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BE MINDFUL OF MOUNTAIN LIONS

May 27, 2007

From our good friends at the Colorado Division of Wildlife some words of wisdom, so that you do not end up with a blog posting in “Stupid is as stupid does.” 

DOW URGES: BE MINDFUL OF MOUNTAIN LIONS

As campers, hikers and wildlife enthusiasts get ready to dust off their gear and head into the wild, the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) is reminding everyone that we live in mountain lion country.  Living in lion country can mean different things to different people—some residents live in mountain lion habitat and some people just recreate there; either way, it’s important for people to be aware and know the basics.

Around the home:
-It is against the law to feed deer or other wildlife in Colorado. Attracting deer to your neighborhood increases the likelihood that mountain lions will follow because deer are a lion’s main food source.
-Closely supervise children when they play outdoors especially around dawn and dusk when lions are most active.
-Make a lot of noise when coming and going, especially from dusk until dawn.
-Turn on outside lights before stepping outside.

Hiking:
-When you are in areas where lions might be present, travel in groups and make lots of noise, especially from dusk until dawn when lions are most active.
-Mountain lion sightings are rare, but if you see one, do NOT approach the lion.
-Stay calm. Back away slowly as running may trigger the lion’s natural predatory instinct.
-Open your jacket and raise your arms to make yourself appear larger than normal.
-Pick up young children so they don’t panic and run away.
-If a lion behaves aggressively, throw rocks, branches, or anything else you can find without —crouching down or turning away. Wave your arms and speak firmly.
-In the rare case that you are attacked by a lion, fight back. Remain standing if possible and try to get up if you are knocked down.

Pets:
–Keep your pets on a leash. Roaming pets are easy prey and can attract lions.
-Bring your pets in at night. If you leave your pet outside, make sure they are in a kennel with a secure top.
-Don’t feed your pets outside as this can attract raccoons, skunks and other animals that are eaten by lions.

For more information on mountain lions, pick up a copy of the DOW publication Living with Wildlife in Lion Country (also available via our Website).

The projected population of mountain lions in Colorado is between 3,000 and 5,000 lions, although true numbers are hard to determine due to the elusive nature of the cats.  Lions are active year round and can live to be about 12 years old in the wild and up to 25 years in captivity.  Very powerful and muscular, they feed on large prey such as deer and elk, but also eat small mammals including domestic pets.  Natural enemies of the lion include other large predators such as bears, other mountain lions and wolves.  They also fall victim to accidents, disease, vehicles and people.

Mountain Lions in Colorado generally live in areas of piñon pine, juniper, mountain mahogany, ponderosa pine and oak brush.  They are often found in areas where deer are plentiful.  Their “home range” can vary in size from 10 to 370 square miles, with females with young kittens occupying a smaller area and adult males using wider expanses.

The Division of Wildlife commissioned a study in April 2006 to get a sense of how the public feel about mountain lions.  The study found that most survey respondents were fairly knowledgeable about what to do in case of a lion encounter and the respondents made an effort to be more aware of their surroundings when recreating in known lion habitat.  This survey, Public Opinions and Perceptions of Mountain Lion Issues can be viewed on our Website at: MountainLionSurveyResults.

Currently, DOW is developing a Front Range Mountain Lion Research project, which will study the behavior of lions in proximity to human habitat.  The location and timeline for the study have not yet been determined.  More information on this effort will be released in the coming months.

A second mountain lion study is being conducted by the DOW on the Uncompahgre Plateau in western Colorado. This ten-year study began in 2005 and will help wildlife managers better understand lion density, lion range and how lion hunting can positively or negatively impact lion population management.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife and its habitat, as well as providing wildlife related recreation. The Division is funded through hunting and fishing license fees, federal grants and Colorado Lottery proceeds through Great Outdoors Colorado.

For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

Posted in Education, Hunting Fishing and the Great Outdoors, News | Comments Off on BE MINDFUL OF MOUNTAIN LIONS

That time of year

May 19, 2007

DO NOT APPROACH OR HANDLE YOUNG WILDLIFE

This is the time of year when wildlife give birth to their young. The Colorado Division of Wildlife advises people not to approach, touch or handle young animals.

“We know that people are trying to be helpful, but young animals are best cared for by their own parents,” said Tony Gurzick, southwest assistant regional manager for the DOW. “The best thing people can do is to leave young wildlife alone.”

During spring and early summer, people often see young animals that appear to be alone in the forest, in backyards or along the sides of roads.

“The animals have not been abandoned. Young animals are often left alone to allow the mother to feed, to help them avoid predators and to learn how to live in the wild,” Gurzick explained.

