Latest news with #CPW
CBS News
21-07-2025
- Science
- CBS News
Colorado Parks and Wildlife find invasive zebra mussels in high country
Colorado Parks and Wildlife recently discovered a large group of invasive aquatic animals during a survey. A statement from CPW said they were taking samples in various locations when they discovered multiple zebra mussels in a privately owned body of water in western Eagle County. "This news is a direct result of increased sampling efforts, " said CPW Director Jeff Davis. "This discovery is a significant step toward identifying a potential source of zebra mussels and advancing our efforts for eradication. It would not have been possible without the commitment to protect Colorado's bodies of water by our Aquatic Nuisance Species staff." Zebra mussels are a freshwater mollusk native to Eurasia but have rapidly spread through the United States in the last few decades. According to the USGS, they can be found in the Great Lakes region and the large rivers of the eastern Mississippi drainage, as well as Texas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada and California. CPW has discovered zebra mussel veligers in the Colorado River near New Castle, Mack Mesa at Highline State Park and Highline Lake, where the first adult zebra mussel in the state was found. Veligers are the larval stage of zebra mussels, and were first found in Colorado in 2008. The animals filter out algae that native species need for food and can incapacitate native mussels. Power plants in the U.S. spend millions to keep zebra mussels from clogging water intakes. CPW said they're evaluating the next steps needed to eradicate the mussels. "Understanding the current extent of zebra mussels in western Colorado is a critical step in stopping their spread into new locations," said CPW Invasive Species Program Manager Robert Walters. "Every new detection puts us one step closer to achieving this desired outcome." Officials said good boat hygiene can help control the mussels' spread. They suggested washing boats with warm, soapy water after use and advised boaters and anglers not to transport water from live wells and bait buckets from one body of water to another.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Yahoo
State wildlife officials issue warning after three recent moose attacks: 'Turn around ... if a calf is spotted'
A spate of incidents involving moose in Colorado has prompted state officials to release a warning for residents to keep their distance. As The Daily Sentinel reports, there were three moose attacks in the short three-day period from May 30 to June 1. Moose are not typically aggressive towards people, but they are susceptible to disturbances during calving season. All three incidents involved a cow moose protecting its young from a perceived threat. In the first incident, two women were attacked but escaped serious injury after the moose was driven off by a neighbor. Unfortunately, the second attack was more serious, The Daily Sentinel reported. The moose was shot in self-defense, and, sadly, the calf was humanely euthanized by officials. In the last incident on June 1, a woman was hospitalized. In response, per The Daily Sentinel, Colorado Parks and Wildlife warned residents to "Turn around or leave an area if a calf is spotted." CPW also advised residents to stick to trails with good visibility and "make noise" when going through thick vegetation that could be hiding a moose calf. Since their reintroduction in 1978, CPW reports that the moose population has been a stable and growing presence in Colorado. While this is indicative of a successful program, it also means that more incidents could occur. Habitat loss, human population growth, and reduced resources may be partially responsible for the increase in conflicts between humans and wildlife. Moose attacks on people are still a rare phenomenon, but their sheer size makes the damage they can do to a person considerable and, on rare occasions, fatal. They tip the scales at up to 1,000 pounds and can run faster than any human alive in short bursts. Because they favor thick vegetation, they're not as easy to spot from a distance as their immense size would suggest, and off-leash dogs are a frequent cause of incidents, as the Colorado Sun reports. One proposed solution is to reintroduce wolves to Colorado to control the moose population. However, the measure was met with controversy when it was first tabled in 2020 and only narrowly succeeded at the ballot. The program has gotten off to a difficult start and could end with another ballot initiative in 2026, CPR News reported. Rather than relying too much on wolves, another solution is to raise awareness and educate others about the issue to promote actions that will mitigate the risk. For example, the National Park Service strongly advises people to keep their distance from wildlife. Additionally, dogs should always be kept on leash outside of designated areas. Small considerations for nature can go a long way to preventing injury and conflict. By protecting our environment and conserving natural habitats for wildlife, we can keep our communities safer and promote thriving ecosystems. Should the U.S. invest in building more wildlife overpasses? Absolutely Depends on how we do it Depends on where we do it Nope Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
CBS News
01-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
Colorado's gray wolf reintroduction plan costs $2.2 million more than expected, agency says
Colorado Parks and Wildlife told an interim legislative committee it's spent about $3 million to relocate 30 wolves to the state over the last two years. That's more than double what voters were told it would cost when they approved wolf reintroduction in 2020. CPW Director Jeff Davis speaks before state lawmakers regarding the total costs and progress of the Colorado gray wolf management plan Monday, June 30, 2025. The Blue Book estimated it would cost about $800,000. Ranchers say, not only is the cost of the program out of control, the management of it is off the rails. "A depredating pack was known to have depredated in Oregon before they put them in Middle Park," Tom Harrington, a cattle producer in Roaring Fork Valley, told lawmakers. "They had serious impact there. They packaged them up, put them away for awhile. And then, they put them back out -- right in my backyard." Harrington and other ranchers told state lawmakers they have lost trust in CPW after it relocated a pack of wolves to Pitkin County after it killed livestock in Copper Creek. The wolves continued to kill cattle in Pitkin, resulting in CPW euthanizing one of them. "I feel [Proposition] 114, the reintroduction, should be called 'the promises made and promises broken too,'" Garfield County Commissioner Perry Will said before lawmakers. "Promises broken. Total program failure and cruelty to wolves." CPW's own wolf reintroduction plan bars the relocation of depredating wolves. "That was my decision. I take full responsibility, and I question that decision ever day," CPW Director Jeff Davis told lawmakers. Davis says he doesn't know if wildlife officers warned anyone in Pitkin County about the pack's relocation. "That said, it led to a lot of really important things," Davis said. The CPW director says the state agency has deployed drones and range riders to monitor for wolf activity, hired wildlife damage specialists and depredation rapid response teams. Davis says they're hazing wolves that get near livestock. Davis admits -- even after removing one wolf -- he's seen concerning behavior in a video and says they will remove more wolves if necessary. Ranchers and some lawmakers want the entire program paused. "I believe the governor, by his actions, set up this plane to fail," Harrington asserted. "It was rushed. There was no timely alerts. We couldn't prepare. I believe that we need no more new releases until these plans are in place and the basics are working." CPW plans to relocate another pack of wolves from Canada in December, and Davis told lawmakers he will not pause the program. The office of Gov. Jared Polis released a statement that said, "Colorado voters approved the ballot measure to reintroduce wolves into Colorado and Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Governor Polis are following the law and upholding the will of the voters, while working to balance the needs and concerns of producers. Governor Polis did not advocate for or support the ballot measure, but always supports implementation of the will of the voters including the successful implementation of the Wolf Management Plan, which was approved unanimously by CPW commissioners, including the timeline, in response to voters' approval of the ballot measure." Ranchers say they are also concerned about inadequate compensation. The fund created by the legislature to compensate ranchers when a wolf kills their livestock is broke.
