Colorado bans hunting of denned bears

Outrage from killing 703-pound denned bear sparks new regulation-

Last November Richard Kendall of Craig shot a black bear that was a state record, but the bear was in its den. A lot of folks didn’t like they way he got the record bear. As a result, the Colorado Wildlife Commission unanimously approved a new rule last week to restore fair chase by banning hunting or harassment of black bears in their dens.

Colorado officials unanimously approve regulation banning the hunting of denned bears. LA Times.

Colorado Crimes: Bighorn sheep poacher wanted, $1,000 reward

$1000 for poacher in the Poudre Canyon-

That is near Ft. Collins, CO.
Story: Colorado Crimes: Bighorn sheep poacher wanted, $1,000 reward. By Kiernan Maletsky. The Latest Word

I put this story up after a request from a blog reader near the area.

2009 Colorado dead wolf was killed by poison . . . the notorious 1080

Colorless, odorless, tasteless, violent poison felled Montana wolf that migrated to Colorado-

Note that the story below is a much longer replacement for the original story I posted.

Wildlife investigators: Poison killed Colorado wolf. By Catherine Tsai. Associated Press in the Denver Post.

Colorado outfitter fined $40,000

Veteran guide gets a big fine for illegal deer hunting with clients-

Outfitter fined nearly $40,000 for illegal hunting. By The Denver Post.

Does anyone have much knowledge of the “Interstate Wildlife Violator Compact” mentioned in the article?

Reintroductions have moose thriving on lofty Grand Mesa in Colorado

Great news!  Moose were already spreading southward, but they got an assist-

Moose on the rise in Colorado, Summit County. Colorado’s moose populations are growing, thanks to sky-high reintroduction operations. By Julie Sutor. Summit Daily news

Biologist Studies Wolves’ Possible Return to Colorado

Recent Colorado wolf sightings still not confirmed.

This is an interesting story about the possible return of wolves to Colorado. I’ve heard great skepticism about the earlier reports of evidence of breeding on or near the large ranch in northwest Colorado but it may be possible that there is an individual wolf present there. Results of the evidence is still pending.

Biologist Studies Wolves’ Possible Return to Colorado.
KUNC

Natural Gas May Be Worse for the Planet than Coal

If not worse then just as bad.

A lot of energy has been expended to try to make natural gas look “green”. In fact many “green” groups and others are touting it as the “bridge fuel to a 21st-century energy economy” and claim that it is “cleaner” than coal. Well, it turns out that it may not be so “green” after-all.

When you consider that natural gas is composed primarily of methane and that leaks are common it doesn’t look so good. Methane traps 21 times more heat in the atmosphere than CO2.  Is it worse than coal, maybe or maybe not, but it isn’t “green” and it is responsible for devastating much of southwest Wyoming and parts of Colorado.

Natural Gas May Be Worse for the Planet than Coal
A preliminary analysis suggests that natural gas could contribute far more to global warming than previously thought.
By Kevin Bullis

Have gray wolves found a home in Colorado?

A detailed feature story from High Country News says so-

Prodigal Dogs. Have gray wolves found a home in Colorado? By Michelle Nijhuis. High Country News.

New Web site launched to track wildlife along Interstate 70 in Colorado

Wildlife is the third most common reason for crashes on I-70-

Story 1. New Web site launched to track wildlife along Interstate 70. Sky Hi Daily News.
Story 2. Colorado officials and advocates conserving wildlife by stopping roadkill. By Caroline Griesel. Examiner

How many readers have hit large animals? Maybe I should ask how many haven’t?

Mule deer gores Colorado woman

Motorist saves woman as she was being stomped by the buck-

Florissant, Colorado area deer gores woman who tried to pet it. By Daniel Petty. The Denver Post

Colorado wildlife experts get aggressive going after smart bears

25 “problem” bears have been killed this year, but to little apparent effect-

Colorado wildlife experts get aggressive going after smart bears
Aggressive tactics weighed to control nuisance bruins
By Bruce Finley
The Denver Post

Bear tags have also been increased by 75%. This, however, seems to target bears that are not nuisances. Time to try something new.

Bear probably killed woman who fed local bears

Bear ate 74-year old women at house thought to consistently feed bears-

Coroner: Bear caused death of Ouray County [Colorado] woman. Montrose Daily Press.

