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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

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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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  • THIS SATURDAY: VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS TO DELIVER REMARKS AT COLORADO DEMS’ ANNUAL GALA

    THIS SATURDAY: VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS TO DELIVER REMARKS AT COLORADO DEMS’ ANNUAL GALA

    Denver, CO – Vice President Kamala Harris will deliver pre-recorded remarks this Saturday at the Colorado Democratic Party’s 4th Annual Obama Gala (April 24 @ 5:00PM MT).

    The first woman, the first Black American, and the first South Asian American to be elected Vice President joins a line-up of national speakers for the Colorado Democratic Party’s virtual gala that is both a celebration of Democrats’ 2020 victories and a rallying cry to protect those victories in 2022.

    Morgan Carroll, Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party:

    “It is a profound honor to welcome the Vice President to the Obama Gala, and I know that our guests will be so excited to hear from Vice President Kamala Harris this Saturday. Colorado was critical to both electing President Joe Biden and Vice President Harris to the White House and flipping the U.S. Senate majority into Democratic hands. As we’ve seen over the past few months, they have been hard at work to build our country back better, delivering on sweeping relief for the American people through the American Rescue Plan and looking to revitalize our nation’s infrastructure through the American Jobs Plan. I am thrilled that we have such a rich line-up of speakers for our guests this Saturday, and I know they will come away fired up and ready to keep Colorado blue.”

    Vice President Kamala Harris was born in Oakland, California to parents who emigrated from India and Jamaica. She graduated from Howard University and the University of California, Hastings College of Law.

    Vice President Harris and her sister, Maya Harris, were primarily raised and inspired by their mother, Shyamala Gopalan. Gopalan, a breast cancer scientist and pioneer in her own right, received her doctorate the same year Vice President Harris was born. 

    Her parents were activists, instilling Vice President Harris with a strong sense of justice. They brought her to civil rights demonstrations and introduced role models—ranging from Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall to civil rights leader Constance Baker Motley—whose work motivated her to become a prosecutor. 

    Growing up, Vice President Harris was surrounded by a diverse community and extended family. In 2014, she married Douglas Emhoff. They have a large blended family that includes their children, Ella and Cole.

     

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  • Check Out State Parks program expands outdoor learning opportunities for spring and summer

    Check Out State Parks program expands outdoor learning opportunities for spring and summer

    DENVER – Looking for ideas to help you plan your next outdoor adventure? Colorado Parks and Wildlife, in partnership with the Colorado State Library, offers the Check Out State Parks program to help Coloradans visit state parks at no cost and experience everything the great outdoors has to offer.

    Over 300 Colorado libraries are participating in the Check Out State Parks program, including all public libraries, three military base libraries and publically funded academic libraries. The program was also expanded this year to include the Colorado Talking Book Library and all the Colorado Mountain College campuses. A new Colorado Birds Guide was also added to the backpack.

    The program is available statewide, makes Colorado state parks easily accessible and provides a backpack filled with educational materials that recommend a range of outdoor activities to help you decide how you want to spend your time in nature.

    Local libraries offer at least one and usually two backpacks available for check out. Each backpack contains the following:

    • Colorado State Park Pass for free park entry (hang tag)
    • Your Guide to Colorado’s State Parks
    • An activity ideas list
    • Binoculars (optional)
    • Leave No Trace – Outdoor Ethics Card
    • Educational materials: Fishing Basics Instruction Sheet, Colorado Trees and Wildflower Guide, Colorado Wildlife Guide, Colorado Birds Guide, and Night Sky Guide.

    These interactive backpacks encourage you to immerse yourself in nature and develop new skills as you explore different landscapes. To reduce the community spread of COVID-19, each educational item in the backpacks is laminated for easy, effective cleaning between uses. 

    Library patrons can check out the backpack and park pass for up to seven days and use it to visit any Colorado state park. Colorado’s 42 state parks are as diverse as the state itself, and they offer something for everyone. 

    For more information on CPW’s educational programs, visit cpw.state.co.us. Learn more about the Care for Colorado- Leave No Trace principles and how to conserve Colorado for generations to come. 

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  • Update Regarding Suspected Police Impersonator

    Update Regarding Suspected Police Impersonator

    (ADAMS COUNTY, COLO) A suspected road rage incident reported to the Colorado State Patrol resulted in an investigation of a possible law enforcement impersonator.

