DOW HELPING RANCHERS IN NW COLORADO MAYBELL, Colo. - The Colorado Division of Wildlife is mobilizing an effort to head off conflict between northwest Colorado's elk herds and important agricultural operations as herds of elk fleeing heavy snows are nearing livestock feeding areas in the bottomlands of the Yampa River.
The Division is planning to put hay in two upland areas several miles north of the river to minimize the number of elk going onto feed lines laid out by ranchers for their cattle and sheep. DOW officials also want to keep elk from migrating into livestock pastures that may injure cattle and possibly trample calves that will start to be born in late Feb. into March.
"We're concerned about the situation in the Maybell area," said Area Wildlife Manager Bill de Vergie of Meeker. "With more snow and more winter on the way, we're working hard to minimize losses to the ranching community."
The 30 inches of snow that fell in Maybell during December was almost two-and-a-half times the monthly average, according to the National Weather Service in Grand Junction. Even heavier snows in higher elevations to the east have elk on the move and looking for food.
“We are getting close to conditions last experienced in this area in the winter of 2007-08, when ranchers experienced damage that resulted in over $125,000...
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Colorado Elk Hunting Information
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