Wolverines on the move.

Colorado and Washington State see wolverines in new places.

In recent years wolverines have been seen in places where they were not expected. Is this because people are looking for them or are they expanding their range? One wolverine in an isolated location does not mean that there is a sustainable population. There have been reports of radio tagged wolverines which have travelled very long distances across what would seem to be unsuitable habitat.

Recall the wolverine sighted in California on two occasions.

Here are two recent stories about wolverines in Washington State and Colorado.

Wolverine caught on camera on Mount Adams
Seattle Times

After 90 Years, the Wolverine (Just One) Returns to Colorado
New York Times

10 lynx kittens found in 5 dens in Colorado

These are third generation kittens from the original reintroduction-

Third-generation cats mark milestone for state wildlife program. Bob Berwyn. Aspen Times.

This is a happy uptake in the number of lynx kittens.

Conservation groups not satisfied with new critical habitat boundaries for lynx

Sierra Club and others file lawsuit-

The recent designation of more critical habitat for the recovery of the lynx was another response to Julie MacDonald’s political meddling during the Bush Administration.

The major remaining point of contention is the desired addition of Colorado where a state-funded lynx restoration project that brought lynx in from Canada, began with big success, but has since faded out due to increasingly poor reproduction.

Lynx critical habitat challenged in court. By Susan Gallagher. Associated Press Writer

As hunters age, do they support allowing ATVs in more places?

White River National Forest, Colorado offers new travel plan that would restrict ATVs-

In interesting question is, is ATV use a generational thing or is it related to aging? If Bob Elderkin (in the article below) is in the majority, it is a generational thing, with older forest users, including hunters, being less, not more favorable to them.

Fight brewing over new national forest travel plan in Colorado. By Dennis Webb. The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel

Wolf sightings renew Colorado debate

Wolf sightings renew Colorado debate. By Charlie Meyers.  Denver Post Outdoors Editor.

Plan to dewater SW Wyoming to fuel growth in Colorado a bad idea

NYT Times thinks so. It should be obvious to everyone-

That’s what we need, more urban sprawl on the front range of the Rockies in Colorado; and the water to fuel it will by pumped in from far away — SW Wyoming — the upper Green River. This kind of thinking is so pre-recession, and it is the kind of thinking that will lead to another bubble if we are lucky enough to ever get out of this economic crisis.

The developer, Aaron Million, deserves our opposition and our contempt.

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More on this-

Pipeline plan would divert water from Green. Some worry effects could be felt all the way to the headwaters of drainage. By Cory Hatch. Jackson Hole News and Guide.

‘Colorado cabal’ takes Interior’s reins

Dept. of Interior is usually quite unrepresentative of the country, but this is extraordinary-

‘Colorado cabal’ takes Interior’s reins. By NOELLE STRAUB. New York Times.

Still, I’d say its better than the industry-minded bunch Dirk Kempthorne brought in Idaho.

Montana wolf that made it to Colorado is back in Wyoming

Things too lonely in Colorado?

Wandering wolf back in Wyoming. by David Frey, Aspen Daily News Correspondent. Monday, March 23, 2009

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3/24. This article was premature. Now she is back in Colorado

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Historical update written 2011.  This wolf was eventually poisoned with illegal 1080  in western Colorado.

Another Coloradoan to Interior

Salazar fills most Interior slots with fellow Coloradoans-

His predecessor, Dirk Kempthorne, former Idaho governor, filled DOI with Idaho people, most of them long time foes of conservation, with scores to settle with Idaho conservationists.

Secretary Salazar’s people certainly have a different policy perspective, but almost all are coming from just one state — not surprisingly his home state.

This brief article is about the appointment of an “economic-stimulus money ‘czar’ ” at DOI.

Hickenlooper aide headed to Interior Department. The Denver Post

Salazar, Udall file bill to designate 250,000 acres of Wilderness in Rocky Mtn NP

Many people don’t realize the Wilderness Act also applies to national parks–

Another point is that Ken Salazar is still a U.S. Senator. It is smart not to resign your old job until you actually confirmed (witness Bill Richardson who is still New Mexico’s governor)

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Salazar is also pushing for 210,000 acres of protection on the Uncompahgre plateau of SW Colorado. It would be named the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. About 65,000 acres of this  would be classified as  the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area. This is possibly more significant than the Rocky Mountain NP Wilderness because designating the backcountry of a national park as Wilderness can be a bit redundant.

