Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: CPW

Colorado Parks and Wildlife settles with hunting groups that sued claiming commissioners violated open meetings rules
Approved, State, The Colorado Sun

Colorado Parks and Wildlife settles with hunting groups that sued claiming commissioners violated open meetings rules

By Tracy Ross | The Colorado Sun Two influential hunting organizations that sued members of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission claiming they violated Colorado Open Meetings Law and spread false information about mountain lion hunting say they agreed to a small cash payment and the promise that commissioners would be trained in open meetings law and the agency’s rules around hunting lions, lynx and bobcats.   CPW spokesperson Travis Duncan confirmed the groups had reached a settlement but said once the state proved the commissioners had never communicated outside of an official meeting, the hunting groups decided to settle for “a modest amount of $2,332 to avoid the expense of litigation.” Commissioners did participate in an open meetings training, he said, which “was also ...
CPW confirms second gray wolf reintroduced to Colorado dies in Wyoming
Approved, DENVER7, State

CPW confirms second gray wolf reintroduced to Colorado dies in Wyoming

By Stephanie Butzer | Denver 7 DENVER — For the second time this year, a gray wolf that was translocated to Colorado from Canada as part of the second round of reintroductions has died in Wyoming. Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) sent a brief press release about the second death around 6:45 p.m. Friday, saying they had learned about the male wolf's death in Wyoming on April 9. The wolf was part of the 15 animals — which included seven males — that had been captured in British Columbia earlier this year and brought to Colorado. CPW coordinated with Wyoming Game and Fish to obtain the wolf's GPS collar. Wyoming state law prevents other details from being shared, CPW said. When the first translocated wolf died in Wyoming on March 16, a CPW spokesperson told De...
Rewriting the rules: Wolves, federal reform and a lawsuit from rural Colorado
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Rewriting the rules: Wolves, federal reform and a lawsuit from rural Colorado

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Late last year, five wolves were airlifted from Oregon to Colorado under a plan voters narrowly approved—but few knew one of them came from a pack with a history of livestock attacks.  Fewer still knew the move may have violated federal law. At the center of the controversy is a growing belief that Colorado’s wolf reintroduction bypassed environmental law and public transparency.  And a federal lawsuit now threatens to unravel the entire plan. The lawsuit that could reset the rules The National Environmental Policy Act, or NEPA, is one of the country’s cornerstone environmental laws — meant to ensure that federal actions don’t proceed without full environmental review and public input.  But when...
Colorado’s gray wolves edge closer to Denver metro area: CPW map
Approved, kdvr.com, State

Colorado’s gray wolves edge closer to Denver metro area: CPW map

By Jacob Factor | Fox 31 News DENVER (KDVR) — At least one of Colorado’s gray wolves in March entered a new Denver area county and new watersheds in northern Park County, some of the closest areas to the Denver metro they have been tracked since their initial reintroduction. Colorado Parks and Wildlife on Wednesday released a new map for collared wolf activity between Feb. 25 and March 25, showing wolf activity in Clear Creek County and in watersheds that extend into northern Park County toward the Jefferson County border.USDA confirms wolf relocated to Colorado killed by Wildlife Services in Wyoming CPW tracks the wolves based on watersheds they enter at some point in the month-long span, but they do not report exact locations within those watersheds. This map shows...
Rio Blanco County hires deputy trained to investigate livestock depredation
Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice, Top Stories

Rio Blanco County hires deputy trained to investigate livestock depredation

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Responding to concerns of livestock growers and community members, and to assist in investigating livestock depredations that occur in Rio Blanco County, commissioners have authorized the sheriff’s office to hire their first Animal and Livestock Conflict Investigator. Some have voiced concerns that, to receive compensation for livestock killed by wolves, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) must confirm the kill was caused by a wolf. When a rancher finds a dead animal, they are instructed to call CPW to investigate. Sometimes CPW could not come out to the ranch or grazing allotment for a day or two. In the meantime, other wild animals and birds were coming to the carcass and changing the “scene of the crime,” making it mor...
‘Everyone feels anxiety’ over CPW depredation payments, but commissioners note it’s the law
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘Everyone feels anxiety’ over CPW depredation payments, but commissioners note it’s the law

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice “Everyone feels anxiety and fear about all this," Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis told commissioners as they approved a large payment to two Colorado ranchers in Grand County that lost livestock as a direct result of the wolf reintroduction program. The agenda item was on the commission's consent agenda — generally reserved for items so routine as to not require discussion. A motion was made to approve the depredation claims in the amount of $343,000 and some change. "I feel like we’re working with ranchers and livestock operations," Davis said. "It may not feel or look like it to them sometimes, but we are.” Davis continued, “These are large claims. We are the only western state that pays for itemize...
Colorado’s wolves make their way across the western part of the state
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Colorado’s wolves make their way across the western part of the state

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice As seen in the newest map released by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), "newcomers" from the north are making their way across the entire Western Slope. This might excite CPW officials and wolf advocate groups, but not everyone.      Josh Wambolt wrote the members of the Colorado Wildlife Commission in an open letter that reads, “If you have not noticed, the ranchers and outfitters are pretty upset with the CPW commission, Director Davis, and the senior staff calling the shots.," wrote Josh Wamboltin a letter to the members of the Colorado Wildlife Commission. "If you haven’t noticed the exasperation from the general public, and those being affected by these wolves, and the unkept promises you made to people, I hig...
Changes to know ahead of big-game hunting season in Colorado
Approved, gazette.com, State

Changes to know ahead of big-game hunting season in Colorado

By Seth Boster | The Gazette Colorado Parks and Wildlife's annual big game brochure has been hitting hunters' mailboxes — the annual reminder to start planning for the seasons ahead. The brochure is also available at CPW offices and posted online. And the agency is urging hunters to view it ahead of the primary draw application period, running March 1-April 1. Hunters must purchase a 2025 qualifying license to participate in big-game draws; most qualifying licenses are available starting in March. Fees pertaining to Colorado residents, nonresidents and licenses for various game are outlined in the new brochure, which outlines several changes starting this year. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE GAZETTE
Colorado Parks and Wildlife acquires 120 acres for new wildlife management area
Approved, CBS Colorado, State

Colorado Parks and Wildlife acquires 120 acres for new wildlife management area

By Christa Swanson | CBS Colorado In an effort to conserve wildlife and increase opportunities for hunters and anglers, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is creating a new wildlife area along Michigan Creek. The acquisition of 120 acres in Park County, including a quarter-mile stretch along Michigan Creek, was finalized Friday. The property is located about six miles southeast of Jefferson and will become the Michigan Creek State Wildlife Area. READ THE FULL STORY AT CBS COLORADO
Wolf 2307-OR died as a result of another wolf, not a gunshot wound as some theorized
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Wolf 2307-OR died as a result of another wolf, not a gunshot wound as some theorized

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Despite allegations and innuendos from animal rights activists, wolf 2307-OR died as a result of a fight with another wolf, not a gunshot wound last September. Wolf 2307-OR was found dead after his collar signaled that he had died, on Sept. 9, 2024, CPW reported in a press release Sept. 12, 20224, concerning the event three days earlier. CPW, at the time, said that 2307-OR was killed by another wolf, but then backtracked when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services (USFWS) noted there was a gunshot injury. Months later, the pathology report concluded that the gunshot was not a factor in the wolf’s demise. In a Jan. 8 meeting of the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, commissioners heard repeated accusations from pro-...