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CENTENNIAL, Colo. – The Colorado National Guard Joint Force Headquarters Force Protection element, in cooperation with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, will conduct an annual active threat response exercise at the Colorado Department of Military and Veterans Affairs campus, 6848 S. Revere Pkwy, Centennial, CO, from approximately 9 a.m. to noon, Oct. 14, 2021.

“Our purpose is to ensure the value and safety of our service members and civilians and take advantage of training and integration opportunities between the Services and with our community partners,” U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Robert McFatridge, force protection officer in charge, said.

This training will educate and prepare DMVA employees for an active threat situation and evaluate response procedures while interacting with civilian first responders.
Anyone working nearby or traveling in the local area may witness a higher-than-normal police presence during the exercise.
Participants will use blank rounds, mainly fired indoors.

If there’s reason to believe that a real world active threat is underway, don’t hesitate to call 911.
This annual training increases preparedness and is not in response to any heightened threat level or direct threat to any person or property.
In order to simulate a realistic training environment, this event is not open to the public.

Wildlife officers Scott Murdoch (left) and Dawson Swanson (right) hold up the tire that was on this bull elk for over two years (photo courtesy of Pat Hemstreet)

PINE, Colo. – An elk with a tire around its neck for at least the last two years was finally freed of the obstacle Saturday evening when Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers were able to tranquilize the bull and remove the tire.

Wildlife officers Dawson Swanson and Scott Murdoch had to cut the antlers off the bull elk in order to remove the tire. That occurred Saturday around 8 p.m., roughly one mile south of Pine Junction on private property off of County Road 126.

“I am just grateful to be able to work in a community that values out state’s wildlife resource,” Swanson said. “I was able to quickly respond to a report from a local resident regarding a recent sighting of this bull elk in their neighborhood. I was able to locate the bull in question along with a herd of about 40 other elk.”

Wildlife officers aged the bull as a four-and-a-half year-old weighing over 600 pounds and had five points on each of its antler beams.

“It was tight removing it,” Murdoch said of pulling the tire off the bull’s neck, even after cutting its antlers off. “It was not easy for sure, we had to move it just right to get it off because we weren’t able to cut the steel in the bead of the tire. Fortunately, the bull’s neck still had a little room to move.

“We would have preferred to cut the tire and leave the antlers for his rutting activity, but the situation was dynamic and we had to just get the tire off in any way possible.”

Once the tire was off, wildlife officers Swanson and Murdoch were surprised to see the condition of its neck after having that tire on it for over two years.

“The hair was rubbed off a little bit, there was one small open wound maybe the size of a nickel or quarter, but other than that it looked really good,” Murdoch said of the bull’s neck. “I was actually quite shocked to see how good it looked.”

It was the fourth attempt wildlife officers had made in the last week to try to tranquilize this bull. Saturday evening, officer Swanson was in a neighborhood looking for this elk that was reported in the area earlier in the day. He found it in a group of elk and maneuvered into a location where he thought it was going to cross. Swanson was able to successfully tranquilize the bull. Murdoch arrived to aid in the removal operation before the two set him free, many pounds lighter.

“Tranquilizer equipment is a relatively short-range tool and given the number of other elk moving together along with other environmental factors, you really need to have things go in your favor to have a shot or opportunity pan out,” Swanson said. “I was able to get within range a few times that evening, however, other elk or branches blocked any opportunities. It was not until shortly before dark that everything came together and I was able to hit the bull with the dart. One the bull was hit with the dart, the entire herd headed back into the thick timber. This is where I was able to find the bull. 

“Due to a number of factors, including the bull’s physical condition related to the rut, the tranquilizer effectiveness was minimized. I contacted (Murdoch) and along with some further assistance from neighbors, we were able to remove the tire and the bull was back on his feet within a matter of a few minutes after administering a reversal (to wake it from the sedation).”

Swanson and Murdoch estimated that the bull elk dropped roughly 35 pounds between the removal of the tire, his antlers and the debris that was inside the tire.

“The tire was full of wet pine needles and dirt,” Murdoch said. “So the pine needles, dirt and other debris basically filled the entire bottom half of the tire. There was probably 10 pounds of debris in the tire.”

This bull elk has spent the past couple of years traveling back and forth between Park and Jefferson Counties. He would disappear for long periods of time, particularly in the winter, and was acting as expected from a wild animal, not wanting to be around human presence. That is much different than some of the resident elk people often see in towns such as Evergreen or Estes Park.

At the end of May and into June 2021, four attempts were made to catch up with this bull in the Pleasant Park area of Conifer. Sightings of him picked back up in September and early October near the town of Pine (one of which you can see here in this video). Murdoch felt the rut (breeding season) played a helpful role in catching up with the bull.