    At approximately 6:31 AM the Colorado State Patrol Denver Dispatch center received a report of a white Crown Victoria speeding eastbound on Highway 36.  A few minutes later a trooper observed the vehicle speeding approximately nine MPH over the speed limit and was able to stop the vehicle near exit 214A on Interstate 25.  The vehicle, a 2009 Ford Crown Victoria, had a push bumper and light bar as well as markings similar to a police vehicle.  The trooper made contact with the driver, a 39-year-old male from Aurora.  The party was wearing dark blue BDU (battle dress uniform) clothing with American Flag patches on the shoulders, body armor, body camera, lanyard with “Aurora Police Department” on it, and numerous items on his belt including a shrouded security badge, firearm, extra magazines, and handcuffs.  Inside the vehicle was a shotgun in a mounted rack, MDC (mobile data computer), cage, dash camera, reflective vest with “Aurora Police Department” written on it, and external spot lights.  The male party provided an “Aurora Police Volunteer” identification.  The party was detained and disarmed while an investigation commenced. 

    Members of the Aurora Police Department were alerted to the situation and confirmed the male as a volunteer but not a police officer.  They removed items from the male party’s possession that were marked “Aurora Police Department.”  Based on the circumstances and available evidence, it was determined there was insufficient evidence the male party violated Colorado Revised Statute 18-8-112, “Impersonating a Peace Officer.”  He was warned and subsequently released, however, the case remains open.

    Because the party has not been charged with a crime, his name will not be made public.

    While rare, if a member of the public believes they are being stopped by a law enforcement impersonator, the best course of action is to: safely slow their vehicle and indicate you know you are being stopped, such as activating emergency hazard lights; call 911 and indicate you are being stopped by someone you believe to be a police impersonator, answering the questions posed by the dispatcher to get information as quickly as possible; drive to a well-lit, public location; follow the instructions of the dispatcher. 

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  • Department of Natural Resources Announces April Meeting of Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board

    The Colorado Department of Natural Resources announced the April meeting of the Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board (Board). The Board was established by Governor Jared Polis to evaluate proposals concerning name changes, new names, and name controversies of geographic features and certain public places in the State of Colorado and then making official recommendations to the Governor. 

    The April evening meeting will continue the orientation of the board, including finalizing its decision making processes. Additionally, the Board will consider a deliberative process on two renaming requests, US Board on Geographic Names (USBGN) Cases 5054 and 5055.  Both involve renaming reservoirs in San Miguel County in Southwest Colorado. Background information on these two renaming proposals can be found here. 

    WHO: Members of the Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board

    WHAT:  April meeting of the Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board

    WHEN: Monday, April 19, 2021, 5 PM to 7 PM

    WHERE: Find zoom contact info at:  https://dnr.colorado.gov/initiatives/colorado-geographic-naming-advisory-board

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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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  • Plant Trees to Celebrate Arbor Day in Colorado

    Plant Trees to Celebrate Arbor Day in Colorado

    FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Spring is an ideal time to plant trees in Colorado, when new trees have the best chance of getting established. It is also the time of year Coloradans celebrate Arbor Day and recognize the importance of trees in their communities.

    With Colorado Arbor Day this Friday, April 16 and National Arbor Day on Friday, April 30, the Colorado State Forest Service is encouraging residents and communities to plant and celebrate trees.

    “Trees in our communities provide many benefits to residents, such as shade, lower energy costs, natural beauty and color, cleaner air and water, habitat for birds and critters, and much more,” said Dana Coelho, Urban and Community Forestry Program Manager for the CSFS. “When you plant a tree, you are planting for the future. When you care for your new tree, you are ensuring these benefits come to fruition and persist. That is what Arbor Day is all about – hope for the future – so get out there, celebrate trees in your community, and plant a tree where you live, work, learn or play.”

    Aside from planting at this great time of year, Coloradans should be sure they are planting the right tree species for the right location. Trees stand a much better chance of survival when the location, topography, climate, soil and the tree’s eventual height and canopy spread are considered, Coelho said. In addition, residents should select and plant trees adapted to the environmental conditions where they live in the state, so newly planted trees are tolerant to drought, extreme temperatures and other factors.

