Science for Colorado Wildlife

06/05/2026

It is a Trojan Horse.

06/04/2026

Wise words from a newly appointed wildlife commissioner:

"Rather than just debating population data, we must demand that agencies manage wildlife to accommodate a plurality of values. Through legislation or rulemaking, we must mandate that every species management plan not only focus on how management will maintain wildlife populations, benefit consumptive users, and reduce human-wildlife conflict, but also on how it will improve the ecosystem and environment, reflect the interests of non-consumptive publics, and help reduce unnecessary individual animal suffering. Such a change would enable progress beyond the never-ending debates over biological science and population data by ensuring both domination and mutualist values are considered. Because at the end of day, wildlife management is guided by values, not just biological science. Those who say values have no place in management are doing so because their values are currently being privileged in decision-making. Progress will be stalled if we continue to work within a framework where only a portion of the public’s values are perceived by agencies as legitimate."

Debates over biological science and population data can only get us so far

06/02/2026

Reminder: Cyanide bombs have been banned in Colorado for three decades, except for one tightly controlled exemption. Regardless, the federal government reports having killed 277 animals (mostly coyotes) with cyanide bombs in Colorado between 2014 and 2024. People are (rightly) objecting to the Trump administration's decision to lift its ban on the use of cyanide bombs on public lands, but Coloradans should not believe this change represents the whole picture.
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2026/05/22/as-trump-moves-to-allow-cyanide-bombs-to-kill-coyotes-some-worry-dogs-will-die/

05/30/2026

Being outside can mean sharing space with wild carnivores. While close encounters are generally rare, being informed and prepared helps keep people, pets, and wildlife safe.

Spring and summer are an especially active time for humans and wildlife alike! People are hitting the trails and spending more time outdoors, while many wild carnivores are busy raising families and teaching their young how to navigate the world.

Being outside can mean sharing space with wild carnivores. While close encounters are generally rare, being informed and prepared helps keep people, pets, and wildlife safe.

A few important tips before you hit the trail:

🥾 Stay aware of your surroundings.
🐕 Keep pets leashed and close by.
🧒 Keep children nearby and supervise them closely.
🍎 Never feed wildlife and pack out all food and trash.
🐾 Give wildlife plenty of space and never approach young animals.

Most wild carnivores naturally avoid people. Respecting their space and taking simple precautions helps ensure people and wildlife can safely coexist outdoors.



📷 Sheryl Hester, Contributor

05/28/2026

Passing the new law was no mean feat, but it was just step one. Now comes the real work: Contacting your local law enforcement agency to ask, cajole, entreat and implore officers to enforce the law. The bears now have greater protection under the law. It’s up to us to make sure they enjoy it.

https://scienceforcowildllife.substack.com/p/new-bear-law-is-good-now-the-work

05/27/2026

Some people respond to incidents like the sad news from Winter Park with fear that is disproportionate to the cause. Some suggest the proper response is to kill more moose or to remove them entirely from the landscape.

It is possible to be appropriately cautious as we venture into nature and to recognize that risk is inherent in life, and life is most vividly expressed in the wild.

https://substack.com/home/post/p-199497885

05/26/2026

Our friends at Wyoming Untrapped are sharing an important essay, with these observations:

"Wyoming often speaks proudly of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. But that model is supposed to affirm that wildlife belongs to all people, that science should guide management, and that wildlife should only be killed for a legitimate, non-frivolous purpose. Running down animals for recreation, killing contests, unregulated predator killing, and the wholesale dismissal of native species cannot be reconciled with those principles."

"As Camenzind writes, what is missing is a simple but essential ethic:
'All native species are an integral part of the ecosystem they inhabit and shall be recognized and managed as such.'”

05/21/2026

Happy ! 🐻

Bears play essential roles in the landscapes we all share. From dispersing seeds and supporting forest regeneration to contributing to healthy ecosystems, their presence is important!

As bear activity increases this time of year, it’s a good reminder that coexistence starts with awareness, and even a little honesty about our own habits.

If you live in bear country, here are a few simple ways to help prevent conflict and keep both people and bears safe:

- Secure trash and food sources
- Use bear-resistant containers when possible
- Bring in bird feeders when bears are active
- Pick up fallen fruit
- Protect crops, farmed animals, and beehives with proper fencing if needed
- Keep grills clean and free of food residue
- Feed pets indoors
- Never feed bears or other wildlife
- In bear country, carry bear spray and follow local guidance
- Give bears space, observe from a distance

🐾 Join our E-Team for more coexistence tips: https://loom.ly/XSS0MEY

05/20/2026

A bunch of guys with guns converge on Comanche National Grasslands and set their sights on a prairie dog colony. They rain hellfire on the animals and, on social media, boast about the carnage.

“Three of us shot 316 today in our favorite dog town. Makes 2,527 for the year so far,” one said on Facebook. “Eric had a head count of 66! Mine was 31,” another crowed.

Question: What’s their goal? It’s not “hunting.” The shooters don’t eat prairie dogs or sell their fur. The object is not wildlife “management.” CPW lists prairie dogs as a “species of greatest conservation need” (see screenshot below). They are a keystone species, meaning that other species depend on them, but the shooters leave the animals’ bodies on the ground, tainted with lead, which harms other species.

Since prairie dogs have a high “conservation need,” and given that CPW vows to be guided by science, what scientific rationale is there for prairie dogs’ unlimited recreational shooting?

https://scienceforcowildllife.substack.com/p/right-to-hunt-crowd-embraces-ballot