“In the winter we weren’t getting any reports of him,” Murdoch said. “In the springtime, we would get an occasional report or see him in a little bachelor herd. The rut definitely made him more visible. There was a bigger bull in the group he was with on Saturday, but he is getting to be a decent size bull.”

The first time wildlife officers became aware of this elk with a tire around its neck was in July 2019 (click here to see a photo from that sighting). While conducting a population survey for Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep and mountain goats in the Mount Evans Wilderness, wildlife officer Jared Lamb saw the bull through a spotting scope.

At the time the bull appeared to be a younger one, likely two years old.

“Being up in the wilderness, we didn’t really expect to be able to get our hands on the elk just because of the proximity or the distance away from civilization,” Murdoch said. “It is harder to get the further they are back in there and usually the further these elk are away from people, the wilder they act. That certainly played true the last couple of years, this elk was difficult to find, and harder to get close to.”

Since the original sighting by wildlife officer Lamb, a handful of other sightings came in over the following year.

A trail camera near Conifer picked up the bull with the tire twice in 2020, first on June 5 and later on July 12. A separate trail camera also captured it on Aug. 12, 2020.

[Watch] 2020 video with Wildlife Officer Murdoch discussing the circumstances with this bull elk

The saga of this bull elk highlights the need for residents to live responsibly with wildlife in mind. That includes keeping your property free of obstacles that wildlife can get tangled in or injured by. Wildlife officers have seen deer, elk, moose, bears and other wildlife become entangled in a number of man-made obstacles that include swing sets, hammocks, clothing lines, decorative or holiday lighting, furniture, tomato cages, chicken feeders, laundry baskets, soccer goals or volleyball nets, and yes, tires. 

This elk would have gotten the tire around its antlers either when it was very young, before it had antlers, or during the winter when it shed its antlers. It could have been a big stack of tires that the elk stuck its head in, wildlife officers have also seen it where people feed animals who come in and put their heads in things that they then walk away with. 

CPW recommends that if you see wildlife entangled in something or with debris wrapped around it, that you report it immediately to wildlife officials. That can be accomplished by calling CPW’s Denver office at 303-291-7227.

Photos Below (top to bottom, left to right)
Row 1, Left Photo: Locating the bull elk after darting it with the tranquilizer (courtesy of Pat Hemstreet)
Row 1, Right Photo: Wildlife officer Dawson Swanson attempting to cut the tire off (courtesy of Pat Hemstreet)
Row 2, Left Photo: Wildlife officer Dawson Swanson with the elk after removing the tire (courtesy of Pat Hemstreet)
Row 2, Right Photo: Another photo of the bull elk as it was being approached (courtesy CPW)
Row 3, Left Photo: The bull elk with the tire on it (courtesy CPW)
Row 3, Right Photo: Approaching the bull elk after tranquilizing it (courtesy CPW)
Row 4, Left Photo: Trail camera picture from July 12, 2020 (courtesy of Dan Jaynes near Conifer, Colo.)
Row 4, Right Photo: The first sighting of this bull with the tire around its neck was from wildlife officer Jared Lamb in July 2019 during a survey for bighorn sheep and mountain goats (courtesy Jared Lamb/CPW)

82 Cases in 14 Colorado counties

REMOTE (October 8, 2021): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in cooperation with Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) and the FDA, is investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Thompson that sickened 102 people in 14 states. Colorado was heavily impacted with 82 of the ill people living in 14 Colorado counties. The cases have been linked to seafood manufactured or processed by Northeast Seafood Products, Inc. of Denver. According to CDC, the majority of sick people are either Colorado residents or reported traveling to Colorado during the week before they got sick. Only two people did not report traveling to Colorado during the week before they got sick.

Today, (October 8, 2021), Denver-based Northeast Seafood Products, Inc. recalled Haddock, Monkfish, Bone-in Trout, Grouper, Red Snapper, Red Rock Cod, Ocean Perch, Pacific Cod, Halibut, Coho Salmon, Atlantic Salmon Portions, Lane Snapper, Tilapia, All Natural Salmon Fillet, Pacific Sole, and Farm Raised Striped Bass. These products were sold to restaurants and Albertsons, Safeway, and Sprouts supermarkets in Colorado. The Pacific Cod sold through Sprouts is not being recalled. A full list of recalled products is available on FDA’s website. At this time, Northeast Seafood Products, Inc. has temporarily shut down production

Consumers, restaurants, and retailers should not eat, sell, or serve any recalled seafood. FDA recommends that anyone who might have purchased or received recalled product, check their refrigerators and freezers and throw away recalled product.

Learn more: 

https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/thompson-10-21/index.html

https://www.fda.gov/food/outbreaks-foodborne-illness/outbreak-investigation-salmonella-thompson-seafood-october-2021 

A full list of recalled products is available on FDA’s website.

