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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

Category: Local News

  • Air Guard night flights now underway

    AURORA — Residents of Aurora and neighboring communities can expect to see and hear F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft overhead later than usual while the 140th Wing, Colorado Air National Guard, conducts supplemental night flying training through Nov. 17.
    Jets will conduct training missions and land back at Buckley Space Force Base as late as 10 p.m.
    “Implementing our flying mission sets at night is critical to maintaining our readiness and effectiveness in support of our nation’s defense,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Christopher Southard, commander, 140th Wing. “We understand that the increase in noise can be disruptive to our local communities. We appreciate the continued support and seek to have minimal impact by flying during the winter months when hours of darkness begin earlier in the evening.”
    According to a release, training gained from the exercises will significantly improve the 140th Wing’s ability to prepare and respond to contingency operations around the world. The 140th’s real-world mission and emergency response capability will take priority over training actions.
  • Cut your own Christmas tree at Golden Gate Canyon State Park; applications open Nov. 1

    Cut your own Christmas tree at Golden Gate Canyon State Park; applications open Nov. 1

    Golden Gate Canyon State Park will offer 250 tree-cutting permits in 2022. Applications for these randomly drawn permits open on Nov. 1. This year’s tree-cutting event is Saturday, December 3.

    GOLDEN, Colo. – Don’t miss your chance to visit a beautiful Colorado State Park and pick out the perfect Christmas tree to take home for the holidays. Located just 30 minutes from Denver, Golden Gate Canyon State Park is offering 250 tree-cutting permits through an online application draw event.

    The entry period for the permit draw will be open from Nov. 1-15, and only one permit will be granted per household. The cost for a permit is $35. Those wishing to apply for a permit can find the application and entry information by following the link on the Golden Gate Canyon State Park page or at cpwshop.com. Applications are not available or accepted by phone or in person.

    Applicants whose names are randomly drawn will be notified by email the week of Nov. 15. On Saturday, Dec. 3, applicants chosen for a permit can visit the park between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to choose and cut their tree.

    Areas for both 2-wheel and 4-wheel drive vehicles will be available, and some hiking will be required. Permit holders with high clearance 4-wheel drive vehicles can use the pre-selected backcountry area and, in the case of bad weather, must have chains available for use. Access to the backcountry area will be open from 9 a.m. through 2 p.m. – weather permitting. All other vehicles will be required to stay in the designated parking areas along the main park roadway. Access to these areas will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. All vehicles must display a daily or annual parks pass.

    Trees must be cut with hand tools, such as a handsaw or an ax. Chainsaws and power saws are strictly prohibited. Tree selections include Douglas Fir, Ponderosa Pine, Lodge Pole Pine and Rocky Mountain Juniper.

    By cutting trees, permit holders will assist Golden Gate Canyon State Park in thinning overcrowded and dense vegetation. This selective thinning will improve the overall health of the forest and reduce the impacts of future wildfires.

    For additional information on Golden Gate Canyon State Park, visit cpw.state.co.us.

  • Additional invasive zebra mussels found at Highline Lake State Park

    Additional invasive zebra mussels found at Highline Lake State Park

    LOMA, Colo. – CPW staff has discovered the presence of additional invasive zebra mussels at Highline Lake located at Highline Lake State Park north of Loma, Colorado. The discovery comes following increased testing after CPW found a single adult zebra mussel on an artificial PVC substrate in the lake during routine invasive species sampling on Sept. 14.

    The discovery of additional invasive mussels in the water is indicative of an established population in the reservoir and has prompted CPW to change the status of the body of water from “Suspect” to “Infested.” This is the first time a body of water has been categorized as infested with zebra mussels in the state of Colorado. 

    There is currently no boating on the lake because Highline Lake closes to all surface-water activities for the season annually on October 1. 

    “Thanks to Colorado’s robust early detection sampling and monitoring program, we were able to make this discovery,” said CPW Acting Director Heather Dugan. “As more and more people use our water resources for boating, we must continue to work tirelessly to prevent the spread of these harmful invasive species.”

    The State of Colorado requires boats to be professionally inspected if:

    • a boat has been in any body of water that is positive, or suspect for ANS
    • a boat has been in any body of water outside of Colorado
    • a boat will be entering any water body where inspections are required

    Boats exiting infested waters that are not cleaned, drained, and dry are subject to mandatory decontamination requirements.

