Colorado

Colorado has more wolves, but would you know one if you saw one? Here is what to know

Published

2 years ago

May 2, 2024

Colorado has more wolves, but would you know one if you saw one? Here is what to know

Confirmation of dead wolves in Larimer and Elbert counties in recent weeks has only heightened public awareness that wide-wandering wolves can show up anywhere in Colorado.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has received hundreds of calls and wolf sighting reports in recent years.

Those sightings could increase this summer, as Colorado has more wolves on the landscape after reintroducing 10 in late December in recreation-heavy Grand and Summit counties, and as the weather warms and more people head outdoors to recreate.

Still, your chances are slim to see a wolf but here are things you should know about wolves and recreating:

Could you distinguish between a wolf and coyote? They look similar. Here are telltale differences

Here are the differences, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife:

Wolves are about twice the size of coyotes. However, smaller wolves can be about the same size as larger coyotes.
Wolves can measure up to 6 feet in length, including the tail, and stand approximately 30 inches in height at the shoulder. Females usually weigh 70 to 80 pounds, while males weigh 95 to more than 100 pounds.
Coyotes typically measure up to 4 feet in length, including tail, and stand closer to 18 inches in height at the shoulder. They generally weigh 15 to 45 pounds.
Wolves have larger and blockier snouts/muzzles and shorter and more rounded ears than coyotes, which have longer, narrower features.
Wolves have distinctively bushier and shorter tails than coyotes.
Wolf tracks are about 5 inches long by 4 inches wide, with four symmetrical toes and identifiable claws.
Coyote tracks are similar but are about half that size.
Wolf track paths usually show a direct, purposeful route.

How to report a wolf sighting and what to include in the report

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has a wolf sighting form and receives hundreds of reports and calls a year with people claiming to have seen a wolf.

The agency received six confirmed wolf sightings between 2004 and 2019. The latter year was when what became the breeding female of the North Park pack was discovered in Jackson County.

Since that breeding female and male naturally migrated into Jackson County and gave birth to six pups in spring of 2021, confirmed sightings have increased.

The agency encourages reporting of wolf sightings.

Here are important elements when reporting a sighting:

Clear video and/or photos, while making sure to keep a safe distance.
Photograph or video the tracks and measure them, placing an easily identifiable object next to the tracks.

What to do if you and your pet encounter a wolf

Wolves pose little risk to humans but some risk to dogs, which they see as competition for prey and as encroaching on their territory.

Here are safety tips when recreating:

Make lots of noise if you come and go when wolves are most active — dusk to dawn.
Dogs should be leashed or under strict voice control while recreating.
Bear spray can be effective in warding off an attack.
Keep dogs close to your home during the day and bring them inside at night.

In the extremely rare case that you encounter a wolf:

Keep visual contact with the animal.
Keep your dog away from the wolf.
Face the wolf but slowly move away (don’t run or bend down) to seek shelter.
If it approaches you, make yourself look larger by raising your hands, make loud noises and wave an object such as a hiking stick in front of you.
If attacked, fight back using your fingers or sharp objects on the wolf’s most sensitive areas, including underbelly, face and eyes.

Where might you encounter a wolf in Colorado?

The reintroduction of wolves has increased their presence in Colorado and wolves wander widely.

Confirmed sightings of naturally migrating and released wolves stretch from the West Slope to the Eastern Plains.

A dead wolf was discovered in Larimer County on April 18.

The wolf found dead in Elbert County in eastern Colorado on April 3 was discovered through blood samples to have wandered from Michigan or Wisconsin.

The highest concentration of wolves remains in the general vicinity of their initial release sites in Grand and Summit counties. That is where the majority of recent wolf depredations on livestock have taken place.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has released four monthly wolf activity maps showing watersheds in which its 12 wolves (11 after the deceased wolf in Larimer County) were detected travelling via pins from their GPS tracking collars.

