The North American wolverine (Gulo gulo luscus) is a survivor. It is called the Arctic Hoarder for good reason. This small mammal, a member of the weasel family, lives at high elevations where it’s cold and snowy. Wolverines scavenge for food in the summer and cache it away for winter. And they are returning to […]
ecology
Posted inEnvironment
CPW seeks public input on beaver conservation and management strategy
In mid-November, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) released the draft of its “Beaver Management and Conservation Strategy” (“Beaver Strategy”) study and invited the public to review and comment on it. As stated in the document’s Executive Summary, the strategy’s purpose “is to increase and sustain the prevalence of beaver and beaver-influenced wetlands in suitable habitats […]
Posted inLocal Government
Dr. John Emerick of Redstone appointed to CPW Commission
The opportunity of a lifetime has arrived for Redstone resident Dr. John Emerick as he was recently appointed to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Commission on July 3 by Governor Jared Polis. Filling the member at large position, Emerick, a retired professor of environmental biology, will use a scientific lens to help set regulations […]
Posted inEducation
Eagle Mushroom and Wild Food Festival will enrich funga community
On Aug. 8-10, mushroom enthusiasts from around the country will gather to celebrate the world of mycology at the 16th annual Eagle Mushroom and Wild Food Festival (EMWF). Happening at the Brush Creek Pavilion in Eagle, the immersive experience will include hands-on workshops, keynote presentations, expert guided forays, live music by Sweet Jessup & The […]
Posted inEnvironment
Naturalist Nights speaker discusses ecological impacts of recreation
On Feb. 19-20, Wilderness Workshop and the Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) hosted the fourth of five speakers for the annual Naturalist Nights free lecture series. Dr. Christopher Monz is a professor at Utah State University, and teaches classes in recreation ecology and management. He presented to the audience remotely, offering insights on the […]
Posted inEnvironment
Colorado’s moose boom leaves an impact
On a brisk summer morning, many moons ago, I awoke to the sudden pelting of pebbles on my sleeping bag. Rubbing sleep from my eyes, I rolled over to see my friend pointing wildly across the meadow. Tracking her silent gesture, I witnessed a stunning display of wildlife: two great Alces alces shirasi, the Shiras […]
Posted inNews
Five wolves successfully released in CO
On Monday, Dec. 18, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) released five gray wolves from Oregon onto public land in Grand County. It was a historic moment, putting into motion a ballot measure that voters in the Centennial State decided on back in 2020, with a narrow margin. Much support came from voters on the Front […]
Posted inNews, Uncategorized
For the love of fens…
Photos by Chris Cohen Rocky Mountain Science Center Sliding her shovel deep into the spongy earth, ecologist Delia Malone explained that a fen is a special kind of wetland, formed over thousands of years. Prone to freezing and lacking aeration, the decomposition of organic matter in a fen is limited, generating around four centimeters of […]
Posted inNews, Uncategorized
Space for Giants: You’re where the earth began
Martha Cochran is executive director of the USA office of Space for Giants (SFG), an international conservation organization that protects Africa’s remaining natural ecosystems and wildlife. SFG, headquartered in Kenya, works in 11 countries in the central, sub-Saharan region of the continent. Cochran told The Sopris Sun that conservation is a complicated term. “It can […]
Posted inNews, Uncategorized
Crystal River Restoration Project hits another snag
For years, the Crystal River Restoration Project (CRRP) has been a topic of conversation. In 2016, a section of the river south of Crystal Bridge Drive in Carbondale was identified by the Roaring Fork Conservancy as “unsustainably impaired” due to its wide and shallow channel, which can trap fish in warm waters during low-flow. In […]