    The establishment of invasive species can lead to millions of dollars in damages to water-based infrastructure, impact water quality and limit recreational opportunity. CPW’s invasive species experts are evaluating next steps and will have more to communicate on the actions it is taking at Highline Lake at a later date. 

    Please help CPW stop the movement of harmful invasive species, such as zebra mussels, into new waters. Public awareness and participation is the best weapon in the prevention of invasive species. 

    Please visit the CPW website for more information about zebra and quagga mussels.

  • CDPHE to shift to weekly monkeypox data reporting updates

    STATEWIDE (October 25, 2022) — Starting Wednesday, October 26, 2022, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment will report all monkeypox data on a weekly basis. All monkeypox data will move to this new weekly reporting schedule, including case counts, vaccine administration, and available demographic information for cases and vaccine recipients. All data will now update at 4 p.m. on Wednesdays.


    “Thanks to the work of Coloradans, health care providers, and local public health and community partners across the state, monkeypox case numbers declined to a point where it makes sense to move to weekly reporting,” said Scott Bookman, director, Division of Disease Control and Public Health Response. “With smaller daily case counts, weekly updates will help us better capture and display meaningful trends in the data while we continue to reach higher-risk Coloradans with information about monkeypox and opportunities for free and convenient vaccination.”


    Coloradans can learn more about monkeypox on the CDPHE website, including information on how to access testing and vaccines.

    Continue to stay up to date by visiting cdphe.colorado.gov/monkeypox.

  • Voting centers opening for General Election

    Many Arapahoe County voter service and polling stations (VSPCs) opened on Monday, Oct. 24. 

    Deputy Director of Elections Peg Perl encouraged voters to return ballots or vote in person early to avoid potentially long waits as Election Day nears.

    “We expect the longest waits to be on final Election Day,” Perl said. “Voting early gives you the peace of mind that your ballot is in and you won’t miss your chance to be heard.”

    Voters can visit a VSPC to request a replacement mail ballot, vote in person, and register to vote or update their registration. Four centers also offer curbside ballot pickup for voters on the go who need a ballot.

    Voters can also use accessible voting equipment like audio ballots, tablets with large font ballots, and input jacks to connect to assistive equipment, such as sip and puff devices, paddles or a four-direction joystick. 

    Multilingual voters also have options to help them cast a ballot. Beginning this year, Spanish-speaking voters will be able to use live ballots in Spanish. There’s also a new, statewide translation hotline to translate ballot content, in addition to the interpretation service the County maintains to assist citizens with questions about voter registration.

    All voters casting a ballot in person must provide an acceptable form of ID.

    The Elections Division will manage a total of 32 VSPCs, all across the County, this election cycle, opening in three phases:

    • Phase 1: Oct. 24—Nov. 8. 
    • Phase 2: Nov. 4—Nov. 8. 
    • Phase 3: Nov. 7—Nov. 8.
    • All VSPCs are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., M—F to November 7, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, November 8.
    • Phase 1 and Phase 2 VSPCs will also be open, Saturday, Nov. 5, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

  • Arapahoe County Human Services seeks Thanksgiving food drive contributions

    LITTLETON — More than 400 vulnerable children, their families and individuals served by Arapahoe County Human Services will be on a list to receive a Thanksgiving meal of donated food this year.
    Every year, Human Services staff brings complete Thanksgiving meals to hundreds of clients and their loved ones who would otherwise go without on the holiday. Weeks of preparation and collections of canned goods, gift cards for turkeys, and additional non-perishable items are then distributed door to door by staff, volunteer family members, and others.
    Human Services has partnered with Brave Church in Englewood to coordinate deliveries across the county.
    “This is an incredible effort that brings so many of our vulnerable families joy as they are able to prepare a complete Thanksgiving meal with their loved ones,” said Kala Slater, community outreach supervisor for Human Services.
    Qualifying families/individuals are referred to the program by Human Services staff. While donations adequately fulfilled requests for many years, the growing list of families referred to the program during the pandemic has opened opportunities for outside donations.
    Monetary gifts are also accepted.
    In 2021, the program fed 315 families with a total of 1,524 people.
    What to Donate
    The following non-perishable items will be collected through Oct. 27. Participants can donate a complete meal, certain items on the list, or gift cards so that families can purchase a turkey or other essentials.
    Complete meals
    • 1 large box of instant mashed potatoes
    • 1 large box of stuffing
    • 2 cans of green beans
    • 2 cans of corn
    • 2 cans of fruit
    • 1 large box of Jell-O or pudding
    • 1 large can of yams
    • 1 packet of turkey gravy mix
    • 1 can of cranberry sauce
    • 1 box of cornbread mix
    • $25 gift card for turkey or ham to King Soopers, Safeway or Walmart
    • 1 large reusable grocery bag to carry complete meals
    Extras
    Snack-size items such as granola bars, squeeze apple sauce, crackers to support those without a kitchen.
    Drop Off Locations
    The following drop-off locations are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday:
    Human Services Department at CentrePoint Plaza, 14980 E. Alameda Drive, second floor reception, Aurora;
    Human Service satellite office at Arapahoe Plaza, 1690 W. Littleton Blvd., second floor reception, Littleton;
    Arapahoe County Administration Building, 5334 S. Prince St., Littleton, first floor lobby by the information desk; and
    Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office, 13101 E. Broncos Parkway, mail lobby, Centennial.
  • Widespread snow unfolds across Northwest, Rockies

