SALIDA, Colo. – An apparently malnourished young mountain lion entered a Chaffee County residence Thursday afternoon, killing one dog and briefly trapping a mother and her two children inside the house until Chaffee County Sheriffs Deputies evacuated them.
 
Colorado Division of Wildlife officers were able to tranquilize the lion, which appeared to be significantly underweight for its age, according to DOW Area Wildlife Manager Jim Aragon.  After evaluating the lion’s condition, Aragon said, a decision was made to euthanize the animal.
 
It is highly unusual for a mountain lion to enter a building.  "We will know more after we get the results of the necropsy, but this animal was not demonstrating normal behavior," Aragon said.
 
The incident began just after 4 p.m. when the lion chased a small dog through a pet door into the home, which is located about nine miles northwest of Salida.  
 
Michelle Bese and two children, ages two and five, were in the house when the lion entered.  The two-year old was asleep in a bedroom, and the five-year old and Mrs. Bese were sitting at the kitchen table when the animal came in the house.  There were also four other small dogs in the home.
 
Bese said that at first, she did not know if it was a coyote or lion until another dog confronted the lion and she could tell what it was.  At this point, she took her five-year old and ran to the back bedroom where the two-year old was sleeping. 
 
She shut the door behind her and called 911.
 
Chaffee County Sheriff’s deputies arriving at the scene and helped the woman and her children escape through a bedroom window. They also opened the home’s front and rear doors to provide the lion with an opportunity to leave.
 
However, when two DOW officers arrived a few minutes later, the lion was still in the house.   
 
"I looked in a bedroom window and could see a dog which I believed to be dead," said Aragon.  "The lion was in the same room, so I pounded on the window and side of the house in an attempt to get the lion to leave through one of the open doors."
 
After several other attempts to get the lion to leave, Aragon and Wildlife Officer Kim Woodruff, along with Chaffee County Sherriff’s Deputy Rod Lane, entered the house through the back bedroom window.  The lion was in a room directly across the hall. 
 
"We cracked the door open wide enough to see the lion and were able to shoot it with a tranquilizer dart," Aragon said.  
 
"We were able to locate four of the five dogs and get them transported to a vet clinic," said Aragon.  The fifth was later discovered hiding in the home.
 
All of the dogs, which included a Jack Russell Terrier and four Shih-Tzu, received wounds during the encounter.  One dog eventually died, and two others were seriously injured.
 
The young male lion, which is believed to be about a year and half old, only weighed about 40 pounds.   "A healthy lion of that age should be closer to 60 pounds," said Aragon.   
 
Its remains will be sent to a DOW lab in Fort Collins for analysis, which is standard procedure.
 
Wildlife officers say it is rare for a mountain lion to enter a building.  "We hope to learn more after we get the results of the necropsy, but this animal was not demonstrating normal behavior," he said.
 
###

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

Related posts

• Parktips – October 2009 (0)
• LION SEASON TO OPEN AGAIN ON UNCOMPAHGRE PLATEAU (0)
• IMPROVED DUCK POPULATIONS, HUNTING ACCESS AWAIT COLORADO WATERFOWL HUNTERS (0)
• EIGHTH ANNUAL HIGH PLAINS SNOW GOOSE FESTIVAL IN LAMAR (0)
• WILDLIFE COMMISSIONER BOB STREETER TO MEET PUBLIC IN NORTHEAST REGION (0)

LAMAR, Colo. – The city of Lamar and the Colorado Division of Wildlife will co-host the eight annual "High Plains Snow Goose Festival," the weekend of February 25-28.  The popular event is a chance to see flocks of thousands of snow geese during their migration through southeast Colorado.
 
"This festival continues to get bigger and better every year," said John Koshak, a watchable wildlife coordinator with the DOW.  "The word is out that the migration of snow geese through southeast Colorado is one of the grand spectacles of bird migration in the western United States."
 
Snow geese are considered the most abundant goose in the world.  Tens of thousands of the birds move through eastern Colorado during their spring migration.
 
In previous years, bird enthusiasts have been able to watch thousands of snow geese, Canada geese, and other waterfowl, take off and land as they come and go between feeding grounds and roosting sites on local reservoirs.  "The sight of thousands of geese lifting off the water or circling for a landing is an unforgettable experience," said Koshak.
 
The weekend features a wide variety of both indoor and outdoor activities beginning with several special tours on Friday. Besides the attraction of seeing the geese, other highlights include guided nature viewing tours, a craft fair, birds of prey demonstrations, lectures, a photography workshop, hunting seminars, opportunities to explore the region’s museums and historic sites, and a banquet.
 
The featured speaker at this year’s Saturday evening banquet is Pete Dunne.  Dunne is the founder of the World Series of Birding and Director of the Cape May Bird Observatory in New Jersey.  He has written numerous books about birding.  Dunne will host a special breakfast meeting and lead a raptor identification tour Saturday morning. 
 
Also on hand will be Ted Floyd, editor of Birding magazine and author of The Smithsonian Field Guide to North American Birds. "We are fortunate to have these world renowned birders present at this year’s festival," said Koshak.
 
Festival participants who plan to attend the outdoor tours are urged to dress appropriately and bring layered clothing to stay warm and dry.  "The weather in southeastern Colorado is difficult to predict at this time of year, so it’s best to be prepared for all kinds of conditions," said Linda Groat, a wildlife education specialist.  "We can have sunny days in the mid-60’s or wet weather with some snow.  It’s best to be prepared for everything.  The temperatures can change dramatically on the sunrise tours."
 
Organizers also suggest bringing a camera, binoculars, and a bird identification book.  Groat also said the event has a variety of indoor sessions for those who might not want to brave the weather on the outdoor wildlife viewing tours.
 