Deer provide a good example of how wildlife adapts behaviors to help them survive. Young fawns have no scent and are born with speckled coats that provide a natural camouflage. These two factors help them avoid being found by predators. When the mother doe senses a predator might be near it moves away from its young. Many other animals use similar techniques.

Young birds often fall out of their nests or are pushed out of nests by parents to encourage them to fly, explained Chad Morgan, a district wildlife manager in the Greeley area. Young birds should not be touched. An exception can be made if a bird can be placed quickly back into its nest. But the nest must be easily accessible, Morgan said.

“If a young bird is on the ground it will quickly learn to fly,” Morgan said. “It’s best to let nature take its course.”

People also need to keep their pets under control. In the woods, dogs–acting on their natural predator instincts-can find animals and attack them. The stress of being attacked often is fatal for young animals unable to defend themselves.

In neighborhoods and backyards cats are adept at finding eggs and young birds. Cats are pets–but they’re also predators.
Many studies show that cats are damaging the songbird population. The DOW asks that people not allow their cats to roam free.

Except for what’s put in birdfeeders, people should not provide any type of food for wildlife. Providing food causes animals to bunch up in small areas which can make them vulnerable to diseases and predation. If animals become accustomed to being fed in one area they will act aggressively to protect the food source and that can pose a danger to humans and pets. Wild animals also should not eat pet food or human food.

People also need to know that not all newborn animals will survive.
“In the case of all wildlife, we have to understand that mortality is part of the natural cycle,” Gurzick said.

If you see a young animal, admire its beauty from a distance and then move on quietly. Talk to youngsters and others about this topic who might not be familiar with wildlife.

If you have any questions, call a local DOW office.
# # #
The Colorado Division of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife and its habitat, as well as providing wildlife related recreation. The Division is funded through hunting and fishing license fees, federal grants and Colorado Lottery proceeds through Great Outdoors Colorado.

Posted in Education, Hunting Fishing and the Great Outdoors, News | 1 Comment »

Bear Attack; Boo boo isn’t nice, figure it out…

May 1, 2007

Irrespective of what P.E.T.A. and other people hating, animal loving groups will say; Some animals are just plain dangerous. Figure it out folks. It seems like every year these warnings have to be brought to the publics attention. Any day now, I fully expect to be reading about a Raccoon attack. Lakewood and the cities that form the Denver metropolitan area are infested with them. No, I am not joking, not in the least. 

At some point I am going to write about Urban wildlife, and the dangers that they present.

WOMAN INJURED BY BEAR IN JEFFERSON COUNTY

A 38 year-old woman from Conifer, Colo., was injured at 12:30 AM Monday morning when a bear swatted her outside her home.  Responding to her barking dog on the porch, she encountered a bear, which was one of three in the vicinity.  The victim’s ten year-old daughter witnessed the incident and described the bear as small, weighing around 50-60 lbs.  The dark nighttime conditions made positive identification of the animal difficult.

Working with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, a Division of Wildlife Officer followed tracks leading away from the home to a nearby area where he encountered three bears.  One of the bears charged the officer, forcing him to discharge his firearm.  The bear was shot and killed, and later brought to the Division of Wildlife’s Wildlife Health Laboratory for testing and necropsy.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) set a trap for the additional bears.  Pending test results may alter the management tools used to address the other bears.  “Public safety is our first priority,” said Reid DeWalt, Area Wildlife Manager.  “The instructions we give our Wildlife Officers is clear–people come first when considering how to deal with aggressive or habituated wildlife.”

The victim was taken to Swedish Medical Center in Littleton.  Communications with emergency responders revealed the injuries were not life threatening.  She was released early this morning.

Most conflicts between people and bears involve some sort of food source.  In this case, it was food placed in snow banks during a power outage and unsecured garbage cans in a shed that may have brought the bears near.  Colorado residents should know that bears can smell food from miles away, be it birdfeed, pet food, a greasy barbeque grill grate or accessible refuse.  DOW recommends the following:

Make your property safe by keeping garbage out of reach and smell of bears. Use bear-proof trash containers. Be sure garbage cans are emptied regularly. Periodically clean garbage cans to reduce residual odor—using hot water and chlorine bleach, or by burning trash residue in cans. Store trash in a bear proof enclosure. Contact the Division of Wildlife for designs.

If you have pets, do not store their food or feed them outside. Clean your BBQ grill of grease and store inside. Hang bird seed, suet and hummingbird feeders on a wire between trees instead of on your deck or porch. Bring all bird feeders in at night. Do not put fruit, melon rinds and other tasty items in mulch or compost piles.

As you might guess, beehives attract bears. You can protect your bees, honey, and equipment if you surround the hives with fences designed to keep bears out. Contact the Division of Wildlife for designs.

