Noticias

• Wolves in Southwest Colorado
• A Time for Animals
• West End Roundup with the San Miguel Basin Forum

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Wolves in Southwest Colorado

Colorado voters approved an initiative in 2020 to reintroduce wolves to the state. Following years of planning by wildlife officials, 10 wolves were released in December 2023 in northern Colorado. Since then, the population has grown to 29 wolves statewide, with some migrating as far south as southwest Colorado.

Rachel Sralla, area wildlife manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, shared updates on local wildlife during a San Miguel County Commissioners meeting on March 19. She began with the status of elk and deer herds.

“Overall our herds are looking great,” Sralla said. “We’re holding a stable population of elk just because of those demands on the landscape, but allowing more opportunity for some harvest and some deer harvest as well where especially in deer we have disease management considerations.”

Just three years ago, local elk herds struggled with depredation, which impacted calf-to-cow ratios.

Sralla also provided updates on the wolves, noting the movement patterns of the 29 marked animals across the state.

“What was really interesting that we saw in this 30-day period is a single female wolf from the British Columbia relocation effort that went on, and those wolves were released in January,” she said. “She walked along this type of trajectory, went along the north side of I-70, crossed the interstate, came down a little bit, took a look at the North Uncompahgre Plateau, and walked out this way and has since … wandered all over the place. Really, really big foray that is not unexpected but pretty cool to see.”

Most of the wolves remain in the northern half of the state, Sralla said. She added that in the early years of reintroduction, wolves often travel extensively before forming packs and establishing territories.

The female wolf Sralla referenced has covered significant ground.

“She had walked 150 miles in 15 days. And has continued, so I think she’s up to 500 or 600 miles since January,” Sralla said.

Collar data used to track wolves is delayed by 16 to 24 hours, making it difficult to pinpoint their exact locations. The closest wolves to Telluride are in the Carbondale and Aspen areas of Pitkin County, Sralla said.

Spring marks a crucial time for wolves as they move to dens for pup-rearing, creating opportunities for CPW officials to work with livestock producers to minimize conflicts with the predators.

“We just had a great meeting with [the] Uncompahgre Cattleman’s Association earlier this week to discuss basis still, so we’re helping folks get familiar with the regulations surrounding wolves and wolf presence,” Sralla said. “What actions livestock owners take if they were to see a wolf, especially one that was interacting with their livestock in a negative way. But also to help tell the story that we’ve got 29 marked animals out right now and those animals have been living near the same pasture as beef cows and we’re not seeing issues.”

Precautions such as proper burial of carcasses, human presence among cattle, scare devices, and tracking wolves in areas with heavy livestock can help prevent depredation, Sralla said.

San Miguel County Commissioner Galena Gleason announced a wolf conflict minimization workshop scheduled for Saturday, March 22, in Norwood. The Colorado Department of Agriculture will present non-lethal methods to reduce conflicts between wolves and livestock. The event begins at 2 p.m. at the Norwood Sheriff’s Annex.

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A Time for Animals

Supporting animals isn’t just about compassion, says Nicholas Gilman, Executive Director of Second Chance Humane Society.

“Humans actually feel better and live longer when they have a connection to animals,” Gilman said. “It’s good for us to love animals.”

Based on a 52-acre ranch in Ridgway, the Humane Society also operates thrift stores in Ridgway and Telluride. Gilman says their mission goes beyond dogs and cats.

“We are animal lovers from top to bottom,” Gilman said. “We are an organization whose mission statement says we are interested in the protection of all animals, not just dogs and cats. But most of our work is in rescuing dogs and cats, either animals that are stray and need to be returned to their owner, or animals that have been turned into us and now need their forever home.”

This weekend, Second Chance is partnering with Ouray-based singer-songwriter Emily Scott Robinson for a benefit concert at the Sheridan Opera House. Robinson, a folk/Americana artist signed to John Prine’s Oh Boy Records, says she’s eager to share her music for a good cause.