    Widespread snow unfolds across Northwest, Rockies

    “As a strong cold front moves through, the jet stream will quickly sink out of Canada and well south of the region, allowing polar air to spill southward and eastward,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Mike LeSeney explained.

    AccuWeather Global Weather Center – October 24, 2022 –A potent storm has started a big change for many in the western United States, bringing cold air and the first accumulating snow of the season for many spots.

    In recent days, much of the Northwest and northern Rockies have felt more like late summer rather than autumn. This past Thursday, temperatures reached the 70s Fahrenheit in Spokane, Washington and soared to around 80 degrees in cities like Bend, Oregon, and Reno, Nevada, temperatures that are more than 15 degrees above normal for October.

    Following the warmth, chill has swept the area.

    The arrival of this storm sent temperatures plunging for the start of the past weekend across the Northwest. High temperatures were in the 40s and 50s through Sunday. Conditions deteriorated Saturday night and, by Sunday morning, snow stretched from Canada to Utah and Colorado.

    “The storm is forecast to strengthen early week, allowing for snow to fill in and for strong winds to develop,” said AccuWeather Meteorologist Brandon Buckingham.

    As colder air packed with this moisture from the Pacific rolls southeastward over the Rockies and helps to fuel the storm over the Plains, freezing levels will lower over the mountainous terrain. This drop in temperature will allow rain to change to snow over the ridges and peaks and intermediate elevations through Monday.

    As of Sunday evening, the highest snow total came from the mountains around Alta, Utah, which recorded 20 inches. Several other mountain locations reported over a foot of snow including Brighton, Utah, and Big Sky, Montana.

    The stormy weather will come with some notable hazards, especially for travel. Motorists should expect delays along with the possibility of road closures, including portions of interstates 70, 80, 90 and 94 and possibly along a stretch of Canada’s Highway 1 in the provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan due to the snow.

    This could be especially true across the lower elevations of the northern Plains. While the amount of snow may be limited, a narrow area of heavy snow is likely. Blizzard conditions may occur in a part of this region where high winds combine with snow to reduce the visibility to 1/4 mile or less.

    Widespread snow unfolds across Northwest, Rockies (Full Story) >>

  • NATIONAL COUNCIL OF YOUTH SPORTS AND NBC SPORTS NEXT’S SPORTSENGINE TEAM UP TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL YOUTH SPORTS WEEK 2022

    Weeklong Celebration Chock Full of Virtual Learning and Fun Activities for All Families, Volunteers and Professionals Who Support Youth Sports

     

    National Youth Sports Week Will Culminate with an In-Person ‘Play Day’ in Atlanta, Hosted by

    Olympic Champion Sanya Richards-Ross

     

     

    Oct. 21, 2022 – Honoring young athletes and the organizations that serve them, the National Council of Youth Sports – through a collaboration with youth sports technology leader, SportsEngine – will host National Youth Sports Week, Oct. 24-29, dedicated to educating and inspiring parents, coaches, volunteers, and administrators.

     

    The six-day celebration will incorporate both virtual and live events, which will promote topics including the importance of child safety, excellence in coaching, and health & wellness. Each day will be themed with content and activities presented in partnership with NBC Sports Next’s SportsEngine, TrueSport, Positive Coaching Alliance, National Center for Safety Initiatives, and LakePoint Sports. The event is free and open to the public.