Most bears sighted in residential areas within bear habitat do not cause any damage. If a bear doesn’t find abundant food, it will move on.

Aggressive bear attacks are rare, but encounters such as this one have increased as Colorado’s population grows.  The bear population has not increased, but the number of people living, working and recreating in bear country has.

There are no definite rules about what to do if you meet a bear.  In most cases, bears avoid confrontations with people.

Here are some suggestions if you see a bear:

  • Stay calm.  If you see a bear and it has not seen you, calmly leave the area.  As you move away, make noise to let the bear discover your presence.
  • Stop.  Back away slowly while facing the bear.  Avoid direct eye contact, as bears may perceive this as a threat.
  • Give the bear plenty of room to escape.  Bears rarely attack people unless they feel threatened or provoked.
  • Do not run.  If on a trail, step off the trail on the downhill side and slowly move away.  Do not run or make any sudden movements.  Running is likely to prompt the bear to give chase, and you cannot outrun a bear.
  • Speak softly.  This may reassure the bear that you mean it no harm.  Try not to show fear.
  • If a black bear attacks you, use tools such as rocks, sticks, binoculars and even their bare hands to defend yourself.  Aim for the nose or eyes if possible.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife and its habitat, as well as providing wildlife related recreation. The Division is funded through hunting and fishing license fees, federal grants and Colorado Lottery proceeds through Great Outdoors Colorado.
 
 

For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

Posted in Hunting Fishing and the Great Outdoors | 2 Comments »

USFWS Approves States’ Wildlife Action Plans

February 23, 2007

All that I can say is that it about time…

USFWS Approves States’ Wildlife Action Plans

WASHINGTON, D.C.—The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced last week that it has approved wildlife action plans for all states and U.S. territories. The announcement marks the first time that all state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies have established comprehensive conservation plans that, together, provide a nationwide blueprint of actions to conserve imperiled species and prevent them from becoming threatened or endangered.

The wildlife action plans are a thorough state-by-state look at wildlife and the actions needed to ensure their survival. They also allow state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies to continue to receive grants under the State Wildlife Grant program signed by President George W. Bush in 2001.

In order to be eligible for State Wildlife Grant funds, each state fish and wildlife agency was required to complete a wildlife action plan. The plans were developed as a collaborative effort that included biologists, conservationists, landowners and the general public. The plans were reviewed by a national team that included representatives from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and several state fish and wildlife agencies.

Each plan must provide information on low and declining populations of wildlife and the habitats they require, identify problems impacting these populations, identify needed research and survey efforts to improve conservation, and determine priorities. Agencies will revise and update their plans at least once every 10 years.

For more information on this story, or to see each state’s individual wildlife action plan, visit www.wildlifeactionplans.org.

The above from the North American Hunting Club Newsletter

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Smith & Wesson Buys Thompson/Center

December 31, 2006

Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation announced earlier this week that it is in the process of purchasing Thompson/Center Arms for $102 million.

Under the purchase agreement, Smith & Wesson would immediately acquire Thompson/Center’s line of blackpowder muzzloaders and accessories as well as its precision rimfire rifles. Thompson/Center’s 500 non-union employees along with its current management would also remain with the company andGregg Ritz, current president and CEO of Thompson/Center would become President of Smith & Wesson’s hunting division.

The acquisition is expected to close during the first week of January.

For more on this story, visit http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/061218/lam040.html?.v=72

Quite a move from being driven into the ground by a British consortium that owned Smith & Wesson. I have to wonder though. Will the new owners of TC bring back the legendary muzzle loader line that the company had dropped or just continue to produce the clearly non- historical models?

Along the same lines will Smith & Wesson go the way that Colt has, and stop producing the excellent revolvers that made them famous?

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A day to remember

December 3, 2006

Any day hunting or fishing is better than any day at work, correct? Well, here is a little story about a trip from some 20 or so years ago.

Seeking a bit of adventure my brother in law, and son persuaded me to take a “shortcut” to the fabled Frying Pan river. They did a map recon and decided that the “best” way to get there would be by going through Leadville, and over the mountains via Hagerman Pass. I looked at the map, and thinking that it shouldn’t be a problem since it was the middle of August… ~ Best laid plans of mice, men, and Paramedics~

Off we went on our adventure, west on Interstate 70. I should have known something was up when we were delayed at the Eisenhower Tunnel when a semi jackknifed and blocked the freeway for more than two hours. Once again on our way I took the exit to Leadville. The talk was all about which fly to present to the university educated trout that resided in ” The Pan.”

