October 7, 2024
[The Rio Grande County Courthouse, Del Norte, CO.]
Businesses
Larimer County, CO.
Estes Park, CO.
Macdonald Book Shop
152 East Elkhorn Avenue
Estes Park, CO.
80517
(970) 586-3450
Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Black bear sow with three cubs enters Lake City home, attacks 74-year-old
[The following is based on a press release.]
Colorado Parks and Wildlife responded Thursday night when a 74-year-old man was attacked by a black bear inside his home on the north side of Lake City after the bear and her three cubs opened a partially cracked sliding glass door and entered the home.
The attack occurred at roughly 8:30 P.M. October 3, 2024. The residents in the home were startled when they heard a loud crash and saw the bears entering through the door.
The victim of the attack grabbed a chair from the kitchen and attempted to direct the adult bear out the door. But the bear charged the man, knocking him into a wall before it briefly stood over him. The bear swiped at the man, who incurred significant wounds from being clawed, including wounds to the head, neck, both arms, lower abdomen, shoulder and calf.
Emergency medical personnel were able to treat the victim’s wounds on the scene, and the victim declined to be transported to the hospital.
“It’s certainly lucky we didn’t have a fatality, because it was close,” said CPW wildlife officer Lucas Martin.
When law enforcement and medical personnel arrived, the sow’s three cubs were still inside the home despite attempts by the residents to haze the bears away. At that time, the residents had escaped the bears by locking themselves in a bedroom. A Hinsdale County Sheriff’s Deputy was eventually able to haze the cubs out of the home.
Two CPW District Wildlife Managers also responded. The sow and all three cubs climbed trees outside the home, and after preliminary confirmation of their involvement in the attack, all four bears involved were subsequently euthanized.
The bears were sent to CPW’s health lab in Fort Collins to be tested for disease and to undergo a full necropsy.
“There was no question that these were the bears involved,” said CPW Area Wildlife Manager Brandon Diamond. “It’s a terrible set of circumstances that, unfortunately, our District Wildlife Managers are routinely faced with. Clearly, these bears were highly habituated and were willing to enter an occupied house with the residents sitting just feet away. When a bear reaches this level of human habituation, clearly a lot of interaction with people has already happened, and unless communities are working with us collaboratively and communicating issues, we have no opportunity to intervene.”
Before Friday night’s attack, CPW had only received eight official reports of bear activity in Hinsdale County so far in 2024. However, it is common for bears to be in and around Lake City, and CPW officers have been aware of chatter on social media related to bears getting into unoccupied homes and garages in the area throughout the late summer and early fall. Some of those reports were of sow bears with cubs.
“When we have multiple sows with multiple cubs in town and conflict is occurring based on the ongoing availability of human food sources, it creates a very complex situation to mitigate,” said Martin. “Unfortunately, cub bears that are taught these behaviors by their mother may result in generations of conflict between bears and people.”
CPW emphasizes the importance of the public reporting all bear incidents to their nearest CPW office to try and prevent conflict from escalating to the level of an attack.
“We sometimes hear through the rumor mill or grapevine of bears getting in through open windows or entering garages and that kind of stuff,” Martin said. “Often, people want to get on social media and post about it, but they never actually call the authorities. We don’t only want calls when something escalates to this level. We want to be able to do some management before things get to this level.”
This is the first reported bear attack in Colorado in 2024, compared with six reports in 2023. There have been 96 reported bear attacks on humans in Colorado dating back to 1960.
CPW stresses the importance of the public doing their part to remove attractants and food sources that bring bears close to human-occupied spaces.
“This is a tragic thing that has happened, and it happened because bears continue to have access to human food sources,” Martin said. “We’ve talked about this for decades – access to human food sources, including trash and bird feeders, is what leads to escalating and sometimes dangerous behavior from black bears. The result is a lose-lose for bears and people.”
Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers these tips and precautions to help you prevent human/wildlife conflicts that can also save a bear’s life.
Bearproofing your home:
Keep garbage in a well-secured location.
Only put out garbage on the morning of pickup.
Clean garbage cans regularly to keep them free of food odors: ammonia is effective.
Use a bear-resistant trash can or dumpster.
Don't leave pet food or stock feed outside.
Bird feeders are a major source of bear/human conflicts. Attract birds naturally with flowers and water baths. Do not hang bird feeders from April 15 to November 15.
Do not attract other wildlife by feeding them, such as deer, turkeys or small mammals.
Don’t allow bears to become comfortable around your house. If you see one, yell at it, throw things at it, make noise to scare it off.
Secure compost piles. Bears are attracted to the scent of rotting food.
Clean the grill after each use.
Clean-up thoroughly after picnics in the yard or on the deck.
If you have fruit trees, don't allow the fruit to rot on the ground.