     

    “National Youth Sports Week is an unprecedented initiative to Mobilize our country in collective impact, Engage more young people physically, and Communicate youth sports benefits and how they help to create a healthier society,” said Wayne Moss, National Council of Youth Sports Executive Director. “Safety is foundational to the youth sports experience and protecting young people should be our collective top priority.”

     

    National Youth Sports Week agenda includes both virtual and live events, including learning webinars, award nominations, tip sessions for coaches & administrators, ideas & checklists for families, and participation activities. Additionally, SportsEngine will host a special edition of For the Love of Sport podcast focusing on information and resources about keeping young athletes safe.

     

    Monday, Oct. 24

    NCYS will kick off the week’s activities by sharing insight and information about the Children’s Bill of Rights in Sports. Attendees will be encouraged to share what they have learned on social media, using the hashtag #nationalyouthsportsweek.

     

    Tuesday, Oct. 25

    Coaches Day by Positive Coaching Alliance will provide tips about how to be an effective coach, as well as opportunities to sign up as a volunteer. Also offered will be a coaching webinar, titled “Develop Winners in Life Through Sports,” as well as access to select courses within the PCA’s curriculum. Training also will be made available courtesy of the CoachSafely Foundation.

     

    Wednesday, Oct. 26

    Athlete Health & Wellness Day by TrueSport will highlight tools, resources and content that support a healthy athlete in body and mind. Learn about nutrition and habits that promote good mental health.

     

    Thursday, Oct. 27

    Sport Safety Day by NCSI (National Center for Safety Initiatives) will promote the importance of safety on and off the field through background screening, abuse prevention and training, concussion awareness, and more. The day will culminate with a live webinar, bringing industry leaders from the U.S. Center for SafeSport, USA Lacrosse, and USA Artistic Swimming to discuss The Future of Safety (in youth sports). The panel will begin at 2 p.m. ET. Registration is open to all organizations, administrators, volunteers, coaches, and parents.

     

    Friday, Oct. 28

    Spirit Day by SportsEngine provides an opportunity for athletes, coaches and parents to win prizes by showing their team pride by wearing their team jerseys or spirit wear and sharing it on social media. Also, they can learn about some of sports’ greatest traditions and how to create their own.

     

    Saturday, Oct. 29

    Play Day by NCYS invites youth sports enthusiasts in the greater Atlanta area for an in-person experience at the 1,300-acre LakePoint Sports campus in Emerson, Ga. The day will be hosted by Olympic Champion sprinter Sanya Richards-Ross and will offer participation activities for young athletes and their families in basketball, volleyball, soccer, baseball and futsol.  Joining Richards-Ross will be members from the Harlem Globetrotters and Freddie Falcon from the Atlanta Falcons NFL team.  Richards-Ross also will host an autograph session.

     

    For more information on National Youth Sports Week and to register for various activities throughout the week, visit the event schedule on the SportsEngine website.

     

     

    About National Council for Youth Sports

    The mission of NCYS is to improve the safety and quality of all youth sports organizations through curating and disseminating credible resources. NCYS members comprise many of the Who’s Who in the youth sports industry. The NCYS membership includes national community-based organizations, local unaffiliated community-based organizations, National Governing Bodies, Parks & Recreation Departments and Destination Marketing Organizations. NCYS member organizations serve some 60 million youth registered in organized sports programs in every state and U.S. Territory. Learn more at https://www.ncys.org.

     

    About NBC Sports Next

    NBC Sports Next is a subdivision of NBC Sports and home to all NBCUniversal digital applications in sports and technology within its three groups: Youth & Recreational Sports, Golf, and Betting & Gaming. NBC Sports Next, known for its sports technology product innovation, equips more than 30MM players, coaches, athletes, sports administrators and fans in 40 countries with more than 25 sports solution products, including SportsEngine, a youth sports club, league and team management platform; GolfNow, the leading online tee time marketplace and provider of golf course operations technology and services; GolfPass the ultimate golf membership that connects golfers to exclusive content, tee time credits, coaching, tips and other benefits; TeamUnify, swim team management services; GoMotion, sports and fitness business software solutions; and NBC Sports Edge, a leading platform for fantasy sports information and betting-focused tools. NBC Sports Next is fueled by its mission to innovate, create larger-than-life events and connect with sports fans through technology to provide the ultimate in immersive experiences.

