By Allisyn Capel | Summit Daily
With wildfires raging across Colorado amid extreme drought conditions, the state’s inhabitants — human and wildlife alike — are bracing for impacts. On Friday, Aug. 22, around 207,500 acres were burning across the state in 17 fires. The vast majority of this acreage is attributed to nine large fires on the Western Slope.
“Wildfires can have significant negative impacts to the landscape, wildlife and homes,” said Brad Banuli, Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s northwest region senior terrestrial biologist.
In the last month, wildfires have prompted Parks and Wildlife to evacuate hundreds of native trout from the Stoner Mesa Fire in the San Juan Mountains, monitor a variety of wildlife species and habitats, and alter fall hunts for certain bear, elk and deer populations in northwest Colorado as the Lee Fire outside of Meeker joins the state’s largest fires in history.
While the impact of fires on wildlife depends on the fire’s intensity, growth, speed and size, it can impact animal distribution, migration and daily movement as animals seek water, food and shelter, Banuli said.
Despite negative impacts, including the growing intensity and risk of wildfires in urban-wildland interfaces, wildfires are natural parts of many Colorado ecosystems.