Aurora, CO –  The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control (DFPC) is teaming up with Aurora Fire Rescue (AFR) to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week^TM campaign, “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety^TM.”

“It’s important to learn the different sounds of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. When an alarm makes noise—a beeping sound or a chirping sound—you must take action!” said Mike Morgan, DFPC Director. “Make sure everyone in the home understands the sounds of the alarms and knows how to respond. To learn the sounds of your specific smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, check the manufacturer’s instructions that came in the box, or search the brand and model online.”

“Fire Prevention Week is an opportunity to enhance community awareness related to fire safety. The focus this year is related to the sounds of alarms,” said Aurora’s Fire Chief Fernando Gray Sr. “As a reminder, Aurora Fire Rescue operations personnel provide and install free smoke alarms in Aurora in conjunction with other supporting programs coordinated by our prevention and community engagement teams to make the community safer!”

DFPC is teaming up with Aurora Fire Rescue to host fire musters and live building fire demonstrations with a Side-By-Side NFSA Trailer demonstration. Bring the family and learn about fire safety, meet the men and women on the front lines of fire, and watch a live burn demonstration!  

EVENT SPECIFICS: Both media and community are welcome to join.

Who: Aurora Fire Rescue Chief Gray, DFPC Director Morgan, & DFPC Section Chief Brunette

When: Saturday, October 9, 2021 

          Presentation and Remarks: 11:00am

          Demonstration and Muster: 11:30-1:00

Where: Aurora Municipal Center, 15151 E Alameda Parkway, Aurora, CO,80012

Live Streaming: We will be live streaming the event on the DFPC Facebook page at https://fb.me/e/1QeEwZS7B

What:             Adams County Public Works will once again host the annual Snow and Ice Inspection Day event. Attendees are invited to view Adams County’s fleet of trucks and snow removal equipment and talk with Public Works personnel. Adams County Public Works maintains the entire roadway network throughout unincorporated Adams County and prides itself on reliable and quality work to ensure the safety and readiness of personnel and equipment for the upcoming 2021–2022 snow season.

Who:              Adams County Public Works

Where:           Adams County Public Works/Fleet Building

                        4955 E. 74^th Ave., Commerce City, CO 80022

When:            Friday, Oct. 8, 11:30 a.m.

Why:              With winter around the corner, Adams County residents will soon be impacted by snow on county roads. This is a great opportunity to meet staff face to face with any questions before the busy snow season.

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife is announcing an emergency public fish salvage at Johnstown Reservoir, effective immediately (Wednesday, Oct. 6).

The fish salvage has been enacted so the Town of Johnstown can completely drain the reservoir to allow for emergency repairs to be made on the dam.

Because the entire fishery may be lost, CPW has enacted the public fish salvage in order to optimize use of the resource. The fish salvage will be effective through Nov. 1.

The following emergency salvage regulations apply only to Johnstown Reservoir:

– The emergency fish salvage is permitted only at Johnstown Reservoir and only during daylight hours (sunrise to ½ hour after sunset).
– All anglers must have a valid Colorado fishing license in accordance with state statutes. 
– No commercial angling is allowed.
– Only angling methods that are currently legal at the reservoir are allowed.
– Current size, bag and possession limits for all species are suspended for Johnstown Reservoir until the emergency public fish salvage is terminated.
– Notification of the emergency public fish salvage opening and closure will be made through press releases, and signs will also be placed at the reservoir.
– Angling is prohibited from the dam located on the east side of the reservoir, as well as 500 feet west of the dam along the north and south shoreline.
– Anglers shall assume any and all liability and shall hold the Town of Johnstown harmless from any and all damages, either direct or consequential.
– A Town of Johnstown angling permit will be waived for anglers during the emergency salvage.

Johnstown Reservoir has been stocked with trout as well as warm water species. Other fish species in the reservoir include largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegill, common carp, channel catfish, black and white crappie and walleye.

Entrance area to the Dog Off Leash Area at Cherry Creek State Park (photo courtesy of CPW)

AURORA, Colo. – The heavily used dog off leash area at Cherry Creek State Park – a popular spot for dog owners that sees over one million visitors of the two- and four-legged kind a year – will be temporarily closing Oct. 11-15 so park staff can conduct needed maintenance and enhancement work. 

This is the third time that the dog off leash area will be closed. It was also closed in October of 2020 and 2019 for four days. This allows for staff and contractors to conduct work on the natural resources and trails while improving access for all visitors. 

“We are dedicated to being active caretakers of this highly valued public land,” said Park Manager Jason Trujillo. “It has gotten to the point where it is so busy down there we can’t get any work done without interrupting the experiences of visitors and this maintenance work cannot be conducted safely while the area is open.”

