outdoors

Beginning Dec. 5, Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists will be flying at low levels throughout the state's southeast region in order to get a bearing on how deer and elk populations are progressing compared to the agency's desired population models.

West of Interstate 25, flights will start in Lake and Chaffee counties, and will work west into Park and Fremont counties north of Hwy 50, and on in to El Paso and Teller counties, finally, south through Pueblo, Custer, Huerfano and Las Animas counties.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials are asking for the public's help in solving an exceptionally disturbing poaching case that occurred in the southwest corner of Kit Carson County. 

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is searching for information on who might have shot 11 big game animals over a two-night period in November. 

Nine antelope and two white-tail deer were shot and left to rot south of the town of Seibert, Colo. 

A $5000 reward is being offered to anyone that can provide information that leads to a conviction in this case. 

By Bob Garver

Much has been made of Disney's hot streak in 2016. They've already had hits with "Zootopia;" "The Jungle Book;" "Captain America: Civil War;" "Finding Dory;" and "Doctor Strange," plus "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story" is set to dominate the Christmas box office. Now here comes "Moana," and it's the best one yet.

Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site has changed to its winter for the season. The park will be open Monday through Friday, 9:00 am through 4:00 pm and closed Saturday and Sunday. This schedule will remain in effect through March 31, 2017. 

The park will be closed in observance of the Christmas (Sunday and Monday, December 25-26) and New Year's Day Holidays (Sunday and Monday, January 1-2).

Arkansas River Headwaters

Superintendent Alexa Roberts and the staff of Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site cordially invite you to attend a Holiday Open House on Monday, December 5, 2016, at the park administration office located at 910 Wansted Street, Eads, CO.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is asking that anyone with information concerning two separate Salida-area poaching incidents come forward.

On November 19, around 11:00 a.m., near Ute Heights off of county road 178, a deer was shot and loaded into what is believed to be a black or charcoal Nissan Titan or Toyota Tundra by three males. One man was wearing a white T-shirt and the two others were in dark clothing. The vehicle was last seen driving toward U.S. Forest Service Rd. 175 and the intersection into Pinon Hills. 

By Bob Garver

Tree failure is a major cause of residential property damage and the leading cause of power outages nationwide. There are many ways a tree can fail: an ice storm can overload all the branches on a tree, a hurricane or high wind can blow down a tree if its roots are compromised, or a cracked tree can fail under its own weight.

"Homeowners who are worried about trees falling and damaging property should call a professional arborist for an on-site inspection," advises Tchukki Andersen, CTSP, BCMA*, staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association.

Entry to all 42 Colorado state parks is free on Nov. 25 for a new Colorado Parks and Wildlife tradition called #FreshAirFriday. Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers this opportunity to those who have signed the pledge to head outside on the day after Thanksgiving. More than 50 retailers in Colorado and nationwide are closing their doors on Black Friday and multiple states are urging people to go outside instead of joining the rush inside to shop this year.