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Tag: Parks & Wildlife

While 70% opt out of add-on license plate fees, program collected almost $41 million
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State, The Colorado Sun

While 70% opt out of add-on license plate fees, program collected almost $41 million

By Jason Blevins | The Colorado Sun More than 1.5 million Colorado vehicle owners have delivered more than $40 million to Colorado Parks and Wildlife by including a $29 Keep Colorado Wild Pass as part of their annual registrations.  The first fiscal year of Keep Colorado Wild pass sales ended June 30 with revenue reaching $40.9 million. That unofficial tally — final numbers will be updated by the fall — means that parks, wildlife, backcountry search and rescue volunteers, and avalanche forecasters will get boosts in funding in the coming year.  The Keep Colorado Pass plan that launched in January 2023 adds $29 to every vehicle registration in the state unless owners opt out. The pass provides access to all state parks. The 2021 legislation that created the program hoped ...
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With wolf pup(s) on the ground, state’s wildlife director insists on non-lethal response to livestock killings
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coloradopolitics.com, State

With wolf pup(s) on the ground, state’s wildlife director insists on non-lethal response to livestock killings

By Thelma Grimes | Colorado Politics The chief of Colorado Parks & Wildlife insisted that "non-lethal" means of managing wolves that kill livestock is crucial especially now that the two wolves brought to Colorado have a pup.  "And we believe that there are more pups within the recently named pack," Jeff Davis said in a round of letters in June with Sen. Janice Rich, who questioned whether he is taking the concerns of citizens who are being “impacted by wolf depredation seriously.” "Again," Davis said, "deployment of non-lethal actions will be critical in avoiding and minimizing future interactions between wolves and livestock as well as people." The round of letters confirmed the familiar points of contention between Davis and state policymakers who have criticized th...
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A new rule aids ranchers in killing wolves attacking their livestock at night
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State, The Colorado Sun

A new rule aids ranchers in killing wolves attacking their livestock at night

By Tracy Ross | The Colorado Sun Colorado Parks and Wildlife will allow ranchers to use artificial light to aid in killing wolves caught in the act of attacking their livestock at night.  The change follows a 6-4 vote by the Parks and Wildlife commission at its meeting on June 13. The ruling is significant because wolves generally attack at night, yet ranchers have been unable to shoot them due to a statute that prevents hunters from shooting at an animal after dark and using artificial light.  Currently, livestock owners are allowed to use night vision technology to conduct hazing that doesn’t harm or kill a wolf. They’re also allowed to kill a wolf they catch it attacking livestock in daylight. The new rules gives them added support after dealing with wolv...
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Colorado wildlife officials confirm Grand County wolves have reproduced
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State, The Colorado Sun

Colorado wildlife officials confirm Grand County wolves have reproduced

By The Colorado Sun At least one pup has been born to a pair of wolves transplanted to Colorado from Oregon in December. Colorado Parks and Wildlife on Thursday evening said a gray wolf pup was spotted on June 18 in Grand County but said it is likely as many as five more were born. Biologists tracking location data noted in early April that a female’s collar had stopped uploading GPS coordinates, but then resumed sending data later in the month. This led the biologists to believe she was likely in a den. Though CPW did not release a photo or video footage of the pup, a news release said biologists had observed the area where the female’s collar was transmitting from the air and ground, using remote cameras and public reports. The biologists will continue to observe the denning ...
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In Colorado’s nonlethal wolf deterrent game, its Wolves 3, Cows 0 in one county, and ranchers aren’t pleased
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The Colorado Sun, Western Slope

In Colorado’s nonlethal wolf deterrent game, its Wolves 3, Cows 0 in one county, and ranchers aren’t pleased

By Tracy Ross | Colorado Sun Grand County ranchers say three calves were killed by wolves in the month since they were given $20,000 to hire a range rider to protect their cattle, and they’re demanding more action from Colorado Parks and Wildlife. But CPW says there’s not enough proof to confirm wolves transplanted to Colorado were responsible for more than one of the three dead calves found on May 11 and remains unwilling to kill the large predators, according to ranchers.   The stockgrowers wrote yet another angry letter to CPW director Jeff Davis requesting wolf No. 2309 and wolf No. 2312 be removed from the Williams Fork River Basin. Their request, dated May 23, references a rule in the Colorado Wolf Restoration Plan that lays out certain conditions under which a w...
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One introduced wolf is dead in Colorado as another is likely expecting pups in Grand County
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The Colorado Sun, Western Slope