In 2021, the dog off leash area has continued to experience very high visitation and use. The dog park offers a great outlet for the public dealing with the stresses of our times. The staff, volunteers and partners of Colorado Parks and Wildlife are dedicated to the long term protection and preservation of this resource.  

“It is hard to have a sustainable resource when it is so heavily used,” Trujillo said. “The work we are doing will be a balance of resource protection and additional improvements. We appreciate the patience of our visitors during the brief period the dog off leash area will close.”

Improvements this year will include the addition of concrete to improve access from the parking lot to the entry to the dog off leash area, temporary fencing that will allow reseeding of native grasses to flourish and for weeds to be managed, resurfacing of the trails, restriping of the parking lot at 12 mile south and a new message board at the entrance station. 

The trail work will consist of contractors adding crusher fine gravel to elevate the trail and assist with erosion control concerns. 

Park staff will be looking at this type of major maintenance work twice a year – once in the fall and once in the spring. If anyone wishes to volunteer to help with this project, they can contact the park by calling 303-766-6562.

DENVER – The Colorado Rockies announced today that they have agreed to terms with first baseman C.J. Cron on a two-year contract that covers the 2022-23 seasons, and have agreed to terms with right-handed pitcher Antonio Senzatela on a five-year contract that covers the 2022-26 seasons with an option for the 2027 season.

 

Cron, 31, batted .281 (132-for-470) with 31 doubles, one triple, 28 home runs, 92 RBI, 60 walks, a .375 on-base percentage and a .530 slugging percentage in 142 games with the Rockies in 2021, after signing as a Minor League free agent on Feb. 15, 2021 … ranked ninth in the National League and led the Rockies in slugging percentage and OPS (.905) … also led the Rockies in home runs, RBI and walks, while setting a franchise record with three grand slams … from June 14 through the end of the season, ranked second in the NL with 74 RBI and tied for fifth with 23 home runs … was named the National League Player of the Month in August after leading the NL in batting average (.387), home runs (11) and RBI (34) … in eight Major League seasons with Los Angeles-AL (2014-17), Tampa Bay (2018), Minnesota (2019), Detroit (2020) and Colorado (2021), the Fullerton, Calif., native has slashed .261/.323/.475 with 741 hits, 154 doubles, seven triples, 146 home runs, 465 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 208 walks in 828 career games.

 

Senzatela, 26, went 4-10 with a 4.42 ERA (156.2 IP, 77 ER), 32 walks and 105 strikeouts in 28 starts in 2021 … set career highs in starts, innings pitched and strikeouts … posted a quality start in eight of his final 10 starts of the season, going 2-2 with a 3.90 ERA (57.2 IP, 25 ER) over that span … among NL pitchers with at least 150 innings pitched, ranked second with 19 ground ball double plays, third with a 1.84 walks-per-nine-innings, and fifth with a 51.8 ground ball percentage … over the past two seasons his 4.11 ERA (230.0 IP, 105 ER) leads all Rockies starters … in his career at Coors Field, has gone 24-12 with a 4.65 ERA, a .667 home winning percentage that ranks as the second-highest by a Rockies starter in franchise history … originally signed by the Rockies as a non-drafted international free agent, the Valencia, Venezuela native has gone 36-35 with a 4.84 ERA (579.2 IP, 312 ER), 184 walks and 393 strikeouts in 124 career games (98 starts).

Event highlights October as Colorado Pedestrian Month

DENVER – Walk to School Day is Wednesday, Oct. 6, a day devoted to promoting and practicing pedestrian and road safety among classmates, families, and caregivers. 

Established in 1997, Colorado Walk to School Day is part of the International Walk to School Day program, when children from more than 40 countries walk to school on the same day. Throughout the state, more than 150 schools participate every year.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need and demand for streets, crosswalks, and public spaces that support walking, biking, and rolling.

Additional resources and ideas are available on the CDOT’s Safe Routes to School website at https://www.codot.gov/programs/bikeped/safe-routes.

Colorado State Patrol Launches a Weekly Social Series this October with Driving Tips

(COLORADO) – Scary driving scenarios happen to everyone at some point. The question comes down to, how will you handle it?

The Colorado State Patrol wants to reduce or remove anxiety behind the wheel in five unique, but not uncommon driving situations. Beginning Saturday evening, October 2 and every Saturday after in October, Trooper Josh Lewis will walk motorists through a “spooky” scenario and some practical ways to approach it.

1. Oct 2: What Do You Do if You Have a Flat Tire/Blowout?
2. Oct 9: What to Do When Someone Has Their High Beams On, Blinding You?
3. Oct 16: What Do You Do When You See a Live Animal in the Road?
4. Oct 23: How Do You Handle an Aggressive Driver?
5. Oct 30: What Should You Do When CSP is Behind You?

Join us on Colorado State Patrol’s social media pages this October to take the spooky out of driving! Join us on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or Facebook.