Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Colorado state parks report record high visitation rates in 2020
The record figure is about 53% higher than the agency's 2013-14 fiscal year, when 11.9 million visitors were counted at the 41 state parks
“Too many uncontrollables”: From coronavirus to wildfires, Colorado’s hunting season brings a slew of uncertainties
While the long-term outlook for wildlife could benefit from the reshaping of the forest, less habitat plus more hunters equals a problem.
Mitigation “bank” near Greeley will offset wetland damage, meet Clean Water Act rules
For the first time in 20 years, a new Clean Water Act mitigation bank breaks ground on the Front Range
“Intentional discharge of an aimed firearm” leads to rare criminal charges in Colorado death of hunter
Suspect Harry Watkins was “horrified” after fatally shooting his hunting buddy, Simon Howell, in Grand County. “It was reasonable to fire,” Watkins’ attorney says.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife begins planning for wolf reintroduction
Voters in metropolitan Denver and Boulder counties, who won't be directly affected by any reintroduction, strongly supported the initiative, with rural voters casting ballots against it
It’s official: Voters decide to reintroduce wolves in Colorado
Proposition 114 passed as a flurry of Front Range-votes widened the initiative’s margin of victory, paving the way for the animals’ return to the Western Slope.
“We knew it would be tight”: Colorado wolf reintroduction riding on razor-thin vote margin
Proposition 114’s lead on Wednesday was hovering just above the automatic trigger for a recount. Opponents of the measure call the tight race “a moral victory.”
Coloradans are barely howling for the reintroduction of gray wolves
Proposition 114 measure would be the first time voters -- not federal wildlife biologists -- directed wildlife officials to reintroduce a species. But biologists think wolves are already in northwest Colorado.
2020’s wildfire season is historic, charring more acres than any year before. But Colorado has a complicated past with its forests.
Drought, 20th century practices and increased human-nature relationships also contribute to this year’s destruction
Colorado River cutthroat trout restored to Hermosa Creek near Durango
Some estimates show cutthroats are now found in just 14% of their historic natural habitat
Kill fish to save fish: Behind Colorado’s effort to revive the Rio Grande cutthroat trout
The multi-agency project to restore the native species has been years in the making. But the optics still can be shocking.
More Colorado fishing holes have closed this year than in the past 10. Anglers are rushing to fill their freezers.
Bad algae, low water levels and even intake repairs are putting fisheries out of commission. And nobody wants perfectly fine fish to go to waste, leading to “salvage” declarations.
Dead rainbow trout floated on the South Platte. Could fish detectives crack the case?
When an angler discovered the kill, he quickly put in motion an investigation to determine if the culprit posed a threat to the river’s health -- or was just a quirk of nature
What’s killing Mount Evans’ mountain goats? A research team is collecting their poop to solve the mystery.
Disease first struck in 2013, when a generation of young goats was wiped out because of severe E. coli infection. Researchers wonder if it’s linked to human waste.
Toxic algae are filling Colorado lakes with slimy pea-green soup. Are hotter summers making it worse?
The state began a blue-green algae monitoring program two years ago to find out whether the toxic organisms are blooming more often in Colorado. At least four lakes have already closed this summer.
Opposition grows to new Colorado rule requiring purchase of hunting, fishing license to access some public lands
A lawsuit and a group of hikers, climbers and paddlers are pressuring Colorado Parks and Wildlife to adjust the new rule, which applies to people who aren’t hunting and fishing.
Homeowner undergoes surgery after bear attack in Aspen
Colorado Parks and Wildlife said a team with tracking dogs located the bear on the backside of Aspen Mountain before tracking it to a mine shaft and killing it
Coronavirus has led to record crowds on Colorado’s public lands and plenty of “knucklehead” situations
Don't be that guy: Put out fires, know the rules, have backup plans and be prepared.