According to Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW), the state’s current mule deer population of around 450,000 is about 25{66eaadba41c14e7e553ffe7a4ee73fbae213b19704eda0514b3dd79e37e4c0c5} below their objective. Populations have been declining over the last several decades due to human population growth resulting in habitat loss and vehicle collisions, as well as other factors like climate change, malnutrition, diseases like chronic […]
If you’re looking for a quick getaway near the Denver metro area, check out Barr Lake State Park, located near Brighton. The park includes boating, fishing, a nature trail and Nature Center, and wildlife viewing stations. And while boating and fishing aren’t in season right now, there are lots of other things to do […]
All this year, conservation and wildlife organizations across the US have been celebrating Year of the Bird, a campaign to bring awareness to the importance of birds and to celebrate the centennial of the passage of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Here in our state, Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW) is participating in Year of […]
If wolves were reintroduced in our state, would they benefit the environment or be a nuisance for ranchers? In spite of a 2016 resolution passed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife stating that wolves would not be purposefully reintroduced into the state (although those that wander here on their own won’t be removed), the debate continues. […]
Coloradans love their pets, there’s no doubt about that. But did you know that there are some animals that Colorado law prohibits keeping as pets? Wildlife species (unless in the care of a licensed rehabilitation center) cannot be kept in homes or as pets. Wildlife are a “public resource” so cannot be owned by individuals, […]
Last week, according to a press release, Governor Hickenlooper sent a letter to the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to advocate for the protection of greater sage-grouse on lands the BLM intends to sell or lease for oil and gas development. Over the past several years, the State of Colorado has been involved […]
Check out Marmot Fest at Staunton State Park this weekend, June 23-24, 2018 and maybe you’ll spot a yellow-bellied marmot! Summer is officially here, and with it comes great opportunities for viewing wildlife in all parts of the state. Some species, like hummingbirds, are only here in the summer. Others, like mountain goats, live in […]
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a disease of the brain that affects deer, elk, and moose and may be on the rise in our state. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has recently convened a new advisory group to deal with the disease, which results show to affect as many as 16{66eaadba41c14e7e553ffe7a4ee73fbae213b19704eda0514b3dd79e37e4c0c5} of the animals tested. To […]
Did you know that today, May 22, is International Day for Biological Diversity? Biological diversity – usually shortened to “biodiversity” – refers to the variety of species and natural processes in an ecosystem. As habitats are reduced by development and increased human habitation, some species of plants and animals are pushed out or become endangered, […]
Many Coloradans enjoy feeding birds, especially this time of year when hummingbirds are returning to the area. But bird feeders can also attract hungry bears. According to Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW), “some studies show that over 80 percent of human-bear conflicts can be traced back to the bear’s first encounter with a bird feeder…Once […]
This is the time of year when many Coloradans are looking forward to getting back out on the hiking trails. It’s also the time of year when rattlesnakes are emerging from hibernation, increasing your chances of encountering rattlesnakes. In fact, news reports indicate that two hikers have already been bitten by rattlesnakes in Colorado this […]
Colorado State University’s Natural Resources Economy Lab (NREL), along with several other partners, has developed CitSci.org, a site where everyday citizens can go to contribute data and scientific research. Using the site, researchers can create a project, collect data, and view the results. For instance, one of the site’s projects is a the “Front Range […]
Here in Colorado we have a number of invasive species that are causing problems because they can harm the environment and put native species at risk. Colorado Parks & Wildlife defines invasive species as “plants, animals, insects or diseases that are not native to Colorado.” CP&W explains that “because they are not native to Colorado […]
Coyotes, foxes, and wolves all belong to the scientific Family known as Canidae, or canines — just like your pet dog. There are some big differences, however, between all of these types of canines. Native American legends often refer to the coyote as a trickster. Colorado Parks & Wildlife calls them “opportunistic” and “naturally curious.” […]
Fifteen years ago the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the CSU Natural Heritage Program conducted a survey of bats living in Colorado caves. According to the report of the study, which you can read online via our library, twelve of Colorado’s eighteen species of bats use caves and abandoned mines at least part of the […]
If you love butterflies, this week has been an absolute delight along the Front Range as the painted lady butterflies migrate south. Conditions this year have caused an explosion of the numbers of painted ladies, which is why we are seeing so many more than usual. The orange butterflies, which are commonly mistaken for monarchs, […]
The July/August issue of Colorado Outdoors magazine features burrowing owls. These fascinating creatures are much different than the tree-dwelling owls most of us are all familiar with. Burrowing owls, as suggested by their name, are ground dwellers. Unlike most owls, which live in forested areas, burrowing owls spend the summer on Colorado’s eastern plains, where […]
If you’ve been following local news lately, you’ve heard that human-bear conflicts are on the rise; according to the Denver Post, at least 34 bears have already been killed in Colorado this summer. Bear-human conflicts are on the rise as more and more of the bears’ native habitat comes under development. With bears and people […]
On the plains of Colorado, grassland ecosystems provide habitats for many species of plants and animals. Yet increased human migration and development is causing the disappearance of much of the state’s historic grasslands. Some, however, have been protected, such as the Pawnee and Comanche National Grasslands, which draw visitors to experience nature and learn about […]
Hooray, today is the first day of Spring! Are you interested in learning about the plants and animals that Colorado springtime brings? Our library has many resources that you can use to learn — or teach your kids — about springtime in Colorado. Hearken! It’s Spring is a publication from the Colorado Division of Wildlife. […]
Whirling disease is a parasitic infection that has been affecting Colorado trout since being accidentally introduced here in the 1980s. Since then, Colorado Parks & Wildlife has been working to prevent and control the disease, which has contributed to the decline in numbers of rainbow trout in Colorado’s waters. The disease can be deadly to […]