Salazar’s actions will no doubt burnish his credentialsl as future secretary of Interior.

A dark horse choice to replace Ken Salazar in the U.S. Senate

Denver Public Schools Superintendent Michael Bennet gets the nod from Colorado Governor Ritter-

The good news is it looks like Bennet is of a greener disposition than Salazar.

From the blog Colorado pols . . . Michael Bennet, Everybody!

Speculation on why Salazar?

George Wuerthner analysis why Ken Salazar got the nod-

Why Salazar?  By George Wuerthner, New West.

One interesting thought is that with senator Ken Salazar gone, the much more progressive Mark Udall will become Colorado’s senior senator. I should add that for progressives to improve their senatorial lot in Colorado, Ken Salazar’s appointed replacement cannot be his perhaps even less progressive brother, congressman, John Salazar.

It looks a lot like Ken Salazar as Secretary of Interior

He has cancelled events today, Tuesday and Wednesday-

He is a pretty traditional Democratic Party kind of nomination (assuming it is him).  He is a Democratic US Senator from Colorado, but Democrats won’t lose the seat because the Democratic governor has the power to appoint a replacement. Salazar is Hispanic, satisfying a category that was a plus for Grijalva.

Story in the Denver Post. Salazar poised to head Interior. Colorado’s senior senator is said to be a leading contender for a Cabinet post that is vital to Western issues. By Christopher N. Osher and Joey Bunch

NOTE: only the Denver Post has this story so far.

Missing lynx? Reintroduced Colorado lynx suddenly stop breeding

Missing lynx? Reintroduced cats suddenly stop breeding. By Dave Buchanan. Grand Junction Daily Sentinel.

Ten years ago lynx were reintroduced to Colorado. For a number of years there was a release of lynx each year, and it took a while for survival rates to grow and reproduction to begin. However, for the last 4 years large numbers of lynx kittens have been born and survived. However, the production of kittens has suddenly stopped.

“Keep It Colorado” aims to raise and spend $800-million to conserve open space, wildlife

This is a very ambitious program, far exceeding the size of all federal efforts. It is a plan for Colorado only. Perhaps 1/4 of the money would come from and oil and gas severance tax. The bulk would be raised privately in cash or land donations.

Open space dreams to protect wild. Coalition’s goal would help protect land in 24 regions. By Jerd Smith, Rocky Mountain News

Update 4-25. Ritter gets behind severance tax initiative. By Ann Imse, Rocky Mountain News

Drilling operations reshape Colorado’s landscape

Drilling operations reshape landscape. By Todd Hartman, Rocky Mountain News

Drilling and production are also reshaping Wyoming (the most), Utah, New Mexico, and soon, Montana, and North Dakota. All attempts in Congress so far to tighten up the the drilling have failed. In fact, they were dropped from the recent massive energy bill to try to gather one more vote, that of Domenici of New Mexico. Bush says he will veto the bill anyway.

Two Colorado House members put BLM on notice about Roan Plateau plans. By Bobby MaGill. Grand Junction Sentinel.

National Geographic (photos) on drilling the Roan Plateau.

Skytruth looks at the Roan Plateau. 

Grizzly bears reportedly spotted near Independence Pass, Colorado ! ?

It has just been reported that 2 hunters who are experienced with the visual differences between black and grizzly bears say have seen three grizzly bears near Independence Pass, Colorado.

Grizzlies are thought to be extinct in Colorado, with the last killed in 1979 (even though it was thought to be extinct in the state then).

There has been speculation about grizzlies in state ever since the appearance of the 1979 grizzly in the south San Juan Mountains. I read Ghost Grizzlies by David Petersen, and hoped. Other books about possible Colorado grizzlies have been published.

Colorado Division of Wildlife News Release.

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As comments and the news have developed, I would hope, but I am pretty skeptical if these were grizzly bears.

Here is the latest, this time the Denver Post. “Officials comb hills for grizzly.”

Added Oct. 3. Hibernation will soon end search for possible Colorado grizzlies. Now a dead link.