State Wildlife Areas

Interested in seeing some of Colorado’s great wildlife on your next outdoor adventure?  Check out the Colorado Dept. of Natural Resources’ State Wildlife Areas (SWAs).  According to the Division of Parks and Wildlife,

 “In the diverse array of recreational public lands in Colorado, state wildlife areas occupy the niche of providing wildlife-related recreation.  Different lands have different purposes. State wildlife areas are paid for by revenue from sportsmen and under state law, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is required to manage the areas for the benefit of wildlife.”  

These areas have a special purpose for the conservation and study of Colorado’s wildlife.  If you’re interested in some of the research being done to study the habits and habitats of these areas’ critters, see South Platte Waterfowl & Small Game Research SWAs, available from our library.