If you keep small livestock, keep animals in a fully covered enclosure. Construct electric fencing if possible. Don’t store livestock food outside, keep enclosures clean to minimize odors, hang rags soaked in ammonia and/or Pine-Sol around the enclosure.
If you have beehives, install electric fencing where allowed.
Talk to your neighbors and kids about being bear aware.
Keep garage doors closed.
For more information on bears in Colorado, visit cpw.state.co.us/bears. If you have questions or need to report bear problems, call your nearest CPW office.
Comics
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Finding Colorado
Colorado Springs has an elevation of 6,012 feet above sea level.
Larimer County, CO.
Estes Park, CO., Estes Park Museum Match Campaign
[The following is based on a press release from the Estes Park Museum.]
The Estes Park Museum Friends & Foundation, Inc. (EPMFF) and Estes Park Museum want to thank the 29 donors who contributed to the 2024 Match Campaign. The campaign raised a total of $14,135, marking a rousing accomplishment!
A private donor wanted to make a $6,000 donation to support the most current and pressing opportunities for the Museum through a general fund campaign match. Museum members and supporters stepped up immediately in less than one month giving $8,135 to support the campaign. Donations will be used to continue Museum successes in community education programs, exhibitions, collections care, and staffing. Each charitable donation had twice the impact during the campaign and the support is greatly appreciated!
This remarkable response to the campaign displays the financial commitment the community has in aiding the achievements of the Estes Park Museum. This endeavor is necessary for the EPMFF in achieving their mission to support the Museum through fundraising and advocacy.
Thank you to all who helped reach the goal and made the 2024 campaign a success!
Estes Park, CO., Paid Parking and Daily Trolley Services
[The following is based on a press release from the Town of Estes Park, CO.]
The Town of Estes Park’s 2024 paid parking season will conclude October 20, 2024, at 5:00 P.M. This is also the final day of daily transit service on the Red Route (downtown trolley). On October 21, 2024, staff will be removing and/or transitioning signage to reflect the transition to free parking in all public parking areas until Memorial Day weekend 2025.
Those seeking weekday transportation services during the winter months are welcome to contact Via Mobility (Via Colorado), which offers on-demand, door-through-door service within the Town of Estes Park and some portions of surrounding Larimer County. Via Mobility’s service is open to riders of all ages and abilities. Rides can be scheduled Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. by calling (303) 447-9636. Same-day scheduling is available on a limited basis.
For the most up-to-date Town parking and transportation information, please visit www.estes.org/parking and www.estes.org/transit.
Estes Park, CO., Town budget meetings
[The following is based on a press release from the Town of Estes Park, CO.]
The Estes Park Town Board will review the proposed 2025 Town budget during a study session and public hearings in October and November. The study session is scheduled for October 9, 2024, 9:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M. in the Town Board Room of Town Hall, 170 MacGregor Avenue. If needed, an additional study session is scheduled for October 10, 2024, 9:30 A.M. – noon. The public is encouraged to attend the study session(s), although public comment is not part of the process at that time. Public hearings on the budget will take place during the October 22, 2024, and November 12, 2024, Town Board meetings with final adoption anticipated November 12, 2024. The public is encouraged to attend and comment at these public hearings, which take place at 7:00 P.M. in the Town Board. Meeting agendas and materials are provided at www.estes.org/boardsandmeetings.
Each study session will include presentations on different operations within the Town government. The morning of the October 9, 2024 study session will focus on a General Budget overview, the Capital Improvement Plan, Employment Compensation and Benefits, Legislative, Judicial, Town Clerk’s Office, Human Resources and Benefits, Town Administrator’s Office, Town Attorney, Police, Finance, Community Reinvestment Fund, Community Center Fund, Emergency Response Communication Fund, Wildfire Mitigation EVFPD Fund, Vehicle Replacement Fund, Fleet Maintenance Fund, Facilities Fund, Information Technology Fund, Risk Management Fund, and Outside Entity Base Funding. The afternoon of the October 9, 2024 study session will focus on Workforce Housing and Childcare, Community Development (Planning and Building Permits Divisions), Visitor Center, Events, Museum, Parks, Conservation Trust Fund, Open Space Fund, Street Operations, Stormwater, Streets Improvement Fund, Trails Improvement Funds, Transit, Parking, Power and Communications, Water, and ending with an overall Budget Wrap-Up Summary.
Each year, the process begins with creating a budget schedule early in the year. Strategic planning meetings are held earlier in the year with the Mayor and Board of Trustees to determine priorities and give guidance for budget preparation. Next, departments begin to review their budgets and consider potential needs for the following year. The Departments then prepare their base budget requests along with decision packages for change requests with the Strategic Plan in mind and submit them to the Finance Director in June or early July. A base budget is then prepared with no operational changes as a starting point for budget development. Next, the departments rank the decision packages for the entire General Fund, identifying the prioritized changes they would like to submit to the Town Administrator for consideration. The Town Administrator, working with the Finance Director, then identifies the changes to be included in the recommended budget. The Finance Director then prepares the proposed budget to be reviewed with the Town Board during the budget study sessions. After the budget is approved in November, it is printed and submitted to the State of Colorado by the end of January.
