Colorado
How to see Colorado wildlife in the winter months
Colorado’s native animals sometimes act like many people do in winter, staying out of sight and cozy. But wildlife watchers have plenty of viewing options, from seeking herds of elk at Rocky Mountain National Park to observing bird migrations on the plains.
“While some animals such as bears, bats and prairie dogs will decrease their activity during the winter months, many others will increase their activity,” said Joey Livingston, Colorado Parks and Wildlife public information officer.
Larger mammals including deer and elk spread out in the warmer months, which can make them more difficult to find, Livingston said. They tend to cluster in colder weather, however, which can increase your chance of seeing them.
“Animals such as deer and elk spend the early winter months in rut and are more active as they search for mates,” he said. “The rut brings an increase in hormones that can make them less scared of people, increasing their threat level but also increasing the chances of seeing one.”
This is also the season when deer and elk migrate to lower elevations to avoid deep snow as they look for food and shelter. Keep your eyes open for predators, too. Where there are deer and elk there likely are mountain lions, Colorado’s largest cats.
Other predators — bobcats, lynx, coyotes, wolves and foxes — may be easier to spot in winter than summer as their dark fur stands out against the snow.
While it’s hard to compare the thrill of seeing moose or elk crashing through the trees during a hushed snowy hike, winter birding can provide its own joys.
“Birds such as snow geese, bald eagles, juncos, woodpeckers, chickadees, grosbeaks, finches and jays can all be seen in Colorado during the winter months,” Livingston said.
Plan ahead to find animals
Sure, you can see animals while you’re hiking or skiing, but you’ll increase the likelihood of spotting critters by attending a wildlife festival – and you’ll learn about them too.
Barr Lake State Park, about 20 miles northeast of downtown Denver, is home to bald eagles that nest through winter. Each year, the park holds a Bald Eagle Festival in early February complete with live raptors along with nest building and other activities.
The Bighorn Sheep Day Festival scheduled for mid-February at Garden of the Gods Park in Colorado Springs includes viewing the herd that lives in and around the park, as well as enjoying educational exhibits. These stately animals also can be seen in Waterton Canyon near Littleton. Walk up the dirt road and look for sheep on the surrounding hillsides.
The snow goose, which is different from the geese seen at local parks, is celebrated each winter in Lamar during the Snow Goose Festival. This festival in southeast Colorado includes viewings and more during the first weekend in February. Thousands of birds migrate through this area turning the blue sky white as they fly over.
Hundreds of people head to southern Colorado each year in early March to join the Monte Vista Crane Festival. The flocks of dancing sandhills cranes make quite the spectacle. Folks also gather in Delta County in March for Eckert Crane Days, organized by the Black Canyon Audubon Society.
As winter begins to close, nature lovers head to the grasslands around Wray to see the courtship dance of the greater prairie chickens and hear their loud calls. Guided tours are offered from late March to mid-April through partnerships between CPW and local entities and landowners. See details (and register early) online.
Rangers lead various wildlife hikes and tours at state parks throughout the year. Check the CPW website for details.
Birders can learn additional tips for observing birds that remain in Colorado throughout winter as well as those that migrate through our skies at the Colorado Birding Trail website.
Visit a national wildlife refuge
Colorado has eight national wildlife refuges, which are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They’re open year-round and provide a great place to see wildlife during winter.
There are three national wildlife refuges in the Denver metro area. The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, 8 miles northeast of downtown Denver, is home to a herd of bison that have a large (but fenced) roaming area and can be seen during a drive through the refuge. Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of Arvada, is a surprisingly good place to spot a large herd of elk in winter. Both of these refuges also are home to a variety of other animals. Two Ponds National Wildlife Refuge, in north Arvada, is a lovely spot for birders.
In the San Luis Valley, the Alamosa National Wildlife Refuge provides much-needed access to water that attracts many animals when food and water are scarce in winter. This area is best known for the annual migration of sandhill cranes that takes place in mid-March.
Wildlife safety tips
Experts recommend doing your part to “keep the wild in wildlife” by following basic outdoors etiquette, whether you’re in a local or state park, on a trail, or visiting a national park or wildlife refuge:
Don’t feed the animals
Don’t get too close to the animals
Don’t touch the animals
“Wildlife viewers should always keep their distance from wild animals,” Livingston said. “Any animal, no matter how small, can be dangerous when people get too close. Humans are very intimidating to wild animals who face threats on their lives all of the time and are ready to defend themselves when needed. Wild animals are not domesticated pets.”