“Right now, I’m writing new songs and getting ready to record my third album with Oh Boy,” Robinson said. “I’m so excited. I’m going to be playing some of the old hits at the Sheridan Opera House show, and I’m also going to be sharing some new songs, so I’m really excited about that.”

The acoustic show will have an intimate, stripped-down feel.

“These times that we’re living in are really intense, and I think it can be very normal to feel a sense of overwhelm,” Robinson said. “I have found that one of the best antidotes to that is being in community with other people. So, lately my shows have been extra special, extra emotional, extra sweet. I think it’s going to be a cathartic and lovely night. You can look around at the generosity of our community and really appreciate that for an evening, appreciate the people who live here and all the generous hearts that we have here.”

Gilman echoed her sentiments, adding the event is for a meaningful cause.

“We’ll have a full house of animal lovers both on stage and in the audience,” he said.

The Evening with Emily Scott Robinson benefit concert will take place at the Sheridan Opera House on Sunday, March 23, at 8:15 p.m.

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West End Roundup with the San Miguel Basin Forum

Today on the West End Roundup with the San Miguel Basin forum KOTO’s news team chats with editor Regan Tuttle about: Nucla Mayoral Race, Wrestling Legacy of West End, and Leaders of West End visit Washington D.C.

Story begins at 9:05.

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Colorado West Performing Arts Company to Perform “Coppélia”

The Colorado West Performing Arts Company, a premier professional ballet company from Grand Junction, will perform the ballet Coppélia on Saturday, March 22, at 7 p.m. in the Michael D. Palm Theater.

Coppélia is a charming and humorous ballet about love, mischief, and mechanical dolls. The production is a favorite among ballet lovers and will also feature middle and high school ballet dancers.

Audiences are invited to enjoy an evening of artistry and entertainment.

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Library Director Sarah Landeryou to Retire After 18 Years

Library staff will host a celebration in her honor on Friday, March 21, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Alibi. Community members are invited to share stories, reflect on Landeryou’s accomplishments, and look ahead as the library prepares to welcome a new director.

Light appetizers, cake, and drinks will be served. The event is open to all.

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New head of EPA Chosen by Trump Administration

The Environmental Protection Agency has a new administrator for our region. Cyrus Western, a former Wyoming lawmaker, will oversee the EPA’s region 8, which includes Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, and both Dakotas, along with 28 tribal nations. Western served in the Wyoming house of representatives, and opted not to seek re-election in 2024.EPA director Lee Zeldin said in a statement Western’s experience on house oil and gas and wildlife committees would be valuable, calling him a champion for “energy and wildlife conservation. “Wyoming senators John Barrasso and Cynthia Lummis, both Republicans, commended the agency on the pick, saying that they looked forward to “rolling back punishing regulations,” and collaborating with the EPA to “to advance President Trump’s American energy resurgence.”

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Capitol Coverage

 With Congress in recess this week, some Republicans are facing a backlash at town halls over the Trump administration’s cuts to the federal government. But, as KUNC’s Lucas Brady Woods reports, in Colorado, they haven’t held any in-person events at all.

Story begins at 17:20.

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Study Links Childhood Leukemia to Proximity to Oil and Gas Wells

A new study published in a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research suggests a link between childhood leukemia and living near oil and gas well sites.

Researchers from the Colorado School of Public Health contributed to the study, which found that children diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) were nearly twice as likely to live within 13 kilometers (about 8 miles) of an oil and gas well site compared to children without a cancer diagnosis.

The study analyzed data from Colorado children aged 2 to 9 diagnosed with ALL between 2002 and 2019 and compared it to data from children diagnosed with other types of cancer during the same period.

Dr. Lisa McKenzie, an associate professor at the Colorado School of Public Health and one of the study’s researchers, spoke with Rocky Mountain Community Radio’s Maeve Conran. McKenzie emphasized that proximity to wells is just one of several factors that should be considered when developing health-protective policies.

Story begins at 18:20.