The budget process requires Town staff and its elected Town Board to make difficult decisions to balance the Town’s limited revenues with the cost of providing its core services, as well as to consider the ever-growing demand for expanded public services. Although approximately 6,000 residents live within Town limits, millions of guests also rely on the Town’s services. Instead of property taxes, which are kept low for its residents, sales taxes drive the Town’s general fund revenue so that visitors share the tax burden and support services like streets maintenance, parks, police services and many more.
Town of Estes Park financial information, including budgets and the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, are available at www.estes.org/finance. For more information, please contact the Finance Department at (970) 577-3560.
Estes Valley Fire Protection District, Weekly Report September 22, 2024
During the week of September 22nd, 2024, the Estes Valley Fire Protection District (EVFPD) responded to 33 calls for service. This included:
Alarm Activation: 8
Emergency Medical (assist EPH): 9
Possible Illegal Burn: 2
Good Intent: 1
Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA): 4
Bicycle Accident: 1
Smoke Investigation: 1
Assist: 6
Gas Leak: 1
Resources
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Gunnison Point web cam
Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, Grizzly Ridge web cam
Rocky Mountain National Park
Bierstadt Lake Parking Area in Rocky Mountain National Park Closure Notice
[The following is based on a press release from Rocky Mountain National Park.]
Beginning October 7, 2024, the Bierstadt Lake parking area, located on Bear Lake Road on the east side of Rocky Mountain National Park, will be closed for a vault toilet replacement project. Weather and conditions permitting, this parking area, including a shuttle stop, will be closed for approximately six weeks.
This project involves removing the existing vault toilet infrastructure which has exceeded its service life and installing a new vault toilet building. These needed improvements are funded by visitor recreation fees.
Due to the equipment necessary to complete this project, the size of the parking area and entrance and exit areas, the Bierstadt Lake parking area will be closed for the duration of the project. There will be no vehicle access and shuttle service will not be available at this stop. Vehicles will not be permitted to stop in the lane of traffic on Bear Lake Road to load/unload passengers.
There are numerous trails that lead to Bierstadt Lake, including from Bear Lake, Hollowell Park and Park and Ride. To board the park’s free shuttles and to access other destinations along Bear Lake Road, hikers will have to use alternate trailheads.
For more information on Rocky Mountain National Park, visit our website at www.nps.gov/romo or call the park’s Information Office at (970) 586-1206.
Limber Pine planting project
[The following is based on a press release.]
Rocky Mountain National Park is partnering with Rocky Mountain Conservancy to host several workdays to plant limber pine trees. Volunteers can sign up for one or multiple days between October 7, 2024, through October 10, 2024, and October 15, 2024 – October 17, 2024. This project involves a strenuous 3+ mile roundtrip hike carrying project materials and walking on steep terrain. Volunteers should be prepared for 8-hour workdays. The limber pine is a keystone species that provides shelter and food for wildlife, aids in soil stability, and promotes snow retention. The park’s population of limber pine was impacted by the 2020 East Troublesome fire. Be a part of the recovery effort for this important species! To learn more and register for this project:
This project has the potential to bring in over 100 volunteers, and we still have dozens of openings! Both the park and the Conservancy have shared posts on social media. Please consider resharing these posts or sending the link above to people who might be interested in this project!
Polar Bears, Bear Lake Trailhead
The winter crew at Bear Lake, also known as the Polar Bears, is looking for some new team members! The available shifts are Saturdays and Sundays from 7:30 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. Volunteers will serve with at least one other volunteer during their shift. The Polar Bear Season runs from October through May. Winter volunteers at Bear Lake give recommendations, discuss hike difficulty with visitors, and provided Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) education. This may include discussing proper footwear, avalanche safety, and adequate clothing for the weather. Know someone who might be a good fit for this position:
Polar Bears, Bear Lake Trailhead
Winter Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR)
Rocky Mountain National Park is looking to recruit two volunteers to assist with Winter Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR) efforts. The season will run from mid-November through mid-April. Exact dates will be determined with the supervisor of the position. By serving at least 32 hours/week, volunteers will qualify for free NPS housing. Housing may be in a dorm space with a private or shared bedroom.
The ideal candidate will have training and experience with winter backcountry travel and navigating avalanche terrain. In your application, please go into detail on your experience with winter backcountry travel and avalanche safety. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
A gear stipend may be available for proper winter attire and supplies. Additional funding may be available for education opportunities related to the position.
For more information:
Winter Preventative Search and Rescue (PSAR)
Until next time,