Turning west we admired the beauty of Turquoise Lake as we headed higher in the majestic rockies. The warning sign said use caution closed in winter. Heck, it was the middle of August… Soon the “road” became one lane with the occasional turn out to allow for two way passage. Trees became something to look down at from the road. Snow drifts close to fifteen feet high bordered the roadway. The vehicle became stuck several times and getting going again was an adventure in itself.

~ see pictures at~ http://search.msn.com/images/results.aspx?q=Hagerman%20Pass%20Colorado&FORM=BIRE

I remember thinking how glad I was that I had three boxes of ammo for my Ruger 41 magnum if emergency signaling became necessary. Four hours into the trip up the pass I became convinced that it was no shortcut at all. I mean, after all, our company for the most part were Bighorn Sheep, and Elk. My son even said that he saw a bear but I seriously doubt that any bear would be dumb enough to go to such a place.

Finally, we were at the summit, and could see seemingly forever across the Roaring Fork Valley. The trip down was nearly a vertical drop. I attribute that fact as the reason we didn’t get stuck again. Even disk brakes will heat up on that drive, and I didn’t want to frighten my fellow adventurers by telling them that the reason I was taking the turns so fast was because I had no choice! When I saw paved road ahead I nearly lost my breath the relief was so great. I stopped so we could relieve ourselves, and a Ram looked at us like we were fools to even try entering his domain. ( I will try to upload a pic of him taken by my son.)

Normally, a trip to the Frying Pan took about three hours travel time to get there from Arvada. We had left at 0530, we arrived at 1830. Just in time for the evening hatch and the fishing was fantastic.

If you are ever in Colorado, fish the Frying Pan. Just don’t take “shortcuts” to get there!

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Snow in the mountains

September 29, 2006

I looked up toward the west this morning. This is the third year in a row that I will not venture up into God’s country to seek the solace of nature. But, the surgery appears successful. Perhaps next spring I will again be able to pull my bow; feed myself; my girlfriend; my friends that cannot get game themselves for so many reasons.

Jeffery Cambell is a youngster. He was not afraid of my fifty four caliber Thompson black powder rifle when I offered to allow him to shoot it out at the Golden Gun Club so many years ago. He has made the rifle his own, and I granted it to him this year. He will hunt the great Wapiti of the rockies with it. Perhaps now he will be the hunter for we the elders.

Soon, the season will end. Jeff will leave us to serve our nation. He passed the entrance exams for Airborne. God bless him.

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Life in the Rocky Mountains

September 13, 2006

Hills awash in bugling, changing colors

Matt McClain © News

A bull elk grazes at Rocky Mountain National Park on Tuesday morning. The park is experiencing the beginning of fall with the changing of the aspen trees and the fall rut, or mating season, for elk. There are more than 3,000 elk in the park. Admiring humans can look for them in meadows and where meadow meets forest.

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By Rocky Mountain News
September 13, 2006

Slowly but surely, autumn is creeping down the mountains.The aspens have begun to turn golden above 10,000 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park.

The leaves below 10,000 feet should start turning in the next week or so, according to Shirley Baudek, a 15-year resident of Estes Park and wife of town Mayor John Baudek.

Folks living below Estes Park will have to wait before they notice the aspens changing around their homes, she said.

“Well, you can see them from our house. You can see them changing up high,” Baudek said. “The other day, there was the sun shining on the peaks, and it was just golden and beautiful.”

Also coming down in droves from the higher elevations in Rocky Mountain National Park are the elk. Many already have made it to town, residents said.

Baudek said as the air gets cooler, as it has been in recent weeks, and the elk mating season starts to warm up, herds move downhill and bull elks jostle for cows and unleash their bugling cries.

Baudek said town residents often question why tourists and visitors head into Rocky Mountain National Park to look for wildlife when they can stay in town and see the elk.

“Oh, my gosh, they’re around my house,” Baudek said.

“At 2 in the morning the other day, they were bugling. It just starts now in September and goes through October pretty much, and the calves are born in late May or early June.

“We have a calf born in our yard every year, and we had one born under our deck last year.”

One of the reasons that I came to Colorado was the incredible hunting and fishing opportunities. This year is pretty well shot due to having had surgery on my arm. It is doubtful that I will ever pull a bow again. Yet I relish the memories of being in the high country and coming within a few feet of timber bucks, huge bull elk, and on two occasions a full curl ram.

Colorado, there simply is no other place like it on earth.

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I am a hunter

July 23, 2006

I am a hunter and fisherman. I will make no excuses for my behavior. Indeed, those that disparage such activities bear the task of presenting why they deny their very humanity need to explain their choice.

I hunt with archery tackle, firearms, and black powder arms. I fly fish primarily, but will do what I need to in order to catch fish. I use every part of what I kill that I am able to.

Posted in Hunting Fishing and the Great Outdoors | 2 Comments »

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