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Some of Colorado’s released wolves wandered into Moffat County, per GPS collar data

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Some of Colorado’s released wolves wandered into Moffat County, per GPS collar data


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Two months after their release, two of Colorado’s reintroduced wolves have reached Moffat County, the farthest reported location from initial release sites in Grand and Summit counties.

Collar data showed the two wolves “have made some broad movements in the last week and indicates some wolves have recently moved from western Routt County into eastern Moffat County,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife spokesperson Rachel Gonzales wrote in an email sent to the Coloradoan on Saturday.

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There have been few confirmed sightings of the 10 wolves released in late December. Photos and videos on social media have shown wolves around the Kremmling area, which is near where some of the wolves were released.

The wolves seen in eastern Moffat County would be approximately 70 miles northwest of their release sites. One of those release sites was near the Radium State Wildlife area southwest of Kremmling.

Wolves widely wander and can travel 30 miles or more per day. Craig, the Moffat County seat, is located near the eastern edge of the county.

Moffat County residents have strongly opposed the state’s wolf reintroduction, with 83% of its voters opposing Proposition 114, the narrowly passed ballot measure that mandated wolves be reintroduced west of the Continental Divide starting in 2023.

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The county was home to a wolfpack in 2020 but that pack disappeared a year later, with some of its wolves legally killed just across the border in Wyoming.

The recent GPS tracking locations would put the wolves around 30 miles from the Wyoming border.

All 10 of Colorado’s released wolves captured in Oregon are fitted with GPS collars, as are the only two known remaining members of the North Park pack, whose parents naturally migrated into Colorado and gave birth to the state’s first pups in 80 years.

More: Do wolves fix ecosystems? CSU study debunks claims about Yellowstone reintroduction

Gonzales pointed out in the email that location points are at most collected every four hours and data is downloaded every 16 hours.

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“Wolves can and do move substantial distances between the four hours that points are collected, and the terrain and weather can impact when points are received,” she wrote. “This data gives us an informed perspective of where wolves have been, but not where they are, and certainly not where they are going.”

Colorado Parks and Wildlife was widely criticized for a lack of transparency and communication regarding the wolf releases that took place Dec. 18-22.

To address some of the criticism, the agency released a map to help show general areas where wolves have been in the previous month and pledged to update that map monthly.

Another criticism centered on five of the 10 released wolves coming from packs in Oregon with recent livestock depredations.

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None of Colorado’s released wolves had depredated on livestock a month after their release. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has not indicated any depredations between then and now.

“CPW continues to work with livestock producers to provide conflict-mitigation techniques, and will continue to conduct outreach/education in areas that are likely to have wolves,” Gonzales wrote.

Gonzales said the wildlife agency receives hundreds of reports of wolf sightings per year. She said the agency cannot validate every informal sighting but that staff reviews all credible reports submitted through its wolf sighting form.

She said the agency continues to encourage anyone who sees a wolf or wolf tracks to submit a report.

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Colorado

Colorado activist Jeanette Vizguerra’s hearing delayed, legal team challenges deportation

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Colorado activist Jeanette Vizguerra’s hearing delayed, legal team challenges deportation



Colorado activist Jeanette Vizguerra’s hearing delayed, legal team challenges deportation – CBS Colorado

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Jeanette Vizguerra’s attorneys now argue that her detention was retaliatory, linked to her criticism of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and her activism. Federal prosecutors argue that Vizguerra’s 2013 deportation order remains valid and justifies her removal from the United States.

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One more warm day in Colorado before big changes arrive by the weekend

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One more warm day in Colorado before big changes arrive by the weekend


Friday will again bring another above average afternoon, however, today will come with more clouds across our sky. If you’re looking to spend ample amounts of time outside, today would be the day to do so.

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High temperatures will be warm this afternoon, climbing into the mid to upper 70s across the Denver metro area. Eastern Colorado could see highs climb into the 80s, where sun will linger a little longer.

Warmth in the high country will keep initial rounds of precipitation as a rain and snow mix.

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The wet weather will arrive in two waves going into the weekend, with the first arriving late Friday.

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By Friday evening, spotty rain showers will begin to fall, mainly north of the Denver metro area. Overnight showers will become more widespread and will fall off and on through Saturday morning.

Rain and snow in the mountains will begin to transition over to snow as temperatures cool.

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We will see a lull in the precipitation on Saturday afternoon, with just a few spotty showers possible. By Saturday evening the next wave of precipitation will move in. Overnight rain showers will transition over to a rain/snow mix. The Palmer Divide, foothills, and the eastern plains could see a little more snow than rain as temperatures will cool enough to allow that transition.

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Snow totals in the high country won’t amount to much, as snow levels will likely be above 9,000 feet. For mountain areas above 8,000 feet, we could see 1 to 3 inches of snow. Above 9,000 feet, totals will range from 2 to 6 inches.

As far as the lower elevations, trace amounts of snow are expected. 

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Crash causes backup on I-25 in Northern Colorado, pedestrian killed after running into oncoming traffic

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Crash causes backup on I-25 in Northern Colorado, pedestrian killed after running into oncoming traffic


One person is dead after leaving their vehicle following a crash and running into oncoming traffic on I-25 in Northern Colorado.

The Colorado State Patrol said the first crash occurred around 5:17 p.m. when a rear-end collision happened in the northbound lanes of I-25 under the Harmony Road Bridge. Officials said there was heavy and stop-and-go traffic in the area at the time of the crash.

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According to the CSP, a driver left the scene and then was hit by oncoming traffic in the southbound lanes. They were taken to a local hospital for treatment, where they later died. Troopers said everyone else involved in both crashes remained on the scene and are cooperating with the investigation.

The interstate was closed in both directions between CO 392 and Harmony Road while crews worked to investigate the scene. CSP said the northbound lanes reopened at 7:15 p.m. CDOT reopened southbound I-25 at 8:15 p.m. Traffic remains heavy in the area.

Authorities said they do not yet know the reason the deceased driver fled the scene. The Larimer County Coroner will release further information following notifications to the next of kin.

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