  • Halloween fun for kids, Dachshunds at Treat Street

    Arapahoe County Fairgrounds hosts a day of
    trick-or-treating and Hallo-weenie Races Saturday
    ARAPAHOE COUNTY, CO—Oct. 21, 2022—Kids and families are in for a day of safe trick-or-treating, games and activities as part of Treat Street presented by Orchard at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds, Saturday, Oct. 22, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Attendees wearing a Halloween costume get in free; otherwise, tickets are $10 per person. Kids 2 and under get in free.
    In addition to trick-or-treating stations, the Fairgrounds will offer an animal petting farm, live entertainment, costume contests, pumpkin painting, and food trucks. Also on deck are Hallo-weenie Races, where Dachshunds will race for a chance to win prizes for themselves and their owners.
    Who:                     Arapahoe County
     
    What:                   Treat Street presented by Orchard
     
    When:                  Saturday, Oct. 22, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
                                    Hallo-Weenie Races begin at 2:30 p.m.
     
    Where:                Arapahoe County Fairgrounds and Event Center
                                    25690 E. Quincy Ave., Aurora, CO 80016
     
    Photo
    Opportunities:  Kids and adults in Halloween costumes (all day)
                                    Hallo-Weenie Races (dogs and owners may be in costume) @ 2:30 p.m.
                                    Animal petting farm, food trucks, entertainment

  • CPW asks residents to remove attractants and reduce bear conflicts during the fall season

    Helpful Links:
    Being Bear Aware
    Bearproofing Your Home
    Camping and Hiking In Bear Country

    DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife received 3,614 bear reports from April 1 through Oct. 1, 2022, an increase from the 3,155 reports over the same timeframe the previous year. That number is growing as bears are now in hyperphagia, the period when they are preparing to den for winter and spend up to 20 hours a day on the hunt for 20,000 or more daily calories. 

    Most of the reports involve bears trying to access human food sources and CPW is calling on residents to remove attractants to reduce conflicts and keep you and the bears safe.

    “Bears are biologically driven to pack on calories in preparation for winter and they spend increasing amounts of time looking for the most efficient way to get food,” said Area 8 Wildlife Manager Matt Yamashita, whose region includes Eagle and Pitkin counties. “Residents must realize it is their responsibility to secure their trash, remove other food attractants such as bird feeders, and protect backyard livestock with appropriate electric fencing to avoid conflicts that arise from attracting bears to homes.”

    Bear reports are up statewide in 2022, and there are some areas of concern. CPW’s bear report numbers since the start of hyperphagia indicate the Aspen area is seeing more bear calls this year compared to the last two.

    Bear reports received, Aug. 1 – Sept. 30:
    2020: 1,698 statewide | 242 for Area 8 (Includes Aspen)
    2021: 887 statewide | 224 for Area 8
    2022: 1,571 statewide | 403 for Area 8

    “As usual, trash continues to be the number one attractant leading to reports this year,” Yamashita said. “The solution to controlling these artificial food sources is simple and the ability lies within the decision space of local residents and visitors. Without a change in human behaviors there is not likely to be a significant reduction in conflicts.”

    CPW promotes Bear Aware principles all year long, aiming to minimize interactions that put both humans and bears at risk. Being “Bear Aware” includes easy-to-execute behaviors such as securing trash cans and dumpsters, removing bird feeders, closing garages, cleaning and locking your car and house doors and calling CPW when bears become a nuisance. When you call to report a bear coming near your home, CPW can give you tips tailored to your situation to prevent them from coming around in the future. 

    Drought conditions and other factors that may influence the availability of natural food crops for bears varies across the state, as does the behavior of people when it relates to human-bear interactions. Those all play a role in the bear activity that we see annually. Below is a localized perspective on current bear activity across the state.
    Area 1 – Clear Creek, Gilpin, Park and west side of Jefferson counties
    “In Area 1, we had a good spring with moisture, and didn’t have the hard freeze other places had. Summer was good and had ample precipitation and the vegetation responded favorably. There were places with bumper crops of chokecherries and you would think bear-human conflicts would be down, but unfortunately that was not the case.
     
    “We continue to have issues with hobby livestock operations, mostly chickens, ducks and turkeys left unprotected. A lack of Bear Aware knowledge led to most of the conflicts we saw this year and continuing to spread awareness of best practices in bear country is vital to reducing conflicts. A few people were cited for intentionally luring bears (aka feeding). This is probably one of the most selfish acts people can do to bears. It impacts their neighbors and, most importantly, influences and changes bear behavior. 
     