One introduced wolf is dead in Colorado as another is likely expecting pups in Grand County

By Tracy Ross | The Colorado Sun Just a few hours after U.S. Fish and Wildlife biologists confirmed that one of the 10 gray wolves transplanted to Colorado in December was found dead in Larimer County, the state’s top wildlife official told ranchers he will not kill a wolf blamed for the death of four cows in Grand County because it is likely the mate to a wolf that appears to be denning. Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis on Tuesday said GPS points from the female wolf’s collar indicate that she is likely in a den. In early April, GPS points stopped uploading and very recently those points began to upload again.  “The biological interpretation of this is that she was likely in a den during the time when connectivity with the collar was interrupted, which aligns ...
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Colorado wolves kill 4 more cows in Grand County, increasing livestock losses
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coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado wolves kill 4 more cows in Grand County, increasing livestock losses

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Four more cows have been killed this week by wolves in Grand County. Colorado Parks and Wildlife have not yet confirmed the latest attacks. With the recent attacks, a total of six animals have been killed in April during what is considered to be the heart of calving season. The other two livestock, both calves, were killed in Grand and Jackson counties. Colorado Parks and Wildlife said the producer would be eligible for fair market value compensation if a claim is submitted. More specifically, the calf’s owner can be compensated by the state for the animal’s market value, up to $15,000. READ THE FULL STORY AT COLORADO POLITICS
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‘Time to pay up’: Calf in Grand County was killed by wolf attack, Parks & Wildlife officials confirm
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Western Slope

‘Time to pay up’: Calf in Grand County was killed by wolf attack, Parks & Wildlife officials confirm

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice A calf in Grand County has been killed by a wolf reintroduced to the state, Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials confirmed Wednesday. Following voter approval and much angst from ranchers across the state, CPW officials reintroduced a pack of wolves in December, a process in itself which drew ire from lawmakers and others. The state agency was contacted April 2 by the rancher related to the calf kill. An investigation confirmed the killing by a wolf, they said, based on "tooth rake" marks left on the hindquarters and neck, and hemorrhaging. Wolf tracks were found nearby the kill. It is unknown how many wolves may have participated in the kill and the identification of the wolf or wolves. Republican House leadership responded to the ne...
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Colorado Senate panel rejects Gov. Jared Polis’ nominees to wildlife commission
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coloradopolitics.com, State

Colorado Senate panel rejects Gov. Jared Polis’ nominees to wildlife commission

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics Last year, Gov. Jared Polis appointed three people — allegedly with ties to the animal rights community — to the state's parks and wildlife commission  But those nominees still had to go through a confirmation process with the state Senate, and on Thursday, the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee rejected two of the three, claiming they lacked the necessary qualifications to represent the constituents tied to those seats and as required by state law. The nominations of Gary Skiba and Jessica Beaulieu, who were appointed to represent sportspersons (hunters and anglers) and outdoor recreation and state parks, respectively, were both rejected on 4-3 votes. But they still have a chance to stay on the commission ...
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Appointees to Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission draws critics ahead of hearing
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coloradopolitics.com, State

Appointees to Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission draws critics ahead of hearing

By Marianne Goodland  | Colorado Politics A coalition of more than 20 agriculture, outdoor recreation and sports groups are advocating for the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee to reject three appointees to the state's parks and wildlife commission. The committee's makeup indicates the appointees may have a tough time at today's hearing, and the hearing comes at a time when the Polis administration is already under fire from ranchers and others over bungled communications tied to the release of wolves in Grand County in December. That included a contentious hearing in January in the same committee.  The appointees, the coalition wrote in a letter obtained by Colorado Politics, are not qualified and have been appointed based on their biases against the very pe...
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