The latest map recorded wolf movements March 26 through April 23. That map showed notable movement of a wolf or wolves in Larimer County, expanding eastward in watersheds encompassing roughly the western three-fourths of Larimer County. Those watersheds include one that reaches just east of U.S. Highway 287 north of Fort Collins and another south to U.S. Highway 34 west of Loveland.

It’s important to note with the watershed map that watersheds can be quite large. Also, if a collar or collars pings in a watershed, the entire watershed is marked as having a wolf or wolves in it at some point in the last month. It does not necessarily mean a wolf or wolves are currently in those areas.

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Colorado

Colorado residents should prepare for Xcel power outages this week as fire danger surges, utility says

Published

12 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Colorado residents should prepare for Xcel power outages this week as fire danger surges, utility says

Xcel Energy is warning its customers along the Front Range to be prepared for possible power outages this week as the risk of wildfire surges due to hot and dry weather.

“Due to the elevated risk of wildfire, enhanced powerline safety settings are active across out Front Range service territory,” according to a social media post from the utility. The settings make the powerlines more sensitive and prompt a line to stop the flow of electricity if an object touches a line.

The highest risk for wildfire danger will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday, when strong gusty winds are forecasted, according to the National Weather Service.

Humidity could be as low as 10% and winds may top 25 mph, leading to critical and extremely critical fire weather between Thursday and Saturday, forecasters said.

Tens of thousands of customers have lost power in recent months from planned outages during fire danger and powerline damage from high winds.

In December, 86,040 Xcel customers lost power because of a mix of planned shutoffs and downed powerlines from high winds. The decision led some customers to criticize the utility, asking it to fine-tune its weather responses.

Some schools in northern Colorado schools preemptively canceled classes in January after Xcel announced a planned power shutoff for 9,000 customers in the area.

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Colorado

An Evening Against Edmonton | Colorado Avalanche

Published

24 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

An Evening Against Edmonton | Colorado Avalanche

Edmonton Oilers (31-25-8) @ Colorado Avalanche (43-10-9)

8 p.m. MT | Ball Arena | Watch: TNT, truTV, HBO Max | Listen: Altitude Sports Radio (92.5 FM)

After back-to-back shootout victories, the Avalanche concludes its two-game homestand on Tuesday against the Edmonton Oilers. This game is an Avalanche Cup Classic, presented by KeyBank, which will honor the 2022 Avs team that won the Stanley Cup and defeated the Oilers in the Western Conference Final. Tuesday’s game is the second of three regular-season meetings between the teams, as the Avalanche won 9-1 in Edmonton on November 8th, and they’ll play in Alberta on April 13th.

Sunday Success

The Avalanche defeated the Minnesota Wild 3-2 in a shootout on Sunday at Ball Arena. Nathan MacKinnon and Nicolas Roy both scored for Colorado while Nazem Kadri posted an assist in his second Avs debut. In net for Colorado, Scott Wedgewood stopped 32 of the 34 shots he faced. MacKinnon opened the scoring at 12:19 of the second period with his 43rd goal of the season via a right-circle one-timer set up by Kadri, who began the play with an interception below the offensive-zone goal line. Kirill Kaprizov tied the game for Minnesota with a power-play goal at 4:17 of the third period when his pass from the right circle deflected into the net. The Wild took a 2-1 lead at 7:01 of the third period when Nico Sturm scored a shorthanded breakaway. Colorado tied the game at 12:39 of the third period when Nicolas Roy scored his first goal as an Av and sixth of the season via a net-front deflection on Brett Kulak’s slap shot. In the shootout, Valeri Nichushkin scored for Colorado in the first round, Matt Boldy scored for Minnesota in the second round and MacKinnon tallied the winner in the fourth round.

Leading the Way

Nate the Great

MacKinnon leads the NHL in goals (43) while ranking second in points (104) and third in assists (61).

All Hail Cale

Among NHL defensemen, Cale Makar is tied for second in points (66) while ranking fourth in goals (19) and assists (47).