    “Break-ins to unoccupied cabins and houses were way up in Area 1 and wildlife managers are trying to figure out why. It seems some rural/foothills bears have been habituated to living near humans who are not bear-wise. These bears’ behavior has progressed from wandering near homes, getting into trash/bird feeders, then going on decks to find more bird feeders/pet food, to becoming more habituated and entering houses. Fortunately, most houses that they have broken into have been unoccupied, but it is still a concerning trend.” ~ Mark Lamb, Area 1 Wildlife Manager
     
    Area 2 – Boulder County, Broomfield, the southern portion of Larimer County including Loveland, portions of southwestern Weld County
    “Human-bear interactions have been high this year in Area 2. Trash, bird seed, beehives, livestock, tents, homes/garages, vacation cabins, vehicles and pet food have all been targets. The public should haze bears using whatever methods they are comfortable with (noise, bear spray, water hose, etc.) Make sure to call CPW during business hours, or State Patrol Dispatch after hours (303-239-4501), to report any bear incidents so that we can respond appropriately.” ~ Jason Duetsch, Area 2 Wildlife Manager

    Area 3 – No reported bear activity in northeast Colorado

    Area 4 – Larimer and Weld counties
    “The natural forage for bears in Area 4 was fairly productive this year. Despite that, we did see more bear conflicts with automobiles and houses this year than we were expecting. The communities northwest of Fort Collins and the communities in the foothills experienced a high number of bears entering homes, automobiles, travel trailers and RVs. Fortunately, we did not have a large number of conflicts at campgrounds in the Poudre Canyon. This may be due in part to the U.S. Forest Service instituting regulations pertaining to bear-resistant containers as well as the installation of containers at some campgrounds. We did have several bears in the city of Fort Collins this year. We relocated several bears that were highly visible in neighborhoods and also removed a bear from CSU’s campus. Most of these were younger bears and they were getting into trash cans. Fortunately, we did not have any major issues in terms of conflicts within the city.”~ Jason Surface, Area 4 Wildlife Manager

    Area 5 – Denver Metro Area counties (Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas, Elbert, Jefferson and portions of Broomfield County)
    “Bear activity and human conflict continues to be an issue. Residents should be reminded to secure their trash and not put it out until the morning of trash pickup. Residents are also reminded to close their garage doors, lock their cars and remove bird feeders/hummingbird feeders to prevent bears from becoming habituated to human provided food sources. Drought conditions exist in most of Area 5 and natural food sources for bears remain inconsistent across the area. Residents are also reminded that feeding bears is illegal and creates a public safety issue.” ~ Matt Martinez, Area 5 Wildlife Manager

    Area 6 – Rio Blanco and Moffat counties
    “Area 6 has seen a higher number of human-bear interactions this year than in the past. The conflicts involve mostly younger bears looking for food and getting into the urban interface of their habitat. There was a late, hard freeze in May that has caused a loss of most of the berries and acorns so bears are looking for alternative food sources. Game damage claims with bears killing domestic sheep appears to be high this summer.” ~Bill de Vergie, Area 6 Wildlife Manager

    Area 7 – Grand Junction; Mesa and Garfield counties
    “This year from Fruita to New Castle we have seen more conflicts within town limits. Much of this activity is related to the food failure early this summer. We are seeing bears move into areas that we normally do not have them reported. We’re encouraging everyone to make sure that attractants like trash, bird feeders, and barbecue grills are properly stored to not attract bears. Additionally, residents should secure doors and close garages. If residents see bears in urban areas or have bears creating issues in the rural areas, please reach out to the local CPW office so we can prevent serious problems before they happen.” ~Kirk Oldham, Area 7 Wildlife Manager

    Area 8 – Aspen, Glenwood Springs; Eagle and Pitkin counties
    “Overall, the continued drought cycle has resulted in poor natural food production in most of Area 8. Natural berry and acorn crops were almost non-existent in many areas, similar to the past few couple years. However, bear litter sizes continued to remain high with several sows in the area having three or even four cubs. Considering the lack of natural foods, this indicates to local wildlife managers that supplementary food sources are helping bears circumvent natural control measures that mother nature employs to maintain sustainable populations. It’s no surprise that these supplementary sources continue to be unsecured trash, bird seed and residential fruit trees. As a result, there continues to be a high number of bears inhabiting municipalities across both valleys and a subsequently high number of human-black bear conflicts.” ~ Matt Yamashita, Area 8 Wildlife Manager
     
