans, District Attorney Brian Mason and Adams County Commissioner Eva Henry will provide remarks before releasing doves outside the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office in Brighton.

     

    What:

    17th Judicial District Attorneys’ Office National Crime Victims’ Rights Week Dove Release

    When:

    Monday, April 19, 2021, at 11:00 am

    Where:

    17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, 1000 Judicial Center Dr., Brighton, CO 80601

    Who:

    17th Judicial District Attorney Brian S. Mason, Adams County Commissioner Eva Henry, and other local officials

     

    “All of our hearts are especially heavy this year as we mark the beginning of National Crime Victim’s Rights Week” said District Attorney Brian Mason.

    “The 10 victims of the tragic shooting in Boulder and their loved ones will be on our minds as we release doves in memory of those who have lost their lives as victims of crime and in service to victims of crime.”

     

     

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  • Bears are emerging from their dens; please prepare to be bear aware

    DURANGO, Colo. – Someone once said that the only things certain in life are death and taxes. But every spring Colorado Parks and Wildlife adds another item to that list: bears emerging from hibernation.

    As the weather continues to warm up throughout Colorado, reports of bear sightings are starting to trickle into wildlife offices throughout the state. So now is the time for everyone in Colorado to shift back into bear-aware mode, said Steve McClung, assistant area wildlife manager for CPW in Durango.

    “Please remember, we’re getting back into the season when bears are active,” McClung said. “So please, secure your trash and take down the bird feeders.”

    Bird feeders are a major source of bear conflicts. You can instead attract birds naturally with flowering plants and bird baths. Wait until late November to hang feeders again.

    Research shows that bears prefer natural sources of food. But they will find sources of human-provided food if it’s available. If bears become habituated to human sources of food they can become dangerous to humans.

    CPW also urges residents to report bear problems to local wildlife offices as soon as they see them. If problems are reported early, CPW wildlife officers can use a range of options to deal with the bear. They can tour the neighborhood to look for food sources that are attracting bears, work with residents to correct the situation and set strategies to harass the bear to push it back into wild areas or to trap and move it if necessary. If CPW does not get reports until a bear is breaking into houses or vehicles, officers’ choices are limited.

    “The last thing we want to do is put down a bear, every wildlife officer absolutely hates doing that,” McClung said. “So don’t hesitate to call us as soon as you see any bad behavior, even if it appears minor. That gives us a much better opportunity to correct the situation early.”

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers these tips and precautions to help you prevent human/wildlife conflicts:

    Bearproofing your home:

    • Keep garbage in a well-secured location.
    • Only put out garbage on the morning of pickup.
    • Clean garbage cans regularly to keep them free of food odors: ammonia is effective.
    • Use a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster; available from your trash hauler or on the Internet.
    • If you don’t have secure storage, put items that might become smelly into the freezer until trash day.
    • Don’t leave pet food or stock feed outside.
    • Bird feeders are a major source of bear/human conflicts. Attract birds naturally with flowers and water baths. Do not hang bird feeders from April 15 to Nov. 15.
    • Do not attract other wildlife by feeding them, such as deer, turkeys or small mammals.
    • Don’t allow bears to become comfortable around your house. If you see one, yell at it, throw things at it, make noise to scare it off.
    • Secure compost piles. Bears are attracted to the scent of rotting food ─ and they’ll eat anything.
    • Allow grills to burn for a couple of minutes after cooking to burn off grease and to eliminate odors. Clean the grill after each use.
    • Clean-up thoroughly after picnics in the yard or on the deck. Don’t allow food odors to linger.
    • If you have fruit trees, pick fruit before it gets too ripe. Don’t allow fruit to rot on the ground.
    • If you keep small livestock, keep animals in a fully covered enclosure. Construct electric fencing if possible. Don’t store livestock food outside, keep enclosures clean to minimize odors, hang rags soaked in ammonia and/or Pine-Sol around the enclosure.
    • If you have bee hives, install electric fencing where allowed.
    • Talk to your neighbors and kids about being bear aware.
    • Keep garage doors closed.

    Cars, traveling and campsites:

    • Lock your doors when you’re away from home and at night.
    • Keep the bottom floor windows of your house closed when you’re not at home.
    • Do not keep food in your vehicle; roll up windows and lock the doors of your vehicles.
    • When car-camping, secure all food and coolers in a locked vehicle when you’re away from camp.
    • Keep a clean camp, whether you’re in a campground or in the back-country.
    • When camping in the back-country, hang food 100 feet or more from campsite; don’t bring any food into your tent
    • Cook food well away from your tent; wash dishes thoroughly.

    For more information go to the Living with Wildlife section on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife web site: cpw.state.co.us/bears. Should you have questions or need to report bear problems, call your nearest CPW office.

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  • Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s first educational session on wolf reintroduction efforts set for April 28

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s first educational session on wolf reintroduction efforts set for April 28

    DENVER – Members of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission as well as the public are invited to attend CPW’s first online educational session related to wolf reintroduction efforts on Wed., April 28 from 6 – 8 p.m.

    The purpose of the educational sessions is to provide the Commission and members of the public with a common understanding of what it means to have wolves on the landscape and how experts from other states have approached wolf management. Invited wolf experts from Montana and Idaho will share real-world experiences to help the Colorado public better understand what it means to have wolves as one of the many wildlife species CPW manages.

    Session 1: Wolf Management and Wolf-Prey Interactions

    Speakers will include:

    • Diane Boyd (retired from Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks) will describe state management of wolves
    • Jon Horne (Idaho Fish and Game) will present on wolf-prey interactions

    Pre-registration is required for those who wish to see the presentation live and ask questions by clicking this link. Upon registering, participants will receive an email with a link to access the session. Participants will have the opportunity to submit questions for the presenters through the chat during the question-and-answer portion of the session. All sessions will be recorded and available for members of the public who wish to view the sessions later.

    There will be two more educational sessions – one in May and one in June – with the dates still to be determined. These presentations will cover reintroduction and conflict management. 

    Stay informed on CPW’s wolf management efforts by visiting our website and signing up for the Gray Wolf Reintroduction eNews.  

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