Photo courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
A wolf has been spotted in nearby Jackson County, and possibly one in Grand County. Colorado Parks and Wildlife are working to confirm the sightings. If you think you have spotted a wolf, please report it to Parks & Wildlife.
Here is the link: https://cpw.state.co.us/learn/Pages/Wolf-Sighting-Form.aspx?fbclid=IwAR2k-0gbjb3P8C-qGVHZtuRpeYhmFZvnLwESG4ASSNQlXS8JQIljhcpQZY8
A mountain lion, also known as a puma, is treed on the Uncompahgre Plateau in western Colorado. Photo by Ken Logan, DOW researcher.
A Steamboat woman spotted a mountain lion on Spring Creek Trail over the weekend. Julia Dordoni was mountain biking when she saw the mountain lion. The local artist called 911. Dispatchers told her to make a lot of noise. About 45 minutes later, a police officer arrived to walk her out. Mountain lions are most active early in the morning or late in the evening. Colorado Parks and Wildlife recommends to carry a light, noisemakers and pepper spray if you’re in the woods.
From the Steamboat Pilot and Today:
What to do if you encounter a mountain lion
Colorado Parks and Wildlife wants to know whenever you see a mountain lion or notice lion-like activity close to a town, or if a human action causes a change in what the lion is doing.
You can report a mountain lion by contacting Parks and Wildlife’s Steamboat office at 970-870-2197. After 5 p.m. or on the weekends, you can report it by calling Routt County Communications’ non-emergency line at 970-879-1110.
If you do encounter a lion, the agency recommends taking the following steps:
- Go in groups when you walk or hike in mountain lion country and make plenty of noise to reduce your chances of surprising a lion. A sturdy walking stick is a good idea; it can be used to ward off a lion. Make sure children are close to you and within your sight at all times. Talk with children about lions and teach them what to do if they meet one.
- Do not approach a lion, especially one that is feeding or with kittens. Most mountain lions will try to avoid a confrontation. Give them a way to escape.
- Stay calm when you come upon a lion. Talk calmly and firmly to it. Move slowly.
- Stop or back away slowly, if you can do it safely. Running may stimulate a lion’s instinct to chase and attack. Face the lion and stand upright.
- Do all you can to appear larger. Raise your arms. Open your jacket if you’re wearing one. If you have small children with you, protect them by picking them up, so they won’t panic and run.
- If the lion behaves aggressively, throw stones, branches or whatever you can get your hands on without crouching down or turning your back. Wave your arms slowly and speak firmly. What you want to do is convince the lion you are not prey and that you may in fact be a danger to the lion.
- Fight back if a lion attacks you. Lions have been driven away by prey that fights back. People have fought back with rocks, sticks, caps or jackets, garden tools and their bare hands successfully. Remain standing or try to get back up.
A couple from Cody, Wyoming died over the weekend. Timothy and Stacey Zeller were on a motorcycle near milepost 121 on Wyoming Highway 120 north of Cody, when Zeller tried to pass. There wasn’t enough space and the motorcycle collided with another car coming in the opposite direction. Both people on the motorcycle died. The driver of the other car wasn’t hurt, but his passenger did have some injuries and was taken to the hospital. 83 people have died on Wyoming’s roadways so far this year, compared to 49 at this time last year.
Arrest warrants have been issued for four men who were caught transporting roosters across state lines, and through Summit County earlier this year. The birds were allegedly being raised for cockfighting which is outlawed in every state. The birds were taken to the Summit County Animal Shelter, where they stayed for about three weeks, but they eventually were euthanized last month.
Justin Krall, a District Wildlife Manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife based in Westcliffe, sits on his mule Speedy as Jenny follows carrying saddle tanks with about 2,000 rare Hayden Creek cutthroat trout. Photo courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife – Bill Vogrin.
Josh Nehring, CPW senior aquatic biologist, reaches into a bag of rare Hayden Creek cutthroat trout as news media and volunteers watch to see him return the fish to the wild whitewater of Cottonwood Creek. Photo courtesy Colorado Parks and Wildlife – Bill Vogrin.
Mules have been carrying about 2,000 rare cutthroat trout up Cottonwood Creek to restore the trout to the mountain stream. That’s near Westcliffe, south of Salida.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials say the trout contain genetic markers from the Hayden Creek cutthroat trout that were rescued in the Hayden Pass Fire in 2016.
The genetic markings match museum specimens collected by early explorers back in 1889, from Twin Lakes near Leadville. Those specimens are now at the Smithsonian.
Chevron has made a $25,000 donation to Colorado Northwestern Community College. The money will be used to support scholarships, especially those related to science, technology, engineering, and math.
The Rubber Ducky Race for Hospice is Aug. 3. It’s hosted by Northwest Colorado Health, and it’s held during the Moffat County Balloon Festival. Tickets are $10 per duck. Purchase tickets online at northwestcoloradohealth.org/rubberducky or at Northwest Colorado Health locations, Yampa Valley Bank or the Craig Chamber of Commerce. Volunteers are needed to help with pre-event ticket sales and other aspects of the event.
One lane of westbound I-70 will be closed today through part of Friday, about one mile west of Vail. C-Dot is cleaning the ditches along the highway there. I-70 Westbound near the tunnel is closed from 11 p.m. tonight to six tomorrow morning. It’s closed in the other direction Wednesday night. Traffic will be rerouted over Loveland Pass. Find out more at www.cotrip.org.
For the weather, don’t forget to call the KRAI Time, Temp, and Weather Hotline at 970-824-1918.