    Area 9 – Breckenridge, Hot Sulphur Springs and Granby; Grand and Summit counties
    “In Area 9, conflicts are up slightly from last year. We’ve seen a significant increase in unnecessary conflicts with bears in Grand County as result of poor trash management and bird feeding activities despite a decent natural food year. We are thankful that some residents are being responsible and have taken action to live with wildlife, but it ultimately takes a community effort. We continue to ask residents and guests to remove attractants, secure your homes, camp responsibly, and remember to lock your vehicles. It takes everyone doing their part to care for Colorado’s wildlife.” ~ Jeromy Huntington, Area 9 Wildlife Manager 
     
    Area 10 – Steamboat Springs; Jackson and Routt counties
    “In Routt and Jackson counties, we have had fewer reported human-bear interactions, but bear activity has remained steady within the city limits of Steamboat Springs. We are seeing more compliance with people having bear-resistant trash receptacles, but proper use still seems to be an issue. With bears continuing to get an easy meal at many places in town, it is not uncommon to see bears daily in most of our neighborhoods. These habituated bears have not learned a healthy fear of people, which has led to an uptick in bears entering unsecured homes. It is important that CPW is notified as soon as possible when conflicts arise so that we can help with the situation before a bear becomes habituated. In partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, a new community Bear Aware program was initiated last winter that has reached several thousand visitors and locals to help spread the message about the importance of proper etiquette when living and visiting bear country.” ~ Kris Middledorf, Area 10 Wildlife Manager
     
    Area 11 – Pueblo, Trinidad, South-Central Colorado
    “Area 11 is having fewer human-bear interactions this year compared to last even with a significant freeze that occurred throughout the foothills and higher elevations. The late spring snow/freeze impacted acorn production but these impacts seemed to be sporadic and elevation dependent. Great summer precipitation has led to abundant fruit and grass production throughout the area. With bears having an increased utilization of fruit across the landscape, portions of Area 11 have seen an increase in bears being killed by vehicles as they travel to seek out those food sources. The majority of human-bear interactions within the area have been a result of unnecessary conflict due to poor trash management, storage of pet food, and unprotected beehives. Additional conflicts have arisen from leaving doors and windows open in addition to irresponsibly camping in bear country. We ask residents of southern Colorado to secure their trash by utilizing a bear-resistant dumpster. We also ask residents and visitors to lock their cars, secure their homes and remove any attractants to prevent any conflicts with bears. For advice and tips, folks can reach out to local district wildlife managers to help bear-proof their residence.” ~Mike Brown, Area 11 Wildlife Manager

    Area 12 – Las Animas, Baca and Otero counties
    “There have only been a few bear reports in southeast Colorado coming from Las Animas, Baca and Otero County.” ~ Todd Marriott, Area 12 Wildlife Manager.  

    Area 13 – Chaffee, Fremont and Lake Counties 
    “The Upper Arkansas Valley, including the area around Leadville, Buena Vista, Salida and Cañon City, had a late cold snap in the spring. Unfortunately, the cold snap was right when many fruit trees and shrubs were flowering, leading to very little fruit and acorn production as their flowers were lost to the freezing temperatures. The Upper Arkansas Valley did have regular rain throughout the summer and there are pockets of fruit and acorn production, but it is inconsistent. Bear activity has been steady throughout the area and there are still reports of bear issues around homes. We continue to encourage people to remove and minimize attractants around their homes. Attractants include bird feeders, any fallen fruit, and, of course, trash. Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommendations to reduce conflicts with wildlife, including bears, only work if homeowners and visitors consistently follow the suggestions. We have had success educating residents that have had bear problems and have been able to avoid trapping bears this fall.” ~ Sean Shepherd, Area 13 Wildlife Manager

    Area 14 – Colorado Springs, Manitou Springs; El Paso and Teller Counties
    “In the Colorado Springs area, we started out with a lot of conflicts due to the drought. Fortunately in mid-June, we received a lot of rain and have been getting plenty of moisture ever since. This improved the availability of natural food sources and led to a relatively mild year for bear conflicts. The city trash ordinance on the west side of town has helped reduce conflicts over the last few years. We did receive a late freeze in May that may reduce some of the mast crop in the area, so conflicts may go up again as we move into the fall, but only time will tell. We continue to encourage people to keep their garage doors closed and secure all food and scent attractants.” ~ Tim Kroening, Area 14 Wildlife Manager