    “Careful planning is necessary when selecting a tree to plant. Trees are a long-term investment – many trees will outlive the person who planted them,” Coelho said. “It is also important to plant a variety of trees in our communities. A diversity of trees will increase the resiliency of a community’s forest, so it remains healthy even if an insect, like the emerald ash borer, attacks a particular species or genus of tree.”

    Tree-Planting Tips

    The following tips are for trees suited for communities and urban settings. They apply to large container or balled-and-burlap trees. For tips on planting seedling trees suited for wildland forests, please visit the CSFS Seedling Tree Nursery.

    Also, remember to call 811 a few business days before digging to request the approximate location of buried utilities so you don’t unintentionally dig into an underground utility line.

    • Dig a hole 2-3 times the diameter of the root ball of the tree being planted and no deeper than the root ball. Use a shovel to measure the depth of your planting hole. When planted, the top of the root ball should be slightly above ground level. The root collar (flare) must be visible 1 inch above final grade after planting; trees planted too deep will drown.
    • For balled-and-burlap trees, remove the bottom portion of the wire basket. Slowly place the tree in the premeasured hole, being careful not to fracture the root ball. Remove the rest of the wire basket. Remove any remaining wire and twine, then peel back and remove as much of the burlap as possible. For large container trees, completely remove the container. It is important to remove the entire wire basket or container, as these materials can damage root development.
    • Set the root ball on solid ground in the hole and not on loose backfill; this eliminates settling.
    • After the root ball is in the hole, check to confirm that the root flare (the flare where the trunk meets the root) is visible. You may have to pull back some of the dirt from the root ball.
    • Backfill the hole with the original soil. Adding peat moss, manure or fertilizer to the soil in the planting hole is not necessary and not recommended. Too much added nutrients can cause a “potted tree” effect and restrict root growth.
    • Place mulch 3-4 inches deep and at least as wide as the planting hole, but do not mulch within 3-6 inches from the trunk of the tree. This will protect roots, hold soil moisture, reduce weed growth and provide a protective strip to eliminate mechanical damage from lawnmowers and weed-eaters. Porous landscape cloth may be placed between the soil and the mulch, but do not use plastic and do not bury the root flare. Keep grass and weeds out of mulched areas as they compete for the same water and nutrient resources as the new tree.
    • If necessary, stake the tree to keep the root ball from shifting in strong winds. The main tree stem must be able to sway. If it is too rigid, root and stem growth will be adversely affected.
    • Use wide straps to tie trees to stakes. Do not use wire, string, rope or rubber hose around a tree. These structures can girdle or “strangle” a growing tree.
    • Remove stakes and straps after roots are established, usually after one or two growing seasons.
    • Keep soil moist but not saturated. Irrigation is necessary, especially during the heat of summer (water in the early morning or at dusk) and in dry winters (take care not to freeze your pipes).

    Optimal periods for planting trees in Colorado are spring (March 15 to June 15) and fall (Sept. 1 to Oct. 15), when outdoor temperatures are not so extreme.

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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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  • State adds percentage of residents vaccinated by county to vaccine data dashboard

    State adds percentage of residents vaccinated by county to vaccine data dashboard

    Today, the state updated its COVID-19 vaccine data dashboard to reflect the percentage of residents at least partially vaccinated or fully vaccinated by county. This new data supplements current county level data regarding doses distributed and doses administered to provide a more comprehensive snapshot of vaccination progress by county.

    The two new data tabs and their definitions are:

    1+ Vaccination Rate: the percentage of people who have received at least one dose of any COVID-19 vaccine. This includes people who have received at least one dose of Pfizer, Moderna, or Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine. If an individual has received more than one dose, they will also be counted in the Up-to-Date Vaccination Rate. This data is based on the immunized person’s county of residence as listed in the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS).

    Up-to-Date Vaccination Rate: the percentage of people who have received at least two doses of either Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or who have received at least one dose of Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccine. Any individual with a second dose administered on a different day than the initial dose will be counted as receiving two doses. These individuals are also counted in the 1+ Vaccination Rate data. This data is based on the immunized person’s county of residence as listed in the Colorado Immunization Information System (CIIS). 

    Continue to stay up to date by visiting covid19.colorado.gov.

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