Marty Party

Martin Necas is tied for seventh in the NHL in points (76).

Series History

In 135 regular-season games against the Oilers, the Avalanche has a record of 74-49-6-6. The teams have met three times in the playoffs, with the Avs winning the 1997 Western Conference Semifinals in five games and the 2022 Western Conference Final in four contests.

Sunday in Sin City

The Oilers defeated the Vegas Golden Knights 4-2 at T-Mobile Arena on Sunday. In the second period, Trent Frederic opened the scoring for Edmonton at 3:21 before Vegas’ Noah Hanifin tied the game at 13:09. The Oilers took a 3-1 third-period lead after goals from Vasily Podkolzin at 2:34 and Leon Draisaitl at 11:53. Jack Eichel cut the Golden Knights’ deficit to one with a shorthanded goal at 16:43 of the third period. Edmonton took a 4-2 lead when Kasperi Kapanen scored an empty-net goal at 18:03 of the third period.

Producing Offense Against the Oilers

MacKinnon has posted 39 points (13g/26a) in 29 regular-season games against the Oilers, in addition to five points (3g/2a) in four playoff contests.

Makar has registered 13 points (5g/8a) in 13 regular-season contests against Edmonton, in addition to nine points (2g/7a) in four playoff games.

Kadri has recorded 25 points (12g/13a) in 30 regular-season games against the Oilers, in addition to four points (1g/3a) in three playoff contests.

Edmonton’s Elite

Connor McDavid leads the Oilers in points (108), goals (35) and assists (73).

Draisaitl is second on the Oilers in points (92), goals (34) and assists (58).

Evan Bouchard is third on the Oilers in points (73) and assists (55) while ranking fourth in goals (18).

A Numbers Game

34

The Avalanche are 34-0-0 when leading after the second period this season.

85

Colorado leads the NHL with 85 second-period goals this campaign.

.806

The Avalanche’s .806 points percentage at home this season is the best in the NHL.

Quote That Left a Mark

“Emotional seeing the support I get here. It’s absolutely incredible. It makes me want to play harder for these fans and this team.”

— Nazem Kadri on the support he received from Avalanche fans at Sunday’s game

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Colorado Rockies spring training game no. 17 thread: Kyle Freeland vs. Jedisxson Paez

Published

1 day ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

Colorado Rockies spring training game no. 17 thread: Kyle Freeland vs. Jedisxson Paez

In his first spring training action of 2026, Kyle Freeland faced the daunting task of pitching against Team USA in an exhibition game on March 4. He gave up a solo homer to Aaron Judge in a two-hit, one-strikeout performance in one inning.

Today, Freeland and the Rockies (8-6-1) will take part in his first Cactus League action against the White Sox (10-7) at Camelback Ranch. The Rockies are 5-2 on the road this spring vs. 3-5-1, including the showdown vs. Team USA, at Salt River Fields.

Today’s game represents a rematch of a Feb. 23 showdown where the Rockies beat the White Sox 5-4. Chicago will send Jedisxson Paez to the mound to start the game. The 22-year-old RHP will be making his third spring appearance. He’s posted a 23.14 ERA in 2 1/3 innings over two starts with six earned runs, six hits, including one homer, three strikeouts and one walk. Former Rockie Drew Romo will be starting at catcher for the White Sox.

On Sunday, four pitchers combined to throw five scoreless innings and Kyle Karros and Tyler Freeman each had two-hit performances in the Rockies 4-4 tie with Cleveland. Even though it’s only spring training, the Rockies offense has been much improved thus far. The Rockies rank among all Major League teams this Spring in: on-base percentage (.381, T-1st), home runs (23, T-4th), average (.287, 3rd), HBP (14, T-2nd), slugging (.492, 3rd), OPS (.871, 3rd), runs scored (98, 5th), RBI (91, 6th) and total bases (254, 6th).

Earlier on Monday, the Rockies released a new motto for the 2026 campaign: “New era. At altitude. We are here for the climb.”

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