    Area 15 – Durango
    “Area 15 had an average year for bear conflicts area-wide. Southwest Colorado received good moisture this summer and the availability of natural food sources has been good. The majority of conflicts reported were due to unsecured trash and other outdoor food sources. We would like to remind people to do their part in removing or securing all possible attractants and to work with neighbors or guests in doing the same. A couple of our communities received CPW bear grant funds this year and we are looking forward to these bear conflict mitigation resources being applied to help reduce conflicts in the future. Please continue to report bear conflicts to the local CPW Durango office in a timely manner so that we and other partners can provide assistance in mitigating conflicts before bears become habituated.” ~Adrian Archuleta, Area 15 Wildlife Manager

    Area 16 – Gunnison Basin, North Fork Valley
    “This year in Area 16, our bear conflicts are up compared to 2021. Mast production in the Gunnison Basin was good, but more spotty than last year, and we have continued to experience some bear conflict throughout September. In the North Fork Valley, a late freeze contributed to what appears to be a significant decline in mast crop production, particularly acorns in oakbrush habitats. Other mast species such as chokecherry and serviceberry may have also been impacted by spring cold snaps, and significant bear activity has been reported in and around the communities of Paonia, Hotchkiss, and Cedaredge. Bears will continue to be very active until hibernation, so we strongly encourage all of our local residents to assess their properties and remove potential bear attractants. These include trash, bird feeders, pet food, fruit trees and fruit waste. Homeowners can also help avoid bear conflicts by locking their car doors at night and securing lower-level windows and doors. CPW continues to seek long-term solutions for mitigating bear conflicts across our communities, but in the short-term we ask that the public continue to work with us to ensure that bears stay wild.” ~ Brandon Diamond, Area 16 Wildlife Manager
     
    Area 17 – San Luis Valley
    “It has been a pretty normal year for bear activity in our area. We did have really variable conditions this year. Early on, we had drought conditions. But once we started getting rain, there were available food sources for our bears. Our conflict areas have been the normal areas we usually see in Creede, South Fork and Crestone. We will always have some human-bear issues in those areas because the food is easy to get there and it’s been hard to dissuade those bears in those areas. But once the rains kicked in, it really seemed to help in most places. We’ve had a few problems, but it has been a manageable year and we haven’t had to handle many bears.” ~ Rick Basagoitia, Area 17 Wildlife Manager

    Area 18 – Incorporating Montrose, Delta, Mesa Ouray and San Miguel counties
    “Unfortunately, a late frost impacted many of our natural fruit and mast crops across the area. A long monsoon season brought much-needed moisture during the growing season so grasses and forbs grew well. However, berries, acorns, and nuts are very spotty this year. As fall progresses, we ask for increased diligence in keeping human and bird food sources put away so we don’t lure bears with high-calorie treats they want in preparation for winter.” ~ Rachel Sralla, Area 18 Wildlife Manager

    Become Bear Aware
    Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers a reminder that by taking some simple precautions, you can avoid human/wildlife conflicts and help to keep bears wild. 

    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.
    • Keep garage doors closed.
    • Use a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.
    • 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.
    • Don’t allow bears to become comfortable around your house. If you see one, haze it by yelling at it, throwing things at it and making loud noises to scare it off.
    • Secure compost piles. Bears are attracted to the scent of rotting food.
    • Clean the grill after each use, clean-up thoroughly after cookouts.
    • If you have fruit trees, don’t allow the fruit to rot on the ground.
    • Talk to your neighbors and kids about being Bear Aware.

    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.
    • Keep a clean camp, whether you’re in a campground or in the backcountry.
    • When camping in the backcountry, hang food 100 feet or more from the campsite; don’t bring any food into your tent.
    • Cook food well away from your tent; wash dishes thoroughly.

    Protecting your chickens, bees, livestock:

    • Keep chickens, bees and livestock in a fully covered enclosure, especially at night. 
    • Construct electric fencing when possible.
    • Don’t store livestock feed outside.
    • Keep enclosures clean to minimize animal odors. 
    • Hang rags soaked in ammonia and/or Pine-Sol around the enclosure as a scent deterrent.