Breaking News on Mad Rabbit

There’s a lot of breaking news about the Mad Rabbit Trails Project.

First, we have multiple indications that the Forest Service plans to proceed with the Mad Rabbit proposal. If the final proposal looks anything like the draft proposal released in October, it will not be good for Routt County wildlife. In fact, quite the opposite. We’ve extensively documented the environmental and legal deficiencies of the proposed action in this newsletter, on our Mad Rabbit web page, and (most importantly) in our submitted comments to the Forest Service. There are simply too many negative precedents Mad Rabbit would set across Colorado to have this proposal go unanswered. For this reason we are forming a regional coalition of partners to oppose Mad Rabbit in its current form.

That leads us to our second news item. A coalition of conservation organizations, led by the Colorado Wildlife Conservation Project, has formally requested the Forest Service take pro-active measures to aid in ungulate recovery after the severe winter we’ve had in northwest Colorado. Their request is here. As frequent followers of Keep Routt Wild know, this has been a historically difficult winter for our local wildlife, particularly for elk, deer, and pronghorn. Many simply didn’t survive. CPW stated, “The Severe Winter Zone is an area known for some of the largest elk herds in the nation, and severe winter conditions have resulted in high elk calf and above-average cow mortality. Survival rates are the lowest CPW has ever documented and below what CPW previously thought possible in elk.”

The CWCP and thirteen member organizations have requested three actions. They include updating any wildlife area closures to the timing specified in Colorado’s Guide to Planning Trails with Wildlife in Mind, making those closures mandatory, and halting the Mad Rabbit Trails Proposal.

We agree! In fact, we signed the letter. Now that we face a wildlife crisis that spans the Mad Rabbit project area and beyond, we find it unconscionable that the Forest Service would proceed with Mad Rabbit as proposed, which will further reduce and fragment habitat of the very ungulates impacted by the severe winter.

YOU CAN HELP

We normally refrain from saturating newsletter readers with fundraising requests, but we will make an exception for this issue. Please consider a donation to Keep Routt Wild at this pivotal moment. There are several ways to donate to Keep Routt Wild, documented here. We have a very capable legal team and are organizing a wide coalition of partners to object to Mad Rabbit in its present form. On this issue, we are literally the sentry that stands between this misguided project and Routt County wildlife. This does not come without cost. Your donation of any amount will help to preserve wildlife and wild places in Routt County. Thank you.

Volunteer Opportunities for Keep Routt Wild Followers

Images above are from Armstrong Creek wetland restoration in September 2022, a US Forest Service project aided by Keep Routt Wild volunteers.

Numerous readers have contacted us, looking for volunteer opportunities. Here’s your chance!

California Park Wet Meadow Restoration August 5 and 6 (8am to 4pm)

This is a great opportunity to help restore wet meadows in California Park north of Hayden while enjoying the beauty of this special place in Routt National Forest. This is a Forest Service project that uses unique “Zeedyk” structures to raise the water level and restore wet meadows to their original functionality. The areas provide critical habitat for sage grouse, sandhill cranes, Colorado River cutthroat, and elk. Photos from a similar restoration project in 2022 are shown above.
Yampa Valley Sustainability Council is the main volunteer organizer, and we’ve teamed up with them to spread the word. You can volunteer for Saturday (5th) or Sunday (6th) or both. We plan to attend both days and camp overnight on Saturday.

To sign up go here. Click the Wet Meadows Restoration pulldown for either day for more details and to see what to bring. You can also contact the YVSC organizer Ryan Messinger here for further questions. Here’s a map of the exact location: Map.

For tracking reasons, we’re interested in how many KRW volunteers sign up. If you have the time after signing up, send us a short message at keeprouttwild@gmail.com  We hope to see you there!

Steamboat Farmers Market July 29 and August 5

We’ll be at the Steamboat Springs Farmers Market for Saturdays July 29 and August 5 from 9AM to 2PM. Come by and see us!

We’re also looking for a couple volunteers, morning or afternoon, to staff our booth. This is particularly true for August 5 where we are also volunteering at California Park for the wet meadows restoration above. If you are passionate about preserving Routt County wildlife and wild places this is a good way to spread the word.

If you are interested, contact us at keeprouttwild@gmail.com

What we’ve been reading and watching

(Click on any title to read the article.)

Older sow walks 46 miles back to Steamboat to den, give birth

“After being relocated in September to near the Wyoming border, she walked some 46 miles back to Steamboat to den and then give birth to three cubs this spring. That sow, thought to be a longtime local bear in her late teens based on her teeth condition, was found Sept. 1 inside an improperly closed dumpster at the Shadow Run condo complex off of Whistler Road, according to Christy Bubenheim with Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Steamboat.”

This is a good example of why many relocations are unsuccessful.

Parks and Wildlife says they have no new leads in case of moose that fell from parking structure

“The incident occurred June 18 at the parking structure located between the Steamboat Grand and the Sheraton Steamboat Resort. CPW was called to the scene, but by the time Rehak-Suma arrived, the moose had fallen and people who had been in the area were gone.”

Allstate releases video ad of “Mayhem” imitating a bear trashing a car

“I’m a bear. I’m coming out of hibernation after the best nap of my life and papa is hungry.”  “And while you’re hitting the trail I’m hitting your cooler.”
It’s made to sell insurance, but we think it’s also a good lesson for not leaving food in vehicles while in bear country.

When the woods get noisy, the animals get nervous

“The new study, currently underway in Wyoming’s Bridger-Teton National Forest, adds to mounting evidence that the mere presence of human sound, no matter how loud or quiet, fast or slow, changes how animals behave."

"Judging by an initial analysis of last summer’s data, large groups of mountain bikers were the most likely to cause animals like mule deer and elk to flee. Smaller groups of mountain bikers and hikers talking also triggered a response. The animals paused and listened to people walking, but didn’t flee as often."

To Fish or Not to Fish

As our local rivers and streams warm up, Trout Unlimited has created this handy little graphic and practicing catch and release trout fishing. The bottom line is avoid even catch and release fishing once water temperatures exceed 68 degrees.

Quote of the Day

From the perspective of the moose that leaped to its death from a Steamboat Springs parking structure to avoid people crowding it.