Colorado Parks and Wildlife employees are in the crosshairs, caught between mountain lion lovers on the left and anti-wolf advocates on the right. The news this week that CPW employees are facing a variety of threats from radical elements in both groups of Coloradans strikes us as ironic sad — and frightening.

But in the face of unnecessary radicalism, we urge policymakers not to entrench themselves in their positions but to take a moderate approach that accepts the reality that, on both sides of the issue, there is ground to give.

CPW acting director Laura Clellan told The Colorado Sun that her staff has received anonymous threats over two mountain lions who were euthanized following a fatal attack on a runner. And after the release of 15 gray wolves into Colorado, CPW staff were followed during operations and threatened with violence.

We expect healthy and robust debate about Colorado’s wildlife management practices, but both sides of these issues have gone crazy. This outlandish and harassing behavior must stop.

Hunting is a vital part of our wildlife management, our economy and our Western culture as is Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s ability to euthanize animals who pose a threat to humans. The Denver Post editorial board opposed a ban on mountain lion hunting in 2024’s Proposition 127. But we also supported the reintroduction of wolves in Colorado in 2020’s Proposition 114. The wolves are native to Colorado and could help our ecosystems find the right balance between predator and prey.

From this middle-ground position, we can call for both sides to simmer down.

Because from our vantage of impartiality, we can see plainly that mountain lion hunting needs much more regulation to protect the apex predator from being overly culled. The ban simply went too far.

And we can see plainly that the reintroduction of wolves has not gone well for the wolves or for the ranchers whose livelihoods have been impacted by wolf depredation.

Neither of those realizations requires a revolution. A strongly worded letter to state officials or reintroduction of ballot measures to change state law could suffice in both instances of policy failure.

Accusations that CPW staff is acting inappropriately or that they are out to get Coloradans who have different ideas for how our wildlife should be managed are both inappropriate and inaccurate. There is no conspiracy to protect mountain lion hunters or the guides who make money pursuing the big cats for clients. There is no conspiracy to chase Colorado ranchers off of public lands with marauding bands of gray wolves.

What we do know is that a Colorado woman was recently killed by a mountain lion while on a heavily used trail near an established neighborhood in Estes Park. The tragic death followed months of reports of mountain lions that appeared to no longer fear humans. Euthanizing those animals was the right decision.

Hunting lions can contribute to the animals retaining a natural fear of humans and dogs. Not banning hunting was the right call. However, the tragic death also shouldn’t lead to vehement anti-lion sentiment like we are seeing with gray wolves.

Apex predators are a critical part of our ecosystem, and while they always pose a risk to humans, managing them, not eradicating them, is the right path.

The Colorado Buffaloes defense took a huge step forward under defensive coordinator and safeties coach Robert Livingston upon his arrival in Boulder, Colorado. Livingston was with the Cincinnati Bengals fulfilling a variety of roles before Deion Sanders brought him onto his staff. 

Livingston massively improved the defense in his first season in several categories which allowed the Buffaloes to have a record of 9-4 and compete for a Big 12 title in 2024. However, Colorado’s defense took a step back in 2025. Can Livingston, Sanders, and the rest of the Buffaloes’ coaching staff help turn the defense around? Transfer defensive back Paul Omodia and defensive lineman Dylan Manuel will likely play a part.

Prioritize Playmakers

Sanders knows what he wants in his coordinators, he wants them to tailor the gameplan to the playmakers and use the players strengths to Colorado’s advantage and that is exactly what Livingston does. 

Livingston’s scheme at a foundational level is a 4-3 defense that allows the safeties to react to what they see and disrupt offenses run game and their air attack. As far as the gameplan goes, Livingston’s plans are a week-to-week plan, helping his defenses become successful through confusing opponents, taking away their best options, and mixing up coverages to never be predictable. 

Livingston wants his players to go play football fast and aggressively. When he had Travis Hunter in 2024 he tailored the scheme to allow him to hunt for turnovers as a ball hawk.

MORE: Deion Sanders Bolsters Colorado Secondary with Transfer Cornerback

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Defensive Back Paul Omodia

Through the portal Colorado has been able to add several players, however defensive back tranfser Paul Omodia stands out.

Omodia brings significant playmaking ability to the secondary as a player who can take advantage of offenses putting the ball in risky situations. As a Lamar Cardinal in the Southland conference, he was able to do so at an elite level. 

In his final season, Omodia forced 14 incompletions as an all-conference player. Omodia and his length at 6-2 can and will provide lots of versatility for an already strong Colorado defense. 

Defensive Lineman Dylan Manuel

Colorado made many additions to the defensive front in order to help stopping the run which was a problem in a few matchups this year, most notably the game against the Utah Utes.

This includes Dylan Manuel transferring from Appalachian State. As a freshman, he was able to contribute 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks with a forced fumble.

Manuel’s production as a young player in Livingston’s defense should only improve and he promises to be one of those playmakers that are needed in this defense to be successful. His continued improvement as a pass rusher and disrupter in the run game will help others around him to be more aggressive.

There have been several other additions in the portal that will bolster both the front seven as well as the secondary, however Omodia and Manuel promise to be key contributors in a defense that will be one to reckon with in 2026. 

With a better overall unit in the front to stop the run, the pass defense could have several opportunities to get after the quarterback and make plays on the ball.

Winter is back.

Temperatures on Friday are expected to rise no higher than 15 degrees in Denver, with the thermometer dipping to a few notches above zero tonight. Oh, and throw in some snow while you’re at it.

In the metro area, accumulations this weekend are expected to be insignificant — at less than an inch, according to the National Weather Service. Snow is not expected to begin falling until after 3 p.m. Friday.

It’s a different story in the central mountains, where a winter weather advisory goes into effect at 11 a.m. Friday and lasts until 5 p.m. Saturday, with five to 11 inches of snow expected. The National Weather Service warns of hazardous travel conditions Friday evening into Saturday morning along the Interstate 70 corridor into Summit County.

On Colorado’s northeast and east central plains, the arctic blast has already arrived, with the weather service issuing a cold weather advisory that went into place at 3 a.m. Friday and will last until 9 a.m. Saturday. Wind chills on the plains could go as low as 22 degrees below zero.

Meterologists are warning that in areas east of Denver and out to the Kansas state line, frostbite could develop in less than 30 minutes if people are not dressed properly, which includes layers and wearing a hat and gloves to reduce skin exposure to the cold.

Snow on the plains is forecast to begin falling Friday and will wrap up sometime during the day Saturday. Little accumulation is expected.

Frigid conditions continue into Saturday in Denver, with snow likely but additional accumulations of less than 1 inch. The high on Saturday will be 21 degrees. Saturday night will drop to around 6 degrees, with wind chills at 2 below zero.