He noted that many animals in Estes Park have lost their “natural fear” of people making them easier to view but also deceptively dangerous.
“Use the ‘rule of thumb’ when viewing wildlife,” he said. Hold your hand out and stick your thumb up between you and the animal. If the animal looks larger than your thumb, you’re too close. Back away slowly.
“Invest in a good pair of binoculars or a spotting scope if you want to view wildlife safely and ethically,” Livingston said.
Following these basic rules, the best opportunities for spotting wildlife can be found well off established roads or trails, Livingston said. If you’re in a vehicle, consider parking and turning off your engine. Allow the silence to help draw animals from cover.
Always respect wildlife and think of safety — not selfies — when observing animals in their native environment.
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There are lots of cities and towns in the Denver area that are hosting professional fireworks shows on the Fourth of July this year.
Here are the shows taking place on July 4 in the Denver metro area:
Arvada
The City of Arvada’s annual fireworks display is scheduled to take place at Stenger Soccer Complex.
Date: Saturday, July 4
Time: 9:15 p.m.
Location: Stenger Soccer Complex
Admission: Free
Link: More Info
Aurora
The “4th of July Spectacular” takes place at the Aurora Municipal Center, located at 15151 E. Alameda Parkway.
Date: Saturday, July 4
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Location: Aurora Municipal Center
Admission: Free
Link: More Info
Brighton
Brighton’s Fourth of July festival takes place in Carmichael Park at 650 East Southern Street. Fireworks will be set off after the band Thumpin’ performs.
Date: Saturday, July 4
Time: After concert
Location: Carmichael Park
Admission: Free
Link: More Info
Broomfield
Broomfield’s Great American Picnic takes place at Broomfield County Commons Park, which is located at 13200 Sheridan Boulevard.
Date: Saturday, July 4
Time: 9:15
Location: Broomfield County Commons Park
Admission: Free
Link: More Info
Castle Rock
The Town of Castle Rock is planning to launch their Independence Day fireworks display from Miller’s Landing. The town is hosting a Independence Day Celebration at Festival Park, and the fireworks can be viewed from there, or several other locations in town.
Date: Saturday, July 4
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Location: Former Acme Brick facility
Admission: Free
Link: More Info
Commerce City
Fireworks will be set off outside Dick’s Sporting Goods Park as part of Commerce City’s 4thFEST celebration. They will be launched after the third of three rugby matches in the stadium.
Date: Saturday, July 4
Time: At the conclusion of the World Rugby Nations Cup
Location: Outside DICK’s Sporting Goods Park
Admission: 4thFEST is free, paid tickets required to see the rugby games
Link: More Info
Denver – Colorado Rockies games
Fans attending the July 4 Colorado Rockies home game at Coors Field will be treated to fireworks at the conclusion of the baseball game. There will also be fireworks for the game the night before — July 3.
Date: July 3 & 4 (against the San Francisco Giants)
Time: The fireworks are usually launched 20 to 30 minutes after the final out.
Location: Coors Field
Admission: Tickets required
Link: More Info
Englewood
In addition to all of its residents, the city of Englewood invites residents of Littleton, Sheridan, Arapahoe County and the South Suburban Parks & Recreation to their Independence Day Celebration.
Date: Saturday, July 4
Time: 9:15 p.m.
Location: Cornerstone Park and Belleview Park
Admission: Free
Link: More Info
Lone Tree
Lone Tree’s city fireworks display will be launched from Prairie Sky Park, and they’ll be viewable from many different locations in the city.
Date: Saturday, July 4
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Location: Prairie Sky Park
Admission: Free
Link: More Info
Longmont
You can watch a fireworks show in Longmont at 9:30 p.m. There will also be a drone show right before then.
Date: Saturday, July 4
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Location: Fireworks can be viewed “from many vantage points across the city.”
Admission: Free
Link: More Info
Louisville
The city of Louisville launches their annual fireworks show from Coal Creek Golf Course.
Date: Saturday, July 4
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Location: Coal Creek Golf Course
Admission: Free
Link: More Info
Northglenn
Fireworks are part of the July 4th Festival in Northglenn at E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park.