CBS News
20-06-2025
- CBS News
Colorado Parks and Wildlife recover body of drowned man at Lake Pueblo State Park
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officers said they recovered the body of a man who they believe drowned at Lake Pueblo State Park on Thursday. According to CPW, the man was on an inflatable tube around 30-60 yards from the south fishing area when he flipped off around 7 p.m. Witnesses told officers the man wasn't wearing a life jacket and went under the water. CPW said the water temperature at the time was in the low 70s. Boat patrol crews launched a grid search with sonar, and more officers were called in with sonar and underwater drones. Search crews found the man's body around 1:30 a.m. He was pronounced deceased at the scene by the Pueblo County Coroner. Authorities turned the body over to the coroner's office for identification and to officially determine his cause of death. CPW encouraged anyone recreating in the water to wear a life jacket, stating, "Throughout the water recreation and boating season, CPW encourages all park visitors participating in water recreation activities to always wear a life jacket. A life jacket will keep your airway clear of water and your head above water and support your body should you stop swimming or become unconscious." There have been multiple drownings at the park this year, including a swimmer who jumped into the water without wearing a life vest and a man trying to help four children swimming in rough waters.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Yahoo
Pueblo coroner identifies man who died in June 7 swimming accident at Lake Pueblo
The third apparent drowning at Lake Pueblo in less than a month was identified June 10 by the Pueblo County Coroner's Office as a 44-year-old Centennial man. Daniel Duane Strawn was found at Rock Creek Cove floating unconscious on the afternoon of June 7. He was pronounced dead on the scene despite life-saving efforts. CPW rangers responded at 2:11 p.m. to a report of an unconscious man, later identified as Strawn, who allegedly jumped into Rock Creek Cove because "they were hot," according to witnesses. Nearby witnesses who were swimming and water skiing soon saw Strawn floating unconscious, and with the help of a nearby boater, pulled him into a boat and began CPR before calling 911. CPW rangers arrived within six minutes, and one of the rangers jumped into the boat, taking over CPR on the victim. The boat drove to the North Boat Ramp, where CPR continued. A Flight for Life helicopter landed at the park, but Strawn was already dead. 'This death is under investigation, but it appears to be a tragic accident,' Lake Pueblo Park Manager Joe Stadterman said in a news release. 'We offer our condolences to the family and friends of this victim.' Stadterman said in the release that the death is especially troubling given all the recent efforts by CPW to raise awareness of water safety with park guests. CPW officers installed two life-jacket loaner stations at Lake Pueblo State Park where lake users can borrow a life jacket for free. The stations are located at the South Fishing and Sailboard areas. 'This is yet another heartbreaking loss of life,' Stadterman said. 'It underscores the message we have been stressing to recreate responsibly and to wear life preservers when on or near the water." Strawn's death is the third apparent drowning at Lake Pueblo since mid-May: Derrick Lee Vigil, 28, drowned when his fishing boat capsized at Lake Pueblo on May 30; on May 14, Manuel DeJesus Villanueva Miranda, 53, died after he went into the lake to help his two children and their friends as they struggled to swim in rough waters. None of the victims were wearing life jackets at the time of their apparent drownings, according to CPW. Wear a life jacket. Put a whistle on your jacket so you can call for help. Be aware of your surroundings — the water gets deep quickly. Be aware of the weather, high winds and storms can come up fast. Check your boat and all required boating safety gear. Avoid boating alone and tell someone where you are going and when you will return. Boat sober. Alcohol use is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths. Know that stand-up paddleboards are considered vessels in Colorado and require a life jacket on board at all times. Protect yourself from the dangers of cold water immersion and shock. Regardless of your age or experience level, cold water can quickly create a drowning emergency. More on Lake Pueblo water safety: Colorado Parks and Wildlife urges water safety at Lake Pueblo this summer Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@ Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @jayreutter1. Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Man who drowned at Lake Pueblo on June 7 identified by coroner
