By Shannon Lukens.
Courtesy photo from Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Deep snow and winter conditions are making it harder than normal for big game animals. Elk are feeding on private lands and animals are getting hit along the highways and county roads. Colorado Parks and Wildlife will be conducting some small-scale big game baiting operations to get those animals away from roads and highways, mainly in Rio Blanco and Moffat counties. CPW is having a public meeting about it at 6 p.m. Monday at the Craig Chamber of Commerce building, 775 Yampa Street.
Additional topics to be discussed during the public meeting are:
Habitat Partnership Program
Game Damage
Big Game Concentrations
Chronic Wasting Disease
Here is the full press release from Colorado Parks and Wildlife; Feb. 2, 2023.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife to host a public meeting in Craig on February 6
Craig, Colo. – Early season snowfall in October and November combined with above average snowfall across the area in December and January has created difficult conditions for big-game animals.
On February 6, local Colorado Parks and Wildlife personnel will be hosting a public meeting at the Craig Chamber of Commerce to discuss current winter conditions and CPW’s response with the community. This will be an in person public meeting and no virtual option will be provided.
Meeting details:
Date and time: Monday, February 6 starting at 6 p.m.
Location: Craig Chamber of Commerce
775 Yampa Ave Suite 103, Craig, CO 81625
“As winter conditions have worsened we have observed big game animals become more concentrated,” said Assistant Area Wildlife Manager Mike Swaro. “Many areas that serve as traditional winter range for big-game are now under deep snow resulting in animals becoming much more concentrated along river bottoms. In a number of situations these concentrations have resulted in increased conflicts with elk getting into livestock feed lines on private lands. We’re also seeing an increase in the number of animals near and along the roads as wildlife tries to find relief from deep snow and search for feed.”
Wildlife officials have received multiple reports of large groups of pronghorn near highway and county roads throughout the area. On January 14, a semi going eastbound from Utah on Highway 40 hit 35 pronghorn on the road, near Dinosaur. A few days later on January 19, another group of 18 pronghorn were hit by a pickup truck on a county road near Craig. In both incidents the occupants of the vehicles were uninjured.
“This is becoming a public safety issue,” said Swaro. To ensure public safety, reduce wildlife vehicle collisions, and attempt to mitigate wildlife conflicts in livestock feed lines, CPW is conducting limited, small-scale big game baiting operations to lure big-game away from roads and highways.
Additional topics to be discussed during the public meeting are:
Habitat Partnership Program
Game Damage
Big Game Concentrations
Chronic Wasting Disease
Anyone with questions or to report wildlife along the road is encouraged to contact the Meeker Area office at 970-878-6090 or your local wildlife officer.