Date: Saturday, July 4
Time: 9:15 p.m.
Location: E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park
Admission: Free
Link: More Info
Parker
Fireworks on July Fourth will be visible from many parts of the town of Parker.
Date: Saturday, July 4
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Location: Fireworks launch northeast of Salisbury Park, although town officials encourage watching the fireworks from other areas, too
Admission: Free
Link: More Info
Thornton
Thornton’s fireworks display is called “Red, White & BOOM!” Fantabulous Fireworks.
Date: Saturday, July 4
Time: 9:30 p.m.
Location: Carpenter Park Fields
Admission: Free
Link:
More Info
Westminster
Date: Saturday, July 4
Location: Westminster City Park
Admission: Free
Link: More Info
There are other fireworks displays taking place in the Denver area on days other than July 4, including Lafayette (June 27), Glendale (June 2), Erie (July 3) and Littleton (July 3).
DENVER – The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today the team has signed defenseman Brett Kulak to a five-year contract extension through the 2030-31 season.
Kulak, 32, was originally acquired by the Avalanche in a trade with Pittsburgh on Feb. 24, 2026 and tallied three points (0g/3a) in 27 regular-season showings for Colorado over 19:08 of average time on ice per game. His 2025-26 regular season consisted of playing for the Edmonton Oilers and Penguins in addition to the Avalanche where he totaled 12 points (1g/11a) in 83 contests. Kulak was the only NHLer to skate in 83 games last season. Additionally, he dressed in his 600th career NHL contest on Nov. 15 at Carolina and notched his 100th career assist on Dec. 30 vs. Carolina.
The 6-foot-1, 192-pound defenseman was in the lineup for all 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games for the Avalanche in 2026 and chipped in five points (1g/4a) and logged 20:38 of time on ice per game. The goal was his first with the Burgundy and Blue, regular season or postseason, and it came as the overtime-winner in Game 5 of the Second Round (May 13) to send the Avalanche to the Western Conference Final. It was the third time a defenseman scored a series clinching overtime goal in Avalanche/Nordiques history and the first since Sandis Ozolinsh (Game 6 of the 1996 Conference Semifinal) did it 30 years to the date prior to Kulak’s. Additionally, Kulak’s marker was the 10th time an Avalanche/Nordiques skater sent the team to the next round with an overtime tally and the first instance since Artturi Lehkonen in Game 4 of the 2022 Western Conference Final (June 6, 2022).
A native of Edmonton, Alberta, Kulak has registered 137 points (29g/108a) in 663 career regular-season games with Colorado, Pittsburgh, Edmonton, the Montreal Canadiens and Calgary Flames from 2014-26. The last 370 of those games have come consecutively and he enters 2026-27 with the ninth-longest active “Iron Man” streak in the NHL. The left-shot defenseman has also added 29 points (4g/25a) over 111 career Stanley Cup Playoff contests and has been a member of three teams that have made it to the Stanley Cup Final (2023-24 and 2024-25 Oilers, 2020-21 Canadiens). Kulak’s 111 playoff games lead all NHL defensemen since making his postseason debut in 2020 and are second among all skaters in that span behind only Corey Perry (126).
Originally drafted by the Flames in the fourth round (105th overall) in the 2012 NHL Draft, Kulak appeared in 136 AHL games over parts of the 2012-19 campaigns (13g/41a). He was also a member of the then-ECHL Colorado Eagles for part of 2014-15. Prior to turning pro, Kulak played for the Western Hockey League’s Vancouver Giants from 2010-14 and amassed 128 points (35g/93a) in 216 regular-season contests.
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KKTV) – The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) is searching for a missing child.
CSPD said 11-year-old Emilio Gerardo was last seen Thursday around 8:06 p.m. near North Carefree Circle and Peterson Road.
Gerardo is described as a 4-foot-8 and 65-pound Hispanic male with brown hair and brown eyes.
Police said he was last seen in a black shirt, black pants and black Converse shoes. They said he may have a VR headset with him.
Police said he could be in the area of Sand Creek High School or Remington Park.
If you see Gerardo or know where he may be, contact the Colorado Springs Police Department at 719-444-7000.
Copyright 2026 KKTV. All rights reserved.
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