San Juan National Forest fire officials are warning that continued dry conditions in Southwestern Colorado mean that fire danger is a concern. In late November, a man target shooting with incendiary ammunition on private property adjacent to National Forest lands started a fire north of Durango that quickly grew to 60 acres near Electra Lake north of Durango. Fuel moistures are even drier now as we approach the end of December.
When it comes to rescuing and preserving our endangered species, Colorado Parks and Wildlife staffers will trek to all corners of the state, day and night, good weather and bad, to fulfill their mission.
That was the case December 13 as a CPW team from Denver and Colorado Springs drove hours to the far southeast edge of the state to make sure four black-footed ferrets were carefully and properly deposited in new burrows as part of the agency's ongoing efforts to rebuild a population twice thought to be extinct.
Beginning December 9, Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists will assess deer and elk populations by taking low-altitude helicopter flights in southeast Colorado, west of Interstate 25.
Colorado is sending 17 fire engines to support California wildfire operations. The request was made Tuesday through the National Interagency Resource Ordering and Status System.
The engines and crews left the state Wednesday, and will support firefighting efforts in southern California. They are traveling to Chino, California, where they will then be assigned to specific locations and tasks. The Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control expects a second group of fire engines may also deploy to California later in the week.
After a thorough review of the best-available scientific and commercial information, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced that the white-tailed prairie dog is not currently in danger of extinction and is not likely to become in danger of extinction within the foreseeable future. Consequently, the Service has released a 12-month finding stating that the species is not warranted for listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) at this time.
Winter in Colorado, as we all know, means a hodge-podge of weather: snow, mud, wind and a lot of sunshine.
While Colorado's crazy winter weather makes it a challenge to dress appropriately each day, the muddy, snowy conditions actually are ideal for one of my favorite hobbies: looking for and identifying animal tracks.
Every animal leaves tracks, or something else, behind for us to discover. Looking for the clues and identifying them is fun.
Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site will mark 153 years since the attack by US troops on a group of Cheyenne and Arapaho camped on the Big Sandy Creek in 1864. Three free commemorative programs will be offered Wednesday, November 29, 2017, two at the park and one at the Crow-Luther Cultural Events Center in Eads.
Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site
Thanksgiving marks the beginning of the busy holiday season, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife urges you to step away from the hustle and bustle this time of year can bring. November 24, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) invite you to connect with family and friends by getting outside and celebrating Fresh Air Friday.
Throughout Colorado deer are in the midst of their mating season and Colorado Parks and Wildlife is reminding residents to take precautions to avoid conflicts.
"Buck deer can be aggressive and lose their usual wariness of people at this time of year,"
said Patt Dorsey, southwest regional manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
State Highway 82 over Independence Pass was closed mid-morning Friday and will remain closed until the spring of 2018.
The pass rises to an elevation of 12,095 feet on the border of Lake and Pitkin counties, and is the highest paved road over the Continental Divide in the United States.