Participants can pre-register at www.highplainssnowgoose.com. To inquire about festival activities, call (719) 336-4370.
 
INCREASING ABUNDANCE
 
Wildlife biologists estimate there are approximately six million lesser snow geese in North America divided into four distinct populations.  The lesser snow geese that move through eastern Colorado are part of the Western Central Flyway population. The birds winter in southeastern Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, the Texas panhandle, and northern Mexico.  In late spring, the birds form enormous flocks before they head back to their summer nesting grounds in the Canadian Arctic.
 
Lesser snow geese come in two different color phases within the same species.  In the white phase, the geese are as white as snow except for the black wing tips.  The other phase, called blue geese, is slate gray with a white head.  Both have a dark "grinning patch" on the sides of their bill.  Mixed in the flocks of snow geese you may find some Ross’ geese, which look very much like snow geese except that they are two-thirds the size of snow geese and do not have the grinning patch.  Ross’ geese weigh between 3 – 4 pounds while snow geese weigh between 5 – 6 pounds.
 
In their arctic breeding grounds, snow geese graze on grass and sedges that grow on the tundra.  While migrating through the prairies of North America, they also feed on leftover grain in the fields.  In recent years, the burgeoning population of snow geese has been having such a detrimental effect on the fragile arctic tundra that harvest regulations have been relaxed in an effort to allow hunters to try to thin the flocks.
 
Biologists estimate that healthy, sustainable populations would have 800,000 to 1.2 million birds.  The overcrowding of nesting areas has lead to the spread of avian diseases and habitat destruction.
 
Historically, there were very few light geese in Colorado – perhaps only a few thousand, according to DOW biologists.  But their numbers have exploded over the past few decades. 
 
HUNTING SNOW GEESE
 
In an effort to manage the exploding population, federal and state agencies have issued a conservation order that authorizes a special late light goose season that allows Colorado hunters to take an unlimited number of snow geese. 
 
Snow goose hunters may use "unplugged" shotguns–guns capable of holding more than three shells–to aid in taking light geese during the special conservation order.  Hunters are reminded that unplugged shotguns are permitted during the Light Goose Conservation Order season only and may not be used for any other species or season dates.  Special conservation order hunting regulations remain in effect until April 30.  Hunters who choose to remove plugs from their shotguns must replace them prior to next year’s fall hunting seasons.
 
Hunters interested in learning more, are invited to attend a snow goose hunting seminar Sat., Feb. 27, 1 – 4 p.m. at the Colorado Division of Wildlife Office at 2500 S. Main St. in Lamar.  For more information, call (719) 336-6600.

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

Related posts

• Parktips – January 2010 (2)
• National Park Service Parktips – March 2010 (1)
• LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN CONSERVATION WORKSHOP IN LAMAR (0)
• LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN CONSERVATION WORKSHOP IN LAMAR (0)
• WILD TURKEY HUNTING SEMINARS (0)

DENVER, Colo. — The "Southern Delivery System Project," Georgetown bighorn sheep management and a dedication to late Denver Post writer Charlie Meyers headline the agenda for the Colorado Wildlife Commission’s Feb. 11 workshop in Denver.  

The workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the Hunter Education Building at Division of Wildlife Headquarters, 6060 Broadway.

Colorado Springs Utilities will update the Commission on the "Southern Delivery System Project," a proposed water delivery system designed to transport water from Lake Pueblo to Colorado Springs and other area water districts. Division staff has worked closely with Colorado Springs Utilities and other SDS partners to ensure measures are in place to mitigate the project’s impacts to fish and wildlife.  The Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Plan, developed pursuant to C.R.S. section 37-60-122.2, is the focus of this presentation.   

The meeting also features a presentation regarding the Bighorn Sheep Management Plan for Unit S-32 located in Georgetown.  The Georgetown herd is one of the largest in the state, providing distinct hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities.  In addition, the herd is a primary source of bighorn sheep for reintroductions and herd supplementations throughout Colorado and other states.  Division staff will discuss herd health, population objectives, habitat and other related issues.

In addition, the Commission will consider dedicating a portion of Spinney Mountain State Wildlife Area to honor late Denver Post outdoor writer Charlie Meyers.  Meyers, who passed away Jan. 5, 2010, was an avid angler, hunter and advocate for sportsmen and wildlife.   Division staff, responding to a request from the Wildlife Commission and Charlie’s friends, will recommend that the stretch of the South Platte River between Spinney Mountain and Eleven Mile reservoirs, commonly referred to as the "The Dream Stream," be renamed the "Charlie Meyers State Wildlife Area."

Those who cannot attend the meeting can still listen to the proceedings through a live Web audio link on the Division’s Web site. The DOW provides live audio of all its Commission meetings and workshops to keep citizens better informed about the development of regulations by the Commission and how they and Division staff are resolving issues facing Colorado’s wildlife. Access the live audio feed by clicking on the "listen to audio" link on the "Wildlife Commission" Web page during the meeting. Broadcasts are only available during the meeting.

To view the entire agenda for the February Commission Workshop, please visit: http://wildlife.state.co.us/WildlifeCommission/.

The Colorado Wildlife Commission is an 11-member board appointed by the governor. The Commission sets Division of Wildlife regulations and policies for hunting, fishing, watchable wildlife, land purchases and property regulations.

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

Related posts

• IMPROVED DUCK POPULATIONS, HUNTING ACCESS AWAIT COLORADO WATERFOWL HUNTERS (0)
• WILDLIFE COMMISSION TO MEET WITH COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD AND FINALIZE FALCONRY REGULATIONS (0)
• WILDLIFE COMMISSION TO FINALIZE 2010 TURKEY REGULATIONS (0)
• VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR (GP III) – DENVER (0)
• SPECIAL LICENSE AGENT